Gregory announces run for Williams' former seat

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - State Rep. Sara Beth Gregory will seek the Republican nomination to run for an open state Senate seat in southern Kentucky.

Gregory said in a statement Wednesday that she wants to replace former state Sen. David Williams who resigned last week to accept an appointment as circuit judge.

Gregory, a Monticello lawyer, is in her first term as state representative. She was re-elected to that post Tuesday without opposition.

Gov. Steve Beshear hasn't yet scheduled a special election to replace Williams, who had been the longtime Senate president.

Beshear, a Democrat, has a history of appointing Senate Republican leaders to higher-paying government jobs. Williams is the second one to get a judicial appointment. Another GOP senator was appointed to a lucrative position on the Public Service Commission.

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