Heavrin takes oath as state rep

“I’ve always worked,” she said. “No reason to stop now.”

Since winning the special election Nov. 5, Heavrin has participated in a legislative or­ien­tation and attended Frank­fort committee meetings to familiarize herself with the role. As the 18th District re­presentative, she serves Gray­son and an adjacent sliver of Hardin County.

Moments later after the group shared in the Pled­ge of Allegiance and a time of pray­er, Heavrin step­ped to the front of the room to take the oath from Grayson County Judge-Ex­ec­utive Ke­vin Hen­der­son, who she’s known since childhood.

The 27-year-old Re­pub­li­can, who becomes the young­est woman ever to serve in the Kentucky General Assem­bly, shared the spotlight with her parents, Ray and Monica Heavrin, as they each rested a hand on a Bible given to Sa­mara by her late grandmother, Barbara Bishop.

“The word for this is humbling,” she said in an interview prior to the ceremony. “It’s an honor to be in these shoes.”

About 100 people crowded into the meeting room to watch the ceremony in­cluding former state Rep. Tim Moore, who she replaces as the 18th District representative, and Congressman Brett Guthrie, who was her boss during a Washington, D.C., internship while a student at Western Kentucky University.

In brief remarks as the ceremony opened, Guthrie said he observed her work ethic and likability. He said he’s convinced Heavrin has the primary personal qualities required of a people’s legislator.

“I think the key to being successful is just being approach­able, particularly in a legislative job,” he said. “People have opinions. They want to share them. They want to tell you. The decisions you make effect a lot of people directly ... and then people need help and they approach you. And I think you’re just going to be blessed.”