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Dr. Donald R. Douglas, a Nicholasville anesthesiologist and life-long Republican, has announced his intent to run for the 22nd District State Senate vacated earlier this month by the death of Sen. Tom Buford.

“Having served my patients for many years, I now seek to serve by listening to, understanding, and promoting the expressed need and wishes of the people who live in the 22nd Senate district to our friends in Frankfort,” Douglas said. “Following local, state, and federal issues has been a bedrock of mine for many years, though keeping up with current issues, changes and advancements has been especially challenging during the Covid-19 era.

“As your State Senator, I will remember we work for and represent the needs of our constituents, their families, and our businesses, and I will work to help our economy to thrive and grow. I will be active in all areas of the legislative process for our citizens, but education, controlling taxes (which will allow our economy to grow), and healthcare and insurance issues will be especially important topics to me, as they are to the constituents of the 22nd District and their families,” Douglas added.

Born in a log cabin.- the 14th of 16 children – in the small town of Maceo in western Kentucky, Douglas said he is “acutely aware of rural living and the issues that go with this.” 

Being part of such a large family, Douglas said he learned a great deal about humility, patience and respect for others. 

Douglas and his family worked as sharecroppers, which led them to buy their own small farm in western Kentucky, raising many different crops and caring for animals. 

“Anyone growing up on a farm understands the demanding work and dedication needed to survive,” Douglas added.

His journey continued as an athlete from elementary school through college and beyond. As an athletic and academic All-American and two-time Olympic trials qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles, Douglas said he lerned persistence, how to be positive, and the importance of discipline to be successful. 

After college, Douglas settled into