Rep. Fred Nesler won't seek 11th term, becomes 3rd Western KY House Dem to retire

Democratic Rep. Fred Nesler of Mayfield told Pure Politics on Wednesday that he won’t run for an 11th term to represent the 2nd House District in western Kentucky.

Nesler, a realtor who was first elected in 1992, had said in an interview Tuesday that he hadn’t made a decision yet about whether to run again. But after talking it over with his wife late Tuesday night, he said he decided 20 years in the General Assembly was enough.

Nesler said his decision had nothing to do with redistricting because he said the 2nd district is slated to change very little.

He also said he did not have anyone in mind that he wants to push to succeed him.

“I don’t feel by any means that it is the right thing to choose who will follow me in this seat,” Nesler said.

But he said he does plan to remain involved in politics, including every year at the annual Fancy Farm picnic that occurs in his home county.

Nelser’s announcement follows two other long-time western Kentucky Democratic House members’ decisions not to run again in 2012.

Rep. Melvin Henley, a Murray Democrat, told Pure Politics in a phone interview Tuesday that he wouldn’t run for a fifth term next year because he believes lawmakers should be limited to eight years in office.
Henley’s retirement was first reported Monday by the Murray Times & Ledger.

And earlier this month, seven-term Rep. Mike Cherry, D-Princeton, announced he wouldn’t run again in 2012.