From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jerry Abramson
Jerry Abramson
Jerry Abramson Preceded Harvey I. Sloane
by
Succeeded David L. Armstrong
by
Personal details
Born September 12, 1946 (1946-09-12)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Political Democratic
party
Spouse(s) Madeline
Residence Crescent Hill, Louisville, Kentucky
Alma Indiana University Bloomington, Georgetown
mater University Law School
Profession Attorney, politician
Religion Jewish
Jerry Edwin Abramson (born September 12, 1946) is a De-
mocratic politician who is the 55th and current Lieuten-
ant Governor of Kentucky.[1]
Abramson previously served as the longest serving
Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky. Before his most recent
term as the Metro Mayor of the merged city-county gov-
Jerry Abramson while campaigning for Lieutenant ernment Louisville Metro (a merger he championed),
Governor
Abramson was the only person to have served three
55th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky terms as Mayor of Louisville, fulfilling the allowed term
limit. Abramson’s original third term was extended by
Incumbent
one year as part of a state-mandated transition to align
Assumed office the dates of local and federal elections.
December 13, 2011 Abramson’s long period of service to Louisville as its
Governor Steve Beshear mayor, as well as the fact that Abramson had never faced
strong opposition in mayoral elections, led to the nick-
Preceded Daniel Mongiardo name of "mayor for life" being used locally, including by
by
Louisville’s own popular radio personality Terry Mein-
1st Mayor of Louisville Metro ers. Abramson’s popularity resulted in Bluegrass Poll ap-
In office
proval ratings ranging from a 91 percent high in 1990 to
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2011 a 73 percent low in 1994.[2]
From 1993 to 1994, he was President of the United
Preceded Office created
States Conference of Mayors. He is currently a member
by
of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition,[3] an orga-
Succeeded Greg Fischer nization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York Ci-
by ty mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas
47th Mayor of Louisville Menino.
On July 19, 2009, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear
In office
announced that Abramson would be running for Lieuten-
January 1, 1986 – January 1, 1999
ant Governor of Kentucky on his ticket in 2011.[4] Abram-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jerry Abramson
son has also served as an executive-in-residence at Bel-
larmine University.[5]
Early life
Abramson grew up in the Louisville suburb of Strathmoor
Village, Kentucky.[6] Before serving as a mayor in two
different forms of government of Louisville he worked
at Abramson’s Market at 738 South Preston Street[6] in
Louisville’s Smoketown neighborhood, then owned by
his father Roy and founded by his grandparents. He grad-
uated from Seneca High School and served for two years
in the Army, but did not see combat.
While a student at Indiana University Bloomington,
Abramson became active in politics by volunteering for
Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 campaign for president. After
graduating from IU, Abramson attended Georgetown
University Law School.[6]
Abramson practiced law with Greenebaum Doll &
McDonald, PLLC. Before his first run for mayor, Abram-
son also served as alderman for two terms and as general
counsel to governor John Y. Brown, Jr.[6]
Mayor of Louisville Abramson while serving as Mayor
Abramson’s tenure as mayor from 1985 to 1998 was
marked by high popularity as Louisville’s economy grew Abramson was re-elected mayor in November 2006;
and the decline in urban population that began in the his opponent was Metro Council member Kelly Downard
1950s slowed greatly. Abramson began the nonprofit (R).[10]
civic beautification program Operation Brightside, led Abramson is the first person of Jewish faith to have
the $700 million expansion of Louisville International served as mayor of Louisville. He lives in the Crescent Hill
Airport, revitalized the city’s waterfront with the cre- neighborhood with his wife, Madeline.[6]
ation of Waterfront Park and expanded the local econo- Kentucky Monthly magazine’s readers voted Abramson
my by recruiting the international headquarters for Tri- "Kentucky’s Best" civic figure five times (2002–2006).
