Damon Thayer

Damon Thayer (born September 16, 1967) is an American Republican politician. He is the Majority Leader of the Kentucky State Senate, being first elected by the 17th District in 2003. Thayer was raised in Grayling, MI. He attended Michigan State University.

Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) is the Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader. Elected to that position by his Republican colleagues in January 2013, he is only the third Republican to serve as Majority Leader of the Kentucky State Senate. The first was Senator Dan Kelly in 2000 when the Senate initially flipped to Republican control. The second was Senator Robert Stivers, who now serves as the Kentucky Senate President.

Among several awards and recognitions in his time as a Kentucky legislator, Senator Thayer is a three-time recipient of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award; a two-time recipient of the “Big Hitter Award,” presented by the Kentucky League of Cities; and was selected as 23rd on a list of the 40 most influential people in the debate to decide the future of U.S. Pensions, by Institutional Investor Magazine for his sponsorship of Senate Bill 2, which reformed the Kentucky Employee Pension System and was passed into law in 2013.

In his position as Senate Majority Floor Leader, Senator Thayer helps guide bills through the legislative process on the Senate floor and acts as a key contributor in setting the policy agenda. Leader Thayer acts on behalf of his party during the proceedings on the Senate floor. As a member of Senate Leadership, Senator Thayer serves on the Committee on Committees, the Rules Committee and the Legislative Research Commission. Additionally, he serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee; Senate Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee; and the Senate State and Local Government Committee.

Before being elected to his Leadership post, Senator Thayer chaired the Senate State and Local Government Committee from 2005-2012. As chairman, he played a pivotal role in the most significant issues of the day such as pension reform evidenced by his sponsorship of Senate Bill 2, redistricting, election law, special districts, government ethics and transparency.

First elected to the Kentucky State Senate in a 2003 special election, Senator Thayer represents the citizens of the 17th District, which encompasses Grant, Scott and southern Kenton Counties.

Born September 16, 1967, Senator Thayer graduated from Michigan State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He is the owner of Thayer Communications and Consulting LLC, a marketing communications firm in Georgetown.

Senator Thayer is a member of the Scott and Grant Counties Chambers of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, Kentucky Right to Life, the Scott County Farm Bureau, and is a Kentucky Colonel.

Senator Thayer is the former Vice Chairman (1999-2004) of the Republican Party of Kentucky. The Grant County Republican Party honored him for outstanding community service in 2004, and the Scott County Republican Party presented him the Ira & Constance Gray Award for his dedication to Republican Party principles in 2007.

Personal

He has two children, Daniel and Katie.

Awards and honors

• 2004

Outstanding Community Service Award from the Grant County Republican Party 2006

Senator Thayer received special recognition from the Kentucky Sheriffs Association “Champion of Quarter Horses in Kentucky” award from the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association Leadership Award “Big Hitter” Award from the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) Inducted into the Grayling High School (MI) Alumni Hall of Fame.

• 2007

Named Scott County 4-H Council “Man of the Year” Received special recognition from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association. “Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities Ira & Constance Gray Award from the Scott County Republican Party for his dedication to Republican Party principles

• 2008

“Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities

• 2009

Received honors from the Associated General Contractors with the “Legislative Award of Merit” “Friend of Industry Award” from the Kentucky Malt Beverage Council. “Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities

• 2011

Received the “Key to the City” from the cities of Taylor Mill and Independence for support and leadership in their local communities. “Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities

• 2012

Recipient of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association Presidential Award Kentucky Club for Growth Defender of Economic Freedom Award “Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities

• 2013

“Big Hitter” Award by the Kentucky League of Cities Distinguished Legislator Award from the Kentucky County Attorneys Association Kentucky Chamber of Commerce MVP Award (second consecutive year) due to his strong support of the business community. Recognized with the Prevent Child Abuse KY’s Legislative Champion Award for his work to establish the Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel For his sponsorship of Senate Bill 2, which reformed the Kentucky Employee Pension System and was passed into law, Sen. Thayer was selected as 23rd on a list of the 40 most influential people in the debate to decide the future of U.S. Pensions, by Institutional Investor Magazine.

• 2014

“Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities

• 2015

“Friend of Vision” Award presented by the Kentucky Optometric Association to the non-optometrist who helped further the profession.

• 2016

“Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities

• 2017

Recipient of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s MVP Award “Friend of Kentucky Cities” by the Kentucky League of Cities American Conservative Union “Award of Conservative Excellence”

He has appeared on Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

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References