Governor Beshear appoints Kenton Co resident

Today Governor Steve Beshear issued this press release:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear has named Covington resident Joseph U. Meyer acting secretary of Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

“I am grateful to have someone with Joe’s experience agree to serve the cabinet as acting secretary,” said Gov. Beshear. “He has a long and distinguished commitment to education, including his work as deputy secretary, state senator, local school board member and as an attorney for local school districts, and will continue to serve the state well.”

Gov. Beshear appointed Meyer deputy secretary of the cabinet in September 2008, while continuing his duties as senior policy adviser to the Governor.

“I am committed to building on the foundation that Gov. Beshear and Secretary Mountjoy have laid in the areas of education and workforce development,” said Meyer. “The services we provide are critical to the success of Kentuckians and the Commonwealth. We will continue this important work.”

Before joining the Beshear administration, Meyer served as senior policy adviser for state auditor Crit Luallen. In 2004, he was chief of staff for the chair of the House majority caucus. From 1979 to 2003, he practiced law in Covington. He also served as deputy director and general counsel for the Kentucky Association of the Counties in Frankfort.

Meyer served the Commonwealth as a state senator from 1988 to 1996 and as a state representative from 1982 to 1988. He received his law degree from Northern Kentucky University, a master’s degree from St. Louis University and a bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine College.

Last month, current Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Helen Mountjoy announced that she would be leaving the Cabinet at the end of November to return to her home in Owensboro. Mountjoy’s last day in the office is Nov. 25.

The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet coordinates learning programs from P-16 and manages and supports training and employment functions in the Department for Workforce Investment. The cabinet employs nearly 3,000 full and part-time workers with an annual budget of $2.5 billion.