(FRANKFORT, Ky.) — Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams has been named Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine, joining six other government leaders from across the nation in receiving the prestigious honor.
The recognition, announced Wednesday, marks the first time a Kentuckian has received the award in a decade. The last state official to earn the distinction was Senate President Robert Stivers in 2015.
Adams emphasized the importance of collaboration in government when responding to the news.
“When people look at Washington and see dysfunction and the federal government literally not working, this is a great reminder that there is another way: toning down the rhetoric and working together to solve our biggest challenges,” Adams said.
Governing Magazine’s annual awards recognize state and local officials from both political parties who have achieved meaningful improvements for their constituents. Recipients are selected not only for their impact in their home jurisdictions but also for providing examples that other leaders can follow.
This represents Adams’ second major national honor in as many years. In 2024, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation presented him with the JFK Profile in Courage Award.