Drexell R. Davis
Drexell R. Davis (July 19, 1921 – December 16, 2009) was a Democrat who held several elected offices in Kentucky. He was born in Shelby County, Kentucky.
For 100 years (1891–1992) the
Kentucky Constitution did not allow any holder of statewide office to succeed themselves for a second consecutive term. As a result, a handful of Kentucky politicians became known as "musical chairs" officeholders because they would run for one statewide office and then another repeatedly. Thelma Stovall, Frances Jones Mills
and Drex Davis were the best known musical chairs officeholders. The three often traded offices in given election years through the 1970s and 1980s.
Clerk of the Court of Appeals
Davis began his career in statewide elective office by winning election as Clerk of the
Edward T. Breathitt.[1] (Clerk of the Court of Appeals was a partisan elective office into the 1970s in Kentucky). Davis served as Clerk from 1964 to 1968. Davis ran for Kentucky State Treasurer in 1967, but lost.[1]
Treasurer and Secretary of State
Davis won election as Kentucky State Treasurer in 1971 on a ticket headed by
John Y. Brown, Jr. and won, serving 1980–1984.[1] Davis' last elective office was Secretary of State of Kentucky, which he won in 1983 on a ticket headed by Martha Layne Collins, serving 1984–1988.[1]
Retirement
In 1991, Davis' son Drexell R. Davis Jr. ran for state treasurer but lost in a crowded Democratic primary to Frances Jones Mills who had held the office previously.
Davis died on December 16, 2009, in Frankfort, Kentucky.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Brammer, Jack. Veteran state officeholder Drex Davis dies at 88 Lexington Herald-Leader Retrieved on December 16, 2009.
Further reading
- 200 Years of the Kentucky Treasury (PDF). Kentucky Treasury Department. 1992. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2009-12-11.