Lewis Apologizes For Misleading Colleagues, Constituents

What began as a sordid election filing saga in Kentucky has ended with the congressman’s favored candidate withdrawing from the race — and a chastened congressman apologizing to his constituents.

Last month on the day of the Kentucky filing deadline, Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.) suddenly announced that he wasn’t running for reelection, and attempted to ensure that his chief of staff, Daniel London, would be the lone Republican candidate on the ballot.

The antics misfired when the National Republican Congressional Committee grew suspicious of Lewis’ intentions, and prepared their own candidate, state Sen. Brett Guthrie, to file election papers in case Lewis opted not to run.

According to GOP sources, Lewis had told senior House leadership — with just days before the filing deadline — that he would be running again, even when he had no plans to do so.

Now Lewis, in a statement released last Thursday, is apologizing for misleading both his constituents and his colleagues.

“Upholding the trust of those that I represent has always been my primary objective in public office. My decisions last week were not thought through in a fair and realistic way,” said Lewis in a statement.

“The political future of the region that I represent weighed heavily on my mind and, in hindsight, clouded my good judgment. I realize now the extent to which I have disappointed my constituents, supporters, colleagues and staff.”
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