According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Kentucky ranks 42nd in the percentage of women elected to serve in the state legislature. Across the country, women comprise only 24% of state legislatures, although women make up more than half of all voters. And of Kentucky’s 25 largest cities, women currently lead only three of them as Mayor.

In light of these troubling statistics, Kentucky Strong is being launched to recruit, train and assist in the election of pro-business, Republican women to public office. Kentucky State Sen. Julie Raque Adams will head up Kentucky Strong as Executive Director and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a strong proponent of the new initiative.

JULIE RAQUE ADAMS

Julie Raque Adams is the Executive Director of Kentucky Strong.

Adams is a small business owner and founder of the public affairs firm, Adams & Call, Inc.  Established in 2006, Adams & Call provides clients an extensive list of services that include public relations, communications and community outreach.

In addition to her business endeavors, Adams was elected in 2014 to serve in the Kentucky General Assembly’s State Senate.  Adams was appointed Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee as health initiatives have been her primary focus during her tenure in Frankfort.  Prior to her Senate service, Adams was a two-term member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2010-2014.

Adams was also elected to serve on the first Louisville Metro Council in November 2002, and won re-election in 2004.

Adams brought a tremendous amount of governmental experience to City Hall and Frankfort, having previously served as a staff member for U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in Washington, D.C., as a federal lobbyist for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Washington, D.C. office, and as Campaign Manager and Press Secretary to Congresswoman Anne Northup.

Julie Raque Adams was born and raised in Louisville. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, and a Master of Arts degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

Active in the community, Adams attends St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church and is a board member for Family Scholar House and the University of Louisville’s McConnell Center.

Julie is married to Jim Adams and is the mother of two sons, James and Joseph.