FORT THOMAS, Ky. -- Fort Thomas City Councilman Adam Meier will resign his position on the Fort Thomas City Council to join the leadership team of Kentucky Governor-Elect Matt Bevin in Frankfort.
Meier will serve as Bevin's deputy chief of staff for policy.
"It has been my distinct pleasure to serve the people of Fort Thomas over these last 11 months." Meier told WCPO media partner Fort Thomas Matters. "Accepting this new position was not a decision I made lightly. Although I will not be able to complete my term, I am happy with the progress that we made, and the discussions that we started."
"We continue to add depth to the bench as we carefully fill key roles in the administration,” Bevin said in a news release issued Wednesday. “Adam Meier has been an invaluable resource in shaping our policy agenda and will add a steady hand to the process in the governor’s office.”
Meier, 33, is a Northern Kentucky attorney and served as a policy and political adviser for Bevin's campaign. As deputy chief of staff for policy, Meier’s focus will be oversight of policy advising, formation, coordination and implementation to move Governor Bevin’s agenda forward.
Meier is a graduate of Georgetown College and the Florida Coastal School of Law. He and his wife, Laura, reside in Fort Thomas with three children.
"The 4th district, in particular Northern Kentucky, needs a conservative voice on the Governor's staff," said Congressman Thomas Massie (KY-R). "I can think of no better voice than Adam Meier. Adam has a great command of policy issues at all levels of Government. This is a great hire for the Commonwealth and for Northern Kentucky."
Fort Thomas Mayor Eric Haas agreed with Massie.
“It’s going to be a great thing for Adam and for Northern Kentucky to have him in his new role in Matt Bevin’s administration,” said Haas. "We are going to miss him on council. He’s very intelligent, caring and I love the fact that he researches each issue in depth before he takes a stand. He’s been a great listener and doesn’t take offense if someone disagrees with him. You can have an intelligent conversation with him and I really respect that a lot.”
According to Jennifer McGrath of the Campbell County Clerk's office, Fort Thomas will have to appoint someone to fill Meier's seat on council. The only restrictions will be the same as getting a name on the general election ballot: you must be 18 years old and have lived in the city for over a year.
The appointed term will expire with the other council seats, on December 31, 2015.
Bevin also announced that Andrew McNeill will serve as Senior Advisor to the Governor. McNeil, 42, has been the executive director for the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association since December 2012. His prior professional experience includes serving as legislative director in Kentucky’s Governor’s Office. He was the Chief of Staff to Kentucky’s Secretary of Commerce and the Executive Director for the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy.
"I am humbled at the opportunity to serve the Bevin Administration. From the beginning, Governor-elect Bevin has laid out a clear vision to move Kentucky down the road to economic prosperity. I look forward helping the Governor-elect achieve his positive vision. Rest assured, that in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy in the Bevin Administration, I will continue to advocate for effective and efficient policy at the state level," said Meier.
In his time on Fort Thomas City Council, Meier led the charge to discuss a budget neutral property tax rate, campaigned on his "Pretty the City" initiative to create a tax moratorium on some property types and started a discussion that would use franchise fees to replace individuals having to pay for street repair.
Mark Collier is editor-in-chief and publisher of WCPO media partner Fort Thomas Matters. Read his original report here.
