When the Kentucky General Assembly convened last week, Clinton County’s two legislatures in Frankfort continued to be two of the most influential members in the two chambers.

Jeff Hoover, a Clinton County native and current Russell County resident who represents the 83rd District, was elected to an unprecedented sixth term as the House of Representatives Minority Leader.

Rep. Hoover (R-Jamestown), has served in the Kentucky House of Representatives for 14 years. His 83rd House district currently is made up of Clinton and Russell County and a portion of Pulaski County.

Hoover told the Clinton County News this week that he was honored not only at having been chosen to another term in the house leadership role, but at having the opportunity to once again begin another term as Clinton County’s representative in the Kentucky House.

“I am very honored that my colleagues in Frankfort again chose to elect me their leader for the next two years. I am especially humbled by the fact that I am now the longest serving House Republican floor leader in the state’s history,” Hoover said in an email response Monday morning. “The people of Clinton County have been so good to me and there is no greater honor and privilege than representing my friends, family, neighbors and the folks of Clinton County in Frankfort.”

Hoover has been instrumental in securing state funding for a host of projects in Clinton County during his tenure as a member of the Kentucky House, and he noted that he hopes to be able to be a part of even more projects that would bring progress and prosperity to Clinton County and his entire district.

“I am very proud of the progress we have made in recent years in Clinton County and I am thankful to have played a small role in that progress,” Hoover said. “Clinton County is my home and I have so many friends and family living there, it is just very special to me and it is a tremendous honor to be able to represent and serve the county. We still have many things we need to get done for the county and I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Clinton County and working on their behalf in Frankfort.”

In addition to Hoover’s confirmation as House Minority Leader, the General Assembly session got underway with Clinton County’s representative in the other branch continuing in the top leadership role in the Senate.

David Williams, who represents the Senate’s 16th District, which includes Clinton County, was once again affirmed to hold down the highest position in that legislative body, that of Senate President.

Williams’ 16th District, in addition to Clinton County, includes Cumberland, McCreary, Monroe, Wayne and Whitley Counties.

Sen. Williams (R-Burkesville) has served in the Kentucky Senate since 1987, after serving one term in the Kentucky House. He acquired Clinton County as one of his counties in the early 1990s when the state underwent a redistricting of senate areas. He has held the position of Senate President since 2000.

Williams has also been instrumental in securing projects and funding for Clinton County in the past decade, and was most recently a part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Albany – Clinton County Wellness Center, one of the many projects he was largely responsible in securing state funding for.

During that ceremony at the new facility back in October, Williams spoke about the benefits that the health-oriented facility would bring to Clinton County residents and noted the determination that organizers had shown in overcoming a host of obstacles that had arisen during the planning and funding stages of the project.

In addition to a new term as the Kentucky Senate President, Williams is also in the early stages of a campaign to win the Republican nomination for Kentucky Governor.

If successful in earning the GOP nomination, he and his running mate, current Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and former University of Kentucky basketball standout Ritchie Farmer, will then likely take on current Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and his running-mate, former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson.