Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has chosen former state Auditor Crit Luallen to serve as his lieutenant governor in his final year in office.
Luallen will replace Jerry Abramson, the former longtime Louisville mayor who is stepping down as lieutenant governor to accept a job in President Barack Obama's administration.
She worked for several governors dating back to the 1970s, and rose through the ranks to become secretary of the executive cabinet in then-Gov. Paul Patton's administration.
Luallen said she quickly accepted Beshear’s invitation to be Lt. Governor.
"I think he’s at a stage in this administration where all the major initiatives are underway and moving forward," said Luallen. "It will be my job to help him end in as strong a position as possible. I don’t imagine I would be taking on any new, separate initiatives other than supporting him in any way that I can."
She also said she won’t campaign for anyone in the Democratic primary.
"I have personally endorsed Jack Conway in the governor’s race, but the governor and I have discussed the fact that as head of the party in the state, the governor will not be involved in the Democratic primary if there’s a Democratic primary, nor will I. But we expect to both be very involved once that Democratic nominee is chosen."
Earlier this year Luallen ruled out a run in next year's wide-open race for governor, but has endorsed Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway’s bid for the office.
She’ll become the third woman to serve as Kentucky’s Lt. Governor when she’s sworn in next week.