Republican Candidates for Representative of the 51st District
By Kenneth Pierce | February 12, 2008
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Asa Swan
By Kenneth Pierce | February 12, 2008
Asa James Swan was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the oldest child of Dr. Terry and Cinda Swan. While growing up in both Columbia and Campbellsville, he attended the Adair County, Campbellsville City, and Taylor County School systems. He received his first degree, an Associate of Arts, from Lindsey Wilson College in 1996 with honors, where he served as the youngest student body president in the nation. Three years later, Asa earned a B.A. in History from Huntington University, graduating magna cum laude after serving as the first two-term student body president. He was also a Rhodes Scholar nominee during his senior year. Since that time, he has completed an M.A. in History from Western Kentucky University.
Asa has accumulated significant political experience. Beginning as an intern on the Elizabeth Dole for President Campaign in 1999, Asa would later spend over two years working for Kentuckians in Washington on Capitol Hill for Congressman Ron Lewis and the Senate Republican Conference. He returned to Kentucky to serve in the Fletcher administration as one of the governor’s legislative liaisons, specifically focusing on transportation issues. While serving in this position for four General Assemblies, Asa developed strong relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle and a reputation for integrity and excellence. He currently teaches history at Lindsey Wilson College and is a candidate for the Kentucky State House of Representatives in Adair and Taylor counties.
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John (Bam) Carney
By Kenneth Pierce | February 12, 2008
John Mitchel Owen "Bam" Carney is the son of June Carney and the late Don Carney of Elkhorn, the grandson of the late W.J. "Bug" and Irene Eastridge Gabehart of Casey Creek and Stanley, Jr and Christine Carney of Columbia. Carney has four brothers and sisters; Tony and Ladonna Willis, of the Coburg community; Shane and Pam Carney, of Casey Creek; Mark and Kelly Carney, of Knifley; and Mark and Amy Farmer, of Mannsville.
A native of the Yuma/Speck Ridge area, Carney attended Knifley Grade Center through 6th grade, Taylor County Middle School and graduated from Taylor County High School in 1987. He played football, baseball, and basketball at Taylor County High and was active in Future Farmers of America.
In 1991, Carney received a B.A. in History from Berea College with an emphasis in Political Science. He later attained Teacher Certification from Campbellsville University and an M.A. in Instructional Leadership from Eastern Kentucky University.
Carney has been a public school teacher and coach for 11 years and currently teaches Social Studies at Taylor County High School. Prior to teaching, Carney worked 5 years for the Campbellsville Municipal Water Company. He taught Special Education and coached basketball at Campbellsville High School for 3 years. He was the Head Basketball Coach and taught Social Studies at Washington County High School in Springfield for 4 years, but continued to reside in Taylor County. He is an assistant coach for both the football and basketball teams at TCHS.
Carney has been active in the local Republican Party and has been responsible for integrating key political figures across the state into the classroom at TCHS. Carney is a member of the Taylor County Site Based Decision Making Council and is the teacher’s representative for the PTSO. Carney organizes the school’s Veteran’s Day program to honor local veterans for their service.
Carney is married to Jenifer Martin Carney, of Springfield, and they have two children, Chase, age 10, and Ethan, age 8. The Carneys live at 341 Pembroke Way in Campbellsville, where they have resided for 12 years. He is an active member of Living Grace Church in Campbellsville and coaches Upward Basketball.
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Russell Montgomery
By Kenneth Pierce | February 12, 2008
Russell Montgomery was born and raised on a farm in Adair County. He graduated from Adair County High School in 1954. He married Gladys Riggins in 1957 and they had two children, Barry Russell Montgomery and Kim Montgomery Mills. Barry, who is an engineer with AT&T has two children, Benjamin Montgomery and Rebecca Montgomery. Benjamin has just finished two terms in Iraq and has a three month old daughter named Allison Marie, which makes Russell and Gladys great-grandparents. Rebecca is a graduate student at the University of Alabama. Kim is a 7th grade Social Studies teacher in Lexington. Kim's husband, Thomas Mills is also a teacher. They have two children, Meg and Matt, a sixth grader and second grader.
Russell went to work for Coca-Colas Campbellsville in 1960 and worked until he retired in 1998 with 38 years of service.
Russell believes in hard work, experience, determination and proven management ability are the key traits and qualifications he can offer. He feels that his long track record are proven results that an oriented executive in the private sector could be an asset in a number of areas from legislative issues, business relations and economic development. He would very much like to put these qualifications to work in a capacity to serve the people of the 51st District(Adair & Taylor Counties) as State Representative as a conservative Republican.
Before retiring and selling the Coca Cola operation he was an executive with Coca-Cola for 38 years. He worked his way up from a route salesman in 1960 to sales manager in 1962 and from there to Company Manager in 1965.
In 1973, he was promoted to General Manager, Vice President and CEO of the company.
In 1980, he was given the opportunity to acquire stock in the company and was appointed to the Board of Directors.
In 1984, he was given the privilege of managing the Coca-Colas Bottling Co. of Brookhaven, Miss., in addition to the Campbellsville, Ky, facility.
Between 1965 and 1998 as manager and part owner of the Campbellsville bottling facility, the annual gross revenues grew from $275,000 to over $10 Million.
The operation in Campbellsville was sold in 1988 but he has stayed on with the company until he retired as general manager but he still serves as a consultant to Western Ky Coca Cola.
Russell also owned an operated a family farm for over 20 years. He was President of the Kentucky Beverage Association in 1976. He was a member of the Taylor County Bank Board of Directors from 1980 to 1992. He is presently a Board of Directors member of the Forcht Bank. Currently, he is serving as secretary of the Kentucky Beverage Association since 1980.
A founder and current Secretary-Treasurer for the Green River Tri-County Economic Development Foundation since 1997 and helped raise over $65,000 in private contributions. Since 1997 they have funded area economic development projects in the Adair, Taylor and Green Counties.
Member of Taylor County Chamber of Commerce as well as numerous other civic and charitable organizations in the area.
Chairman of the Campbellsville Christian Church Board 1989-1990. Now serves as elder of the Campbellsville Christian Church and chairman of trustees and also church treasurer.
A member of the Taylor County Industrial Authority.
As an active member of the Kentucky Beverage Assocaition he has spent a great deal of time in both Frankfort and Washington lobbying on behalf of Kentucky Bottlers.
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