NEWS Release
312 West Main St., Frankfort, KY  40601
(502) 564-6643
CONTACT:  Betsy Nowland-Curry, Executive Director
                                     Ann Ferrell, Project Manager
DATE:  November 16, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Governor Paul Patton Appoints Task Force to Examine the Economic Status of Kentucky’s Women


Frankfort, KY—Governor Paul E. Patton held a press conference today to announce the appointment of the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Status of Kentucky’s Women.  Joining Governor Patton and the members of the Task Force, were First Lady Judi Patton and former Governor Martha Layne Collins who will serve as Honorary Co-chairs.   The Kentucky Commission on Women will manage the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Status of Kentucky’s Women. 

“This initiative is important because it will identify ways to improve the quality of life and opportunities for achieving economic advancement for Kentucky women and their families. This will result in moving the entire Commonwealth toward a higher standard of living and a brighter future,” Governor Patton said. 

The mission of the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Status of Kentucky’s Women is to examine the issues that are obstacles to the economic progress of Kentucky women, identify solutions, and develop a plan of action.  Members will be appointed for a 12–month term.  Hundreds of volunteers from across the Commonwealth have signed up to serve on Issue Committees that will examine the following areas:  Education and Leadership, Economic Development and Employment, Women in Positions of Power, Social and Cultural Barriers, and State Government Employees.  The Committees will report their findings to the Task Force and a plan of action will be developed based on their findings. 

Of the Task Force Mrs. Patton said, “This project is an important opportunity to ensure that the needs of Kentucky women are addressed, and the enormous numbers of volunteers that have stepped up to this challenge give us great confidence in the success of this project.” 

Former Governor Martha Layne Collins said, “We know that unless the needs of Kentucky women, 51% of the population, are not addressed, Kentucky cannot move forward.” 

At this press conference the Kentucky Commission on Women formally released a report of eight town meetings held throughout the Commonwealth in April and May of 2001.  This report, outlining the issues of concern to participants from 35 Kentucky counties, will serve as the starting point for the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Status of Kentucky’s Women. 

More information about the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Status of Kentucky’s Women can be found on the Kentucky Commission on Women’s Web site: http://women.state.ky.us. 

Members of the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Status of Kentucky’s Women: 

First Lady Judi Patton, Honorary Co-Chair
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Frankfort 

Governor Martha Layne Collins, Honorary Co-Chair
Georgetown College, Georgetown 

Donna Peden, Vice Chair
KCW Member, Nicholasville 

Dr. Bill Brundage
Kentucky Innovations Commission, Frankfort 

Deputy Secretary Singer Buchanan
Personnel Cabinet, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Frankfort 

Mr. Kevin Canifax
Fidelity Investment, Covington 

Ms. Judith Clabes
Scripps-Howard Foundation, Ft. Mitchell 

Ms. Beverly Martin Daly
Kentucky State Data Center, Louisville 

Dr. Gordon Davies
Council on Post-Secondary Education, Frankfort 

Ms. Dawn Davis
Xodiac Internet Data Centers, Louisville 

Ms. Doris Deuth
Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women, Pewee Valley

Mr. Andy Downs
KY Chamber of Commerce, Frankfort
 

Representative Jon Draud
Kentucky General Assembly, Crestview Hills 

Ms. Virginia Fox
Kentucky Educational Television, Lexington 

Mr. Mike Hammons
Forward Quest, Covington 

Ms. Audrey Haynes
Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Frankfort 

Secretary Marlene Helm
Education, Arts and Humanities Cabinet, Frankfort 

Ms. Mary Hemmer
Hemmer Construction, Edgewood 

Judge Margaret R. Huddleston
Warren County Family Court, Bowling Green 

Ms. Martha Johnson
Ashland Inc. Foundation, Covington 

Ms. Eleanor Jordan
Cabinet for Families and Children, Frankfort 

Ms. Carol Jordan
Governor's Office of Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Services, Frankfort 

Senator David Karem
Kentucky General Assembly, Louisville 

Secretary Crit Luallen
Executive Cabinet, Frankfort 

Representative Mary Lou Marzian
Kentucky General Assembly, Louisville 

Ms. Gwen Mayes
Office of Women's Physical and Mental Health, Frankfort 

Ms. Marion McAleer
US Army & Armor Center, Fort Knox 

Dr. Michael McCall
KCTCS, Lexington 

Treasurer Jonathan Miller
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Frankfort 

Secretary Viola Miller
Cabinet for Families and Children, Frankfort 

Ms. Elaine (Cissy) Musselman
Risk Management Services, Louisville

Ms. Latondra Newton
Toyota Motor Manufacturing KY, Inc., Erlanger 

Secretary Joe Norsworthy
Labor Cabinet, Frankfort 

Representative Ruth Ann Palumbo
Kentucky General Assembly, Lexington
 

Ms. Nicki Patton
Kentucky Democratic Party, Frankfort 

Mr. Jim Purgerson
Ashland Alliance, Ashland 

Secretary Allen Rose
Cabinet for Workforce Development, Frankfort 

Mr. Chris Sanders
AFL-CIO, Frankfort 

Ms. Amy Scarborough
BellSouth, Richmond 

Ms. Michal Smith Mello
KLTPRC, Frankfort

Representative Kathy Stein
Kentucky General Assembly, Lexington 

Ms. Jane Stephenson
Steele-Reese Foundation, Lexington 

Secretary Marvin E. Strong
Cabinet for Economic Development, Frankfort 

Dr. Kim Townley
Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, Frankfort 

Ms. Beverly Watts
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, Louisville 

Representative Robin Webb
Kentucky General Assembly, Grayson 

Representative Barbara White Colter
Kentucky General Assembly, Manchester 

Ms. Ellen Williams
Republican Party of Kentucky, Frankfort 

Mr. Steve Zea
West Kentucky Corporation, Murray 


The Kentucky Commission on Women works to improve the status of the women in Kentucky, educates the public about issues and challenges pertaining to women and acts as an informational clearinghouse for women around the Commonwealth.