the honorable JOHN Y. BROWN, JR. Governor of Kentucky
Mayor Lexington - Fayette Urban County Government
JAMES G. AMATO took office as mayor on January 2, 1978. In doing so, he became the second mayor of the consolidated city and county governments.
A native of Lexington, Amato has been a practicing attorney since 1964. He is a member of the Fayette County Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, and the Kentucky Law Enforcement. He formerly held positions as Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Director of Citizens for Judicial Improvement, Inc., Municipal Court Judge and City Prosecutor.
As chief executive of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the mayor is authorized to supervise, administer and control all departments of government.
The mayor is elected on a non-partisan ballot every four years. He is assisted principally by the Chief Administrative Officer and commissioners of the six departments.
JOHN Y. BROWN, JR., became Kentucky's 55th governor on December 11, 1979, succeeding Julian M. Carroll.
Bom on December 28, 1933, Governor Brown graduated from Lafayette High School in his hometown, Lexington, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in 1957. He graduated from the UK College of Law in 1960.
The Governor served in the U. S. Army from 1959-1965.
He has been named the Outstanding Young Man of America by the National
Junior Chamber of Commerce (1965), as one of the Outstanding Civic Leaders of America (1967) and Louisville's Outstanding Young Man by the same group. Lions Club International named him to a recipient of the Outstanding American Award (1974) and he is the youngest person to be named to the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame.
He has three children, John Y. Brown, III (16), Eleanore (14) and Sandra (13). He is married to the former Phyllis George. They attend the Walnut Street Church, Louisville.
JAMES G. AMATO