Jon Draud, who currently occupies the seat of the district 3 on the Kenton County Fiscal Court, will not seek reelection to the county body, LINK nky learned this week. Draud had intimated his interest in possibly running again last year, but he confirmed with LINK nky Friday that he was planning on retiring at the conclusion of his current term, which wraps up at the end of the year.
“I just don’t have the energy for it,” Draud, currently 87, told LINK nky. “I don’t want to do something without my heart in it.”
A first-generation college graduate, Draud has been involved in education, politics and community life for over 60 years. He worked as a government teacher at Holmes High School and led the baseball team to a state championship in 1963. He later served as an elementary school principal in Covington Schools, as well as a principal in Lockland, Ohio. He served as the superintendent of Ludlow Schools from 1978 to 1997. He also taught graduate-level education courses at Xavier University for 30 years.
After retiring from education, Draud got into politics. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007, representing the 63rd House district. He was appointed to serve as the Kentucky Commissioner of Education in 2007, but he was unable to serve out his term due to health problems. He was elected to the Kenton County Fiscal Court in 2011.
“I’ve been able to do a lot of good things for kids and adults throughout my 65 years, and I’m really proud of that,” Draud said of his time in the public sphere.
As for his political party?
“I was never really a party person,” Draud also said. “I just did what I thought was right.”
Three Republicans (Rebecca Reckers, Scott Kimmich and Matthew Hayden) and two Democrats (Jordan Baldridge and John Busse) have filed for run for the seat of district 3 on the Fiscal Court, as of Jan. 8.
County commissioners are legislative representatives of county fiscal courts. Commissioners are primarily responsible for passing countywide ordinances (laws) and setting the county budget. Commissioners, like city council members, also serve as representatives for their constituents who advocate for their interests at higher levels of government, such as the general assembly. You can learn more about the roles of county commissioners by reading LINK nky’s explainer.