Steve Nunn
Encyclopedia
Stephen R. "Steve" Nunn is the former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Commonwealth of Kentucky
. He was previously Republican
member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from Glasgow, the seat of Barren County
in southern Kentucky
. He is the son of the late Kentucky Governor
Louie B. Nunn
.
Nunn unsuccessfully sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2003
, coming third to then-United States Representative Ernie Fletcher
of Lexington
, whom Nunn then supported. Nunn received 21,167 votes (13.4 percent) in the primary. Fletcher led the three-candidate field with 90,912 (57.3 percent). Rebecca Jackson
polled 44,084 (27.8 percent). Fletcher went on to win the position in the general election
by defeating Attorney General
Ben Chandler
. Fletcher was the first Republican to be elected governor of Kentucky since Louie B. Nunn
, Steve Nunn's father, in 1967.
On November 7, 2006, after 15 years as a state representative, Nunn lost his bid for re-election to the Democrat Johnny Bell. Nunn polled 5,572 votes (46.7 percent) to Bell's 6,371 ballots (53.3 percent).
In September 2007, Nunn announced his support of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Steve Beshear
, a former lieutenant governor
who defeated Fletcher in his bid for re-election.
On December 22, 2007, Beshear appointed Nunn as deputy secretary of Health and Family Services.
Ross was found shot to death on September 11, 2009. The same day, Nunn was found in Hart County near the gravesites of his parents, and was taken to a Bowling Green
hospital in fair condition due to wounds, possibly self-inflicted. Nunn was charged with six counts of wanton endangerment of a police officer because, according to police, when police arrived to arrest him, he fired a .38-caliber handgun. On September 14, Nunn was taken into the Hart County jail after being discharged from the hospital. The same day, Nunn was charged by Lexington police with the murder of Ross. On September 17, Nunn was transferred to the Fayette County Detention Center. The next day, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in Fayette District Court. On November 10, Nunn was indicted on charges of murder and violating a protection order. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty
.
On June 28, 2011 Former State Rep. Steve Nunn pleaded guilty to the 2009 murder of Amanda Ross in Lexington.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He was previously Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
from Glasgow, the seat of Barren County
Barren County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,033 people, 15,346 households, and 10,941 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 17,095 housing units at an average density of...
in southern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He is the son of the late Kentucky Governor
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
Louie B. Nunn
Louie B. Nunn
Louie Broady Nunn was the 52nd governor of Kentucky. Elected in 1967, he was the first Republican elected to that office since Simeon Willis in 1943 and the last to hold it until the election of Ernie Fletcher in 2003....
.
Nunn unsuccessfully sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2003
Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2003
The 2003 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on 4 November 2003 for the post of Governor of Kentucky. Republican candidate Ernie Fletcher defeated Democrat Ben Chandler and became the first Republican governor of Kentucky in 32 years.-Campaign:...
, coming third to then-United States Representative Ernie Fletcher
Ernie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th governor of Kentucky and served in that office...
of Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, whom Nunn then supported. Nunn received 21,167 votes (13.4 percent) in the primary. Fletcher led the three-candidate field with 90,912 (57.3 percent). Rebecca Jackson
Rebecca Jackson
Rebecca Jackson is a former Republican politician from Louisville, Kentucky, previously serving as the Jefferson County Judge/Executive and also running unsuccessfully for the party nomination for governor...
polled 44,084 (27.8 percent). Fletcher went on to win the position in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
by defeating Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Ben Chandler
Ben Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
. Fletcher was the first Republican to be elected governor of Kentucky since Louie B. Nunn
Louie B. Nunn
Louie Broady Nunn was the 52nd governor of Kentucky. Elected in 1967, he was the first Republican elected to that office since Simeon Willis in 1943 and the last to hold it until the election of Ernie Fletcher in 2003....
, Steve Nunn's father, in 1967.
On November 7, 2006, after 15 years as a state representative, Nunn lost his bid for re-election to the Democrat Johnny Bell. Nunn polled 5,572 votes (46.7 percent) to Bell's 6,371 ballots (53.3 percent).
In September 2007, Nunn announced his support of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Steve Beshear
Steve Beshear
Steven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
, a former lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
who defeated Fletcher in his bid for re-election.
On December 22, 2007, Beshear appointed Nunn as deputy secretary of Health and Family Services.
Murder charges involving ex-fiancée
In March, 2009, Steve Nunn resigned his post after being put on administrative leave in February as a result of the February 19, 2009, alleged assault of his former fiancée, Amanda Ross, in Lexington.Ross was found shot to death on September 11, 2009. The same day, Nunn was found in Hart County near the gravesites of his parents, and was taken to a Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
hospital in fair condition due to wounds, possibly self-inflicted. Nunn was charged with six counts of wanton endangerment of a police officer because, according to police, when police arrived to arrest him, he fired a .38-caliber handgun. On September 14, Nunn was taken into the Hart County jail after being discharged from the hospital. The same day, Nunn was charged by Lexington police with the murder of Ross. On September 17, Nunn was transferred to the Fayette County Detention Center. The next day, he pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in Fayette District Court. On November 10, Nunn was indicted on charges of murder and violating a protection order. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
.
On June 28, 2011 Former State Rep. Steve Nunn pleaded guilty to the 2009 murder of Amanda Ross in Lexington.