[Georgetown News-Graphic] Thayer looks back on 22 years in the state senate | News | news-graphic.com
His 2003 election to the state senate signaled a dramatic shift in Scott County politics, but now almost 22 years later, Damon Thayer is ready to focus on other things besides politics.
Not that he will never return to politics.
Earlier this year, Thayer announced he would not seek re-election as state senator, thus also surrendering his role as senate majority leader for the Republican Party.
“I have slayed a lot of dragons,” Thayer said. “I’ve accomplished almost every big policy goal that I wanted to when I set out for this job. I felt like it was time to take a step back.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t step back in at some point. I just needed to take a step back and focus on private sector goals while I still have the energy to do those things. I won’t rule out running for governor or something at a federal level, but I’m not doing this for the sole purpose of backing off and taking a run at a higher office. But I may change my mind, depending upon the opportunities. People should not be surprised if I never run for office again. They should also not be surprised if I do run for office again. I want to keep my options open.”
Thayer has two children with his ex-wife Carrie. Daniel, 27, works on foreign policy for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul in his Washington D.C. office. Daughter, Katie, 23, is a pilot, has two job offers but is still deciding what to do. Family, travel, and a new business venture — Kentucky Senator Bourbon – will occupy his time as he steps back and regroups, Thayer said.
On Jan. 28, 2003, Thayer narrowly won a special election to a new district created by redistricting and was sworn in Feb. 4, 2003. Thayer lost in Scott County and Owen County to the late Charles Wells by a few dozen votes but carried Grant and Kenton counties substantially to win the election by 12 points. The next year, Thayer ran for re-election and won handily.
At the time Scott County was heavily Democratic.
“I think my election was a bit of a surprise at the time,” Thayer said. “It ended up being a sort of canary in the coal mine. As Republicans kept winning and winning and winning. Not just at the federal level, but at the local level.
“When I first got involved in Kentucky Republican politics, that trend was happening. But Kentucky was slower to switch than a lot of other southern states. But when we did, Kentucky went Republican pretty big time. Scott County has gone completely red, although it is still a kind of bellwether, but solidly Republican. (Democrat Gov. Andy) Beshear carried (Scott County) both times in the governor’s race. I have this theory, if you are running statewide as a Republican, you must carry Kenton, Campbell, Scott, Madison, and Warren counties. Those are five big Republican counties Beshear carried, so we’re still a bit of a bellwether, but also solidly Republican.
“I think when I came back and won in 2004, and carried Scott County by a wide margin, it energized local Republicans, and we started having more people come to our meetings and more people wanting to run. In the 90s the Democrats ran the show and that was where the action was. Now it’s the other way around. In 30 years, it has completely flipped.”
Thayer was elected senate majority leader in 2013 after 12 years in the state Senate. He credits the late Congressman (and Hall of Fame professional baseball player) Jim Bunning as a mentor.
“(Bunning) was in the state Senate and was the Republican leader when there were only eight members,” Thayer said. “He and Clyde Middleton, another Republican from Northern Kentucky, were kind of running buddies. Jim only had to go out and get three more votes to become leader. Looking through the historical lens, knowing my mentor was the Republican floor leader when there were only eight or nine Republicans, and now we’ve flipped to 31 Republicans and only seven Democrats. I’m proud of that.”
During his time in the state Senate, Thayer has been honored by numerous organizations and is often regarded as one of the most successful state legislators. A significant reason for that success is the district he represents, Thayer said.
“I was successful on behalf of Scott County because people understand how important this community is to the state,” Thayer said. “Toyota is a big reason. There are citizens of Kentucky from 80 different counties who work at Toyota. (Legislators) understand they have constituents who either drive here every day or share an apartment with other Toyota team members (and return home on the weekends). Those people are voters back in their communities. Legislators from other places recognize that.”
As he looks around the community, Thayer said he is proud to have played a part in many significant public projects.
“I want people to know I fought for Scott County, and even if they disagreed with me on some issues…I always did what I thought was right, understanding that I may be wrong,” he said. “This is a constitutional republic and that’s what an elected representative is supposed to do. When you look at roads and the water projects and the sewer projects and the community college and the help for Amen House. Those benefit all people, whether they voted for me or not.”
While he acknowledges a sense of relief as he leaves the state Senate, Thayer says there will be one thing he will miss most of all.
“I was in the right place at the right time,” Thayer said. “To get elected and then to prove myself worthy of the title ‘senator from Scott.’ I might miss being called, ‘the senator from Scott’ on the floor of the Senate most of all. People ask me if I’m going to miss it. I don’t think I will, but I do think I’ll miss being called the senator from Scott. That was something I was really proud of.”