Crit Luallen

{{Infobox Officeholder

|name = Crit Luallen

|image = Crit Luallen.jpg

|office = 56th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

|governor = Steve Beshear

|term_start = November 13, 2014

|term_end = December 8, 2015

|predecessor = Jerry Abramson

|successor = Jenean Hampton

|office1 = Auditor of Kentucky

|governor1 = Ernie Fletcher
Steve Beshear

|term_start1 = January 5, 2004

|term_end1 = January 2, 2012

|predecessor1 = Ed Hatchett

|successor1 = Adam Edelen

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|7|21}}

|birth_place = Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|spouse = Lynn Luallen

|alma_mater = Centre College

}}

Eugenia Crittenden "Crit" Luallen (née Blackburn; born July 21, 1952) is an American politician who served as the 56th lieutenant governor of Kentucky from November 13, 2014, to December 8, 2015. Luallen previously served as Kentucky State Auditor.

Early life and career

Luallen is a native of Frankfort, Kentucky and graduated from Frankfort High School, before studying at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, graduating in 1974.{{cite web|last1=News|first1=Centre|title=Crit Luallen '74 sworn in as Kentucky's lieutenant governor|url=http://www.centre.edu/crit-luallen-74-sworn-in-as-kentuckys-lieutenant-governor/|website=Centre College|date=November 17, 2014|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006142954/http://www.centre.edu/crit-luallen-74-sworn-in-as-kentuckys-lieutenant-governor/|url-status=dead}} Luallen is descended from John Jordan Crittenden and Luke Pryor Blackburn, and she shares her name with both men.{{cite web|title=Lt. Gov. "Crit" Luallen to address degree candidates at EKU's Spring Commencement|url=http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Lt-Gov-Crit-Luallen-to-address-degree-candidates-at-EKUs-Spring-Commencement-300692761.html|website=WKYT|date=April 20, 2015|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006051628/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Lt-Gov-Crit-Luallen-to-address-degree-candidates-at-EKUs-Spring-Commencement-300692761.html|url-status=dead}} After graduating from Centre College, Luallen began working in the mailroom of Wendell Ford's senate campaign. Her dedication and work ethic, in the campaign, led to her working in communications.{{cite web|title=Crit Luallen- Centre Alumni|url=http://alumni.centre.edu/s/285/index.aspx?sid=285&gid=1&pgid=557|website=Centre College|access-date=September 7, 2015}} After Ford's campaign, Luallen worked on Julian Carroll's gubernatorial campaign and in the administration of John Y. Brown Jr.{{cite web|last1=Katz|first1=Barbara|title=TRUE CRIT|url=https://www.loumag.com/articledisplay.aspx?id=65488637|website=Louisville Magazine|date=August 2006|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006111856/https://www.loumag.com/articledisplay.aspx?id=65488637|archive-date=October 6, 2015|url-status=dead}}

In 1983, Luallen worked on the gubernatorial campaign for on Martha Layne Collins, serving as the Campaign Media Coordinator. She worked in the Collins administration, as a Special Assistant, and she was later appointed Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of the Arts. As Commissioner of the Arts, Luallen helped found the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts. After Governor Collins left office in 1988, Luallen took a position working with the Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership, a position she retained until 1992. Luallen returned to government in 1992, after taking being appointed the Secretary of the Kentucky Tourism Cabinet, a position she held until 1994. From 1994 to 1995, Luallen served as Secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet. In 1995, Paul E. Patton was elected Governor of Kentucky, and Luallen served as Secretary of the Executive Cabinet until 2002. Luallen received attention during her tenure under Governor Patton, particularly for helping to negotiate a 1997 tax incentive package for the United Parcel Service, during the 2000 tax reforms, as well as for her role in the 1997 higher education reforms.

Kentucky Auditor

She was elected to the position of state auditor in November 2003 and was re-elected by a wide margin in the 2007 Kentucky State Elections.Howington, Patrick. [http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/NEWS0106/711071087/1008/NEWS01 "Democrats' Crit Luallen wins 59 percent of the vote to keep Ky. auditor post"]. Lexington Herald-Leader, 7 November 2007 Luallen was not eligible to run for another term as Auditor in 2011. As Auditor, Luallen received near-universal praise, "uncovering millions of dollars in fraud—sending up a then-unheard-of 120 cases to law enforcement." She was seen as "a non-partisan figure whose work resulted in the prosecution of 34 public officials, many from her own party."{{cite web|last1=Hodge|first1=Rae|title=What You Need to Know About Kentucky's Next Lieutenant Governor, Crit Luallen|url=http://wfpl.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-kentuckys-next-lieutenant-governor-crit-luallen/|website=WFPL|date=November 9, 2014|access-date=September 7, 2015}} On Luallen's willingness as state auditor to search out crime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor commented, "I am very impressed with that office under her. They have the right attitude about being a watchdog."{{cite web|last1=Cheves|first1=John|title=From 2008: As Auditor of Public Accounts, Crit Luallen is devoted to pointing out what's wrong in an effort to make things right|url=http://www.kentucky.com/2008/08/17/492845_critical-crit.html?rh=1|website=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=August 17, 2008|access-date=September 7, 2015}} During her tenure as Auditor, Luallen successfully battled colon cancer and another unspecified cancer in 2004 and 2005.

Luallen was considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination to challenge Senator Mitch McConnell in the 2008 Election{{cite web|url=http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/7/043/45439 |title=KY-Sen: Schumer says Crit is in |publisher=Dailykos.com |date=2007-11-07 |access-date=2015-07-31}} before announcing her decision not to run but instead to remain as Auditor. In December 2011, Luallen said "At this stage in my career, I think the next race for me if I decide to run for statewide race would be for governor",{{cite web|url=http://mycn2.com/politics/crit-luallen-says-if-she-runs-statewide-again-it-would-be-for-governor|title=Crit Luallen says if she runs statewide again it 'would be for governor'|date=December 29, 2011|access-date=January 2, 2012|work=cn2|first=Ryan|last=Alessi}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/13/1957901/tom-eblen-as-she-leaves-auditors.html|title=Tom Eblen: As she leaves auditor's office, Crit Luallen plans a break, then another run|date=November 13, 2011|access-date=November 14, 2011|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|first=Tom|last=Eblen}} and ruled out running against McConnell in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://mycn2.com/politics/after-outlining-goals-to-improve-kentucky-luallen-says-she-s-still-mulling-run-for-governor|title=After outlining goals to improve Kentucky, Luallen says she's still mulling run for governor|date=July 20, 2012|access-date=October 22, 2012|work=Pure Politics|publisher=cn|2|first=Nick|last=Storm}} In April 2014, she ruled out running for Governor in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://mycn2.com/politics/former-democratic-state-auditor-crit-luallen-says-she-won-t-run-for-governor-in-2015|title=Former Auditor Crit Luallen says she won't run for governor in 2015|publisher=cn2|last=Alessi|first=Ryan|date=April 24, 2014|access-date=April 24, 2014}}

Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

On November 6, 2014, Governor Steve Beshear appointed Luallen Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, effective November 13, 2014. Luallen completed the term of Jerry Abramson who was appointed Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs by President Barack Obama.{{cite web |url=http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Sources-Lt-Gov-Jerry-Abramson-to-resign-Governor-to-appoint-successor-281770301.html |title=Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson resigns; Governor appoints successor |publisher=Wkyt.com |date=2014-11-06 |access-date=2015-07-31 |archive-date=2014-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106174523/http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Sources-Lt-Gov-Jerry-Abramson-to-resign-Governor-to-appoint-successor-281770301.html |url-status=dead }}

Honors

1994- Centre College Distinguished Alumni induction
2001- National Excellence in Leadership award from Women Executives in State Government{{cite web|url=http://auditor.ky.gov/Documents/BicentennialPDF/CritLuallenBio.pdf|title=CRIT LUALLEN|publisher=Kentucky State Government|date=2007|access-date=September 8, 2015}}
2009- Public Officials of the Year honoree from Governing{{cite web|url=http://www.governing.com/poy/Crit-Luallen.html|title=Crit Luallen|publisher=Governing|last=Walters|first=Jonathan|date=2009|access-date=September 8, 2015}}
2012- Fontaine Banks Award for Distinguished Service from Bluegrass Council of the Boy Scouts of America{{cite web|url=http://www.state-journal.com/local%20news/2012/03/22/crit-s-in-high-demand|title=CRIT'S IN HIGH DEMAND|publisher=The State Journal|last=Harrod|first=Kay|date=March 22, 2012|access-date=September 8, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
2012- Martha Layne Collins award from Women Leading Kentucky
2012- Honorary degree from Spalding University
2012- Kentucky Women Remembered induction
2015- Louisville Business First Enterprising Woman of Achievement{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/print-edition/2015/04/24/business-women-first-luallens-leadership-has.html|title=Business Women First: Luallen's leadership has benefited Kentucky for 40 years|publisher=Business First|last=Pritchett|first=Lucy|date=April 24, 2015|access-date=September 17, 2015}}