con Global Restaurants (known as Yum! Brands, Inc. today),
Presbyterian Church (USA) and UPS Air Hub 2000. Lieutenant Governor of Ken-
Subsequent to his first tenure as mayor, Abramson
practiced law with the Frost Brown Todd LLC firm and tucky
taught at Bellarmine University.[7] See also: Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2011
On July 19, 2009, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear an-
Metro Mayor nounced that Abramson would step down after his sec-
ond term as Mayor of Louisville Metro to become his
After the merger of Louisville and Jefferson County was Lieutenant Governor running mate in his re-election
approved, the previous term limits no longer applied. campaign in 2011. This came after Dan Mongiardo de-
Abramson was easily elected Louisville’s first Metro May- cided to run for U.S. Senate. Since Abramson’s planned
or in 2002 by 73.4 percent of the vote over Republican departure was announced, many candidates announced
challenger Jack Early, former mayor of Hurstbourne, they would run to succeed him in 2010.[4] Businessman
Kentucky, a major suburb of Louisville.[8] Greg Fischer won the Democratic nomination and gener-
One of Abramson’s first actions as Metro Mayor was al election to succeed Abramson.
to appoint Robert C. White Chief of the troubled The Beshear-Abramson ticket won in a landslide
Louisville Metro Police Department, the first African- against Senate President David Williams and his running
American to hold the post. The move proved to be polit- mate Richie Farmer. Abramson took office as the 55th
ically wise, helping to calm criticism of the department Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky on December 13, 2011.
from the black community in Louisville.[9] He has received speculation over his political future,
which include a possible run for Governor.
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jerry Abramson
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky Succeeded by
Harvey I. Sloane January 1, 1986–January 1, 1999 David L. Armstrong
Preceded by Mayor of Louisville Metro Succeeded by
New office January 6, 2003–January 2, 2011 Greg Fischer
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky Incumbent
Daniel Mongiardo 2011–present
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor Succeeded by
Daniel Mongiardo of Kentucky Most recent
2011
See also [8] Rodriguez, Nancy (2002-11-06). "ELECTION 2002;
Abramson wins easily, eyes future". The Courier-
• Government of Louisville, Kentucky Journal.
• Louisville Metro Council [9] Gerth, Joseph (2002-12-19). "White named police
• Louisville mayoral election, 2010 chief". The Courier-Journal.
[10] Gerth, Joseph (2006-11-07). "Abramson claims
References victory". The Courier-Journal.
[1] Sanders, Chase (2011-11-08). "Gubernatorial race:
Beshear wins second term". Kentucky Kernel. External links
http://kykernel.com/2011/11/08/gubernatorial- • "Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson".
race-beshear-wins-second-term. Retrieved Commonwealth of Kentucky.
November 8, 2011. http://ltgovernor.ky.gov/.
[2] Gerth, Joseph (2005-02-18). "The Courier-Journal • "Abramson for Mayor campaign website". Archived
Bluegrass Poll; Mayor, council get good job from the original on 2007-05-19.
review". Courier-Journal. pp. 1A. http://web.archive.org/web/20070519045106/
[3] "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members". http://www.abramsonformayor.com/.
Archived from the original on 2008-01-18. • Beshear/Abramson 2011
http://web.archive.org/web/20080118080847/ • Mayor’s webpage on Louisville Metro Government
http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/ website
about/members.shtml. Retrieved June 12, 2007. • Profile in The Economist
[4] ^ Gerth, Joseph (2009-07-19). "Abramson to be • The U.S. Conference of Mayors website
Beshear’s running mate in 2011". The Courier- |}
Journal. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ Persondata
courier_journal/access/
Name Abramson, Jerry Edwin
1796069351.html?dids=1796069351:1796069351&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+19,+2009&author=Joseph+Gerth&pub=Cour
+Journal&edition=&startpage=n/ Alternative
names
a&desc=Abramson+to+be+Beshear’s+running+mate+in+2011.
Retrieved 2009-07-20. Short description Kentucky politician
[5] "Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson Joins Bellarmine Date of birth September 12, 1946
University as Executive-in-Residence in 2011".
Place of birth Louisville, Kentucky, United
http://www.bellarmine.edu/news/
States
more.asp?event_id=794. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
[6] ^ Gerth, Joseph (2006-10-22). "Friends turn foes for Date of death living
mayoral campaign". Louisville, Kentucky: The Place of death none
Courier-Journal. p. 1A.
[7] Rodriguez, Nancy (2002-10-27). "Louisville/
Jefferson County Mayor; Abramson looks toward
biggest career challenge". The Courier-Journal.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerry_Abramson&oldid=467447442"
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jerry Abramson
Categories:
• Mayors of Louisville, Kentucky
• 1946 births
• Kentucky Democrats
• Indiana University alumni
• Georgetown University Law Center alumni
• Bellarmine University faculty
• Living people
• Lieutenant Governors of Kentucky
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