Boone County Senator John Schickel (R-Union) has announced his retirement.
Schickel has been representing the 11th District in Boone County since 2009, and he says that after 16 years, his time has come to an end.
“I have always thought citizen legislators should not make a career out of their service because I strongly believe in the founding principles of a government of the people and by the people. For that reason, I will not seek re-election in the coming year. My time as your state senator will conclude in December 2024,” Schickel said in a press release announcing his retirement.
In a statement on Schickel’s retirement, Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) said Schickel brought respect and trust to the legislative process.
“John ran his committee meetings with military precision, and it’s been a privilege to serve alongside him,” Stivers said in the statement. “Despite being a part-time legislator, John has always brought everything he has to Frankfort during our General Assembly and while back in our districts. John Schickel is a dear friend, and I wish him all the best in this next chapter of his life.”
Read Schickel’s full statement here:
Dear friend,
By the end of 2024, I will have served as state senator for Boone County and the 11th Senate District for 16 years.
The Kentucky General Assembly, like the U.S. Congress, was founded to be a citizen legislature. Members of the House and Senate come from many professions, including law enforcement and corrections, like myself, and others are educators, attorneys, small business owners, and more. I have always thought citizen legislators should not make a career out of their service because I strongly believe in the founding principles of a government of the people and by the people.
For that reason, I will not seek re-election in the coming year. My time as your state senator will conclude in December 2024.
I am grateful for your support over my decade and a half of service to Boone County and appreciate the many colleagues I have served with along the way. I also appreciate President Stivers and Senate Leadership’s trust in me over the years.
I look forward to my final legislative session beginning January 2. In my last year as your state senator, I will be an advocate for Boone County in the biennial state budget. I will continue to support public policy that is friendly for small businesses as chair of the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee. I will be working hard for you until the very last day.
Thank you again for your years of support and friendship. It has been my honor to be a member of our citizen legislature.