Beshear names Coleman, Adkins and Gray to key posts

By BERRY CRAIG

AFT Local 1360 

Gov.-elect Andy Beshear today named his running mate, a primary rival and a former Lexington mayor for top jobs in his administration.

Lt. Gov-elect Jacqueline Coleman will do double duty as Education and Workforce Development Cabinet secretary. Beshear tapped House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins as his senior advisor. Jim Gray is the new transportation secretary.

Coleman has been a teacher, basketball coach and school administrator. 

Adkins finished second to Beshear in the May Democratic primary. The longtime lawmaker plans to resign his House seat. He would have been up for reelection next year.

Gray was Lexington mayor in 2011-2019. 

Also today, Beshear said Col. Haldane Lamberton will be adjutant general and retired Lt. l. Keith Jackson will be veterans affairs commissioner.