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.