Kentucky’s 2nd District State Rep Richard Heath of Graves County is the third candidate to enter the race for state agriculture commissioner.
His filing this week creates a GOP primary battle against Rep. Ryan Quarles from Georgetown.
Heath says he bought his first farm at age 19 and owned and operated several ag businesses before joining the state legislature in 2012.
"I was born and raised on a hog farm in Graves County," said Heath. "Upon graduating high school, I bought my first farm at the age of 19, raised corn, soybeans, tobacco. In the mid-80s, I took a job managing the Graves County co-op store in Mayfield selling seed and fertilizing chemicals to farmers. And in 2000, I bought my brother's barn-building business, Health Buildings in Mayfield, as well as run my own business the last 15 years. So, if you add all that up, it's 40 years of experience is what I bring to the table. I have agriculture in my blood."
Heath says he agrees with state treasurer candidate Rep Kenny Imes (R-Murray) that western Kentucky is underrepresented on the state executive level, something that helped his decision to run. But, he believes the farming industry is not something that can be under-represented in any part of the state.
“[This is a] heavy agriculture part of the state, basically the central hub of agriculture is western Kentucky," said Heath. "I want to take that to Frankfort and I want western Kentucky to have a voice in ag policies that affect all of us statewide.”
Heath will face off against Quarles in the May 27th primary election.
Jean-Marie Lawson Spann, host of a weekly agriculture radio show, is running unopposed on the Democrat side.
Current ag commissioner James Comer is seeking the Republican nomination for Kentucky governor.
