Professional education programs can be a powerful driver for economic development, as well as a point of status for a community. Kentucky already has many types of professional programs like law, medicine, and engineering, just to name a few. However, they are all located in Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and Pikeville. None of these programs reside in the capital of our great Commonwealth. While these programs include both medical and legal, none include medical care for animals, thus it is time for us to develop a Kentucky School of Veterinary Medicine.
For decades, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has sent millions of our tax dollars to Auburn, Alabama so that our students would have a seat in their school of Veterinary medicine. Our aspiring veterinarians who want to work with large animals like horses or cattle or even smaller animals like dogs and cats, must leave the Bluegrass to earn their D.V.M. then return to Kentucky to practice caring for animals.
Don’t you think it’s past time for the Commonwealth of Kentucky to develop our own Veterinary School of Medicine? Kentucky is the Horse Capital of the World with major racetracks in Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Turfway Park, Red Mile, and Ellis Park. Kentucky has the largest number of cattle east of the Mississippi River. These two reasons alone are enough to advocate for the Kentucky School for Veterinary Medicine!
My plan would propose a partnership between private agriculture businesses and our two great land grant universities: Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky. The Kentucky School of Veterinary Medicine would set in Franklin County close to Exit 58 and be very visible on Interstate-64. The Governing Board would be derived from three members from the University of Kentucky Board, three members of the Board of Regents from Kentucky State University and three members from private industry. All sharing in the governance of this new institution.
If Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee can build a veterinary school of medicine in Lee County, Virginia, I believe we can do the same in our state capital. We must dream larger and act on those dreams. I know together we can see Frankfort and Franklin County live up to its full potential. We need a leader who can help bring great ideas to completion. That is why I am a candidate running for the House of Representatives seat in Franklin County.