Drexell R. Davis
Encyclopedia
Drexell R. Davis a Democrat
, held several elective offices in Kentucky
. He was born Shelby County, Kentucky
.
For 100 years (1891–1992) the Kentucky Constitution
did not allow any holder of statewide office to succeed themselves for a second consecutive term. As a result, a handful of Kentucky politicians became known as "musical chairs" officeholders because they would run for one statewide office and then another repeatedly. Thelma Stovall
, Frances Jones Mills
and Drex Davis were the best known musical chairs officeholders. The three often traded offices in given election years through the 1970s and 1980s.
Davis began his career in statewide elective office by winning election as Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
in 1963 on the Democratic ticket headed by Edward T. Breathitt
. (Clerk of the Court of Appeals was a partisan elective office into the 1970s in Kentucky). Davis served as Clerk from 1964–1968. Davis ran for Kentucky State Treasurer
in 1967, but lost.
Davis won election as Kentucky State Treasurer in 1971 on a ticket headed by Wendell H. Ford
and served in that office 1972–1976. He then ran for Secretary of State in 1975 on a ticket headed by Julian Carroll
and won, serving 1976–1980. Davis then ran for State Treasurer again in 1979 on a ticket headed by John Y. Brown, Jr.
and won, serving 1980–1984. Davis' last elective office was Secretary of State of Kentucky
, which he won in 1983 on a ticket headed by Martha Layne Collins
, serving 1984–1988.
In 1991 Davis' son Drexell R. Davis Jr. ran for state treasurer but lost in a crowded Democratic primary to Frances Jones Mills
who had held the office previously.
Davis died on December 16, 2009 in Frankfort, Kentucky
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, held several elective offices in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He was born Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 42,074. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. Its county seat is Shelbyville...
.
For 100 years (1891–1992) the Kentucky Constitution
Kentucky Constitution
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the document that governs the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was first adopted in 1792 and has since been rewritten three times and amended many more...
did not allow any holder of statewide office to succeed themselves for a second consecutive term. As a result, a handful of Kentucky politicians became known as "musical chairs" officeholders because they would run for one statewide office and then another repeatedly. Thelma Stovall
Thelma Stovall
Thelma Hawkins Stovall was a pioneering female Southern politician who won several statewide elective offices in Kentucky, capping her career as Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky under the administration of her fellow Democrat, Governor Julian Carroll.Stovall was born in Munfordville, Kentucky. She...
, Frances Jones Mills
Frances Jones Mills
Frances Jones Mills was a state official in Kentucky for a large portion of the 1970s and 1980s.Mills was born in Gray, Kentucky. Mills was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives from Knox County, Kentucky in 1961 as a Democrat, serving one term from a heavily Republican district. She...
and Drex Davis were the best known musical chairs officeholders. The three often traded offices in given election years through the 1970s and 1980s.
Davis began his career in statewide elective office by winning election as Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
in 1963 on the Democratic ticket headed by Edward T. Breathitt
Edward T. Breathitt
Edward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt, Jr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. A member of one of the state's political families, he was the 51st Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1963 to 1967...
. (Clerk of the Court of Appeals was a partisan elective office into the 1970s in Kentucky). Davis served as Clerk from 1964–1968. Davis ran for Kentucky State Treasurer
Kentucky State Treasurer
The Kentucky State Treasurer is elected every 4 years. The treasurer, who can serve two terms, acts as the state's chief elected fiscal officer. The salary of the state treasurer is $110,000 a year...
in 1967, but lost.
Davis won election as Kentucky State Treasurer in 1971 on a ticket headed by Wendell H. Ford
Wendell H. Ford
Wendell Hampton Ford is a retired politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He served for twenty-four years in the U.S. Senate and was the 53rd Governor of Kentucky. He was the first person to be successively elected lieutenant governor, governor, and U.S. senator in Kentucky history...
and served in that office 1972–1976. He then ran for Secretary of State in 1975 on a ticket headed by Julian Carroll
Julian Carroll
Julian Morton Carroll is a politician from the US state of Kentucky. A Democrat, he is presently a member of the Kentucky Senate, representing Anderson, Franklin, Woodford, and part of Fayette counties. From 1974 to 1979, he served as the 54th Governor of Kentucky, succeeding Wendell H. Ford, who...
and won, serving 1976–1980. Davis then ran for State Treasurer again in 1979 on a ticket headed by John Y. Brown, Jr.
John Y. Brown, Jr.
This article is about one of four John Young Browns, from Kentucky, that have served political office. For others see: John Young Brown ...
and won, serving 1980–1984. Davis' last elective office was Secretary of State of Kentucky
Secretary of State of Kentucky
The Secretary of State of Kentucky is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is now an elected office, but was an appointed office prior to 1891. The current Secretary of State is Democrat Elaine Walker, who was appointed by Governor Steve Beshear to fulfill the...
, which he won in 1983 on a ticket headed by Martha Layne Collins
Martha Layne Collins
Martha Layne Collins is a politician from the US state of Kentucky. From 1983 to 1987 she was the 56th Governor of Kentucky, having served the previous four years as lieutenant governor. She was Kentucky's first and only female governor to date...
, serving 1984–1988.
In 1991 Davis' son Drexell R. Davis Jr. ran for state treasurer but lost in a crowded Democratic primary to Frances Jones Mills
Frances Jones Mills
Frances Jones Mills was a state official in Kentucky for a large portion of the 1970s and 1980s.Mills was born in Gray, Kentucky. Mills was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives from Knox County, Kentucky in 1961 as a Democrat, serving one term from a heavily Republican district. She...
who had held the office previously.
Davis died on December 16, 2009 in Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
.