Gov. Beshear Makes Appointments to Kentucky Boards and Commissions

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2026) - Gov. Andy Beshear has made the following appointments to Kentucky boards and commissions:

Gov. Beshear has appointed Ross Sanor as Johnson County Property Valuation Administrator.

• Ross Sanor of Oil Spring replaces Michael "Dip" Stafford, who has retired.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Donna Perry and Wesley Whistle to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority and the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation Board of Directors. The Governor has reappointed Rita Smart and Ellen Cartmell.

• Donna Perry of Louisville is an attorney with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. She replaces Megan Bailey, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 27, 2030.
• Wesley Whistle of Lexington is the project director for student success and affordability at New America. He replaces Andrew Brennen, whose term has expired, and will serve for a term expiring Oct. 27, 2030.
• Rita Smart of Richmond is retired. She will serve for a term expiring Feb. 21, 2030.
• Ellen Cartmell of Maysville is chief of staff at the Kentucky Department for Public Health. She will serve for a term expiring July 15, 2030.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Michael Alvey as Chair of the Kentucky Workers' Compensation Board to serve for a term expiring June 1, 2031.

• Michael Alvey of Owensboro is an attorney.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed John Coleman of Pikeville, Roland Case of Pikeville, Stephanie Kinney of Louisville, Walter Harvey of Bowling Green, James Allen of Allen and Samuel Bach of Henderson as Administrative Law Judges in the Department of Workers' Claims to serve for terms expiring June 1, 2031.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Bill Brammell to the Personnel Board to serve for a term expiring Jan. 1, 2027.

• Bill Brammell of Crestwood is an attorney with Wicker/Brammell PLLC. He replaces Mitchel Denham, who has resigned.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Ross Owens and Eric Farris to the State Board of Elections to serve for terms expiring Sept. 15, 2030.

• Ross "Col" Owens of Fort Mitchell is a retired attorney and adjunct professor at the Salmon P. Chase College of Law.
• Eric Farris of Louisville is an attorney with Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Whitney Watt and Laura Coleman to the Governor's Scholars Program Board of Directors to serve for terms expiring Sept. 23, 2029.

• Whitney Watt of Louisville is an attorney with Stites & Harbison PLLC.
• Laura Coleman of Danville is the director of major gifts at Saint Mary's College.

Gov. Beshear has appointed John Brame to the Commission on Military Affairs to serve for a term expiring Nov. 4, 2030. The Governor has reappointed James Hurt to serve for a term expiring July 16, 2030.

• John Brame of Pembroke is the commander of VFW Post 1913. He replaces Kelli Pendleton, whose term has expired.
• James Hurt of Mount Washington is a contracting professional and has 21 years of distinguished military service.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Griffin Gillis to the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners to serve for a term expiring Nov. 3, 2030.

• Griffin Gillis of Frankfort is the deputy director of the Kentucky Justice Association and will become its next CEO on Jan. 1, 2027. He replaces Laken Albrink, whose term has expired.

Gov. Beshear has reappointed Chad Henderson and Shannon Johnson to the Kentucky State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to serve for terms expiring Oct. 6, 2029.

• Chad Henderson of Somerset is a chiropractor at Henderson Chiropractic.
• Shannon Johnson of Wurtland is a self-employed chiropractor.

###