Larry Saunders

Larry Saunders
President of the Kentucky Senate
In office
January 7, 1997 – January 4, 2000
Preceded byJohn A. Rose
Succeeded byDavid Williams
Member of the Kentucky Senate
from the 37th district
In office
January 1, 1993 – January 1, 2005
Preceded byDan Seum
Succeeded byPerry B. Clark (2006)
In office
November 14, 1986 – January 1, 1989
Preceded byDanny Yocom
Succeeded byDan Seum
Personal details
Born(1939-08-01)August 1, 1939
DiedNovember 21, 2010(2010-11-21) (aged 71)
Political partyDemocratic

Larry L. Saunders (August 1, 1939 – November 21, 2010) was an American politician from Kentucky who was a member of the Kentucky Senate from 1986 to 1989 and 1993 to 2005, serving as the president of the Senate from 1997 to 2000. Saunders was first elected to the senate in a November 1986 special election following the resignation of incumbent senator Danny Yocom.[1] He was defeated for the Democratic nomination for a full term in 1998 by Dan Seum. Saunders defeated Seum in a rematch in 1992,[2] and served until he retired from the senate in 2004.[3]

Following the 1996 senate election, Democrats had 20 seats in the senate while Republicans had 18. In the 1997 organizational session, Saunders was elected president of the senate, defeating incumbent Democratic leader John A. Rose with the support of four democrats and all 18 Republicans.[4] Saunders organized the senate with Republicans and his Democratic allies chosen to chair senate committees.[5] In July and August 1999, two Democratic senators switched to the Republican party, giving them a majority in the chamber.[6] In January 2000, Saunders was formally replaced as senate president by Republican David Williams.[7]

He died in November 2010 at age 71.[8]

  1. ^ "Saunders sworn in as state senator". The Lexington Herald-Leader. November 15, 1986. p. B2.
  2. ^ "Education reform leader Noe and five other legislators lose". The Lexington Herald-Leader. May 27, 1992. p. A1.
  3. ^ "Gop hold on state senate at stake". The Lexington Herald-Leader. October 24, 2004. p. A1.
  4. ^ "Republican coup stuns state senate". The Lexington Herald-Leader. January 8, 1997. p. A1.
  5. ^ "'Loyal Democrats' snub leader roles". The Lexington Herald-Leader. January 9, 1997. p. A1.
  6. ^ "Leeper's switch gives GOP senate control". The Lexington Herald-Leader. August 23, 1999. p. A1.
  7. ^ "Legislature in no mood for tax boost". The Lexington Herald-Leader. January 4, 2000. p. A1.
  8. ^ "Larry L. Saunders". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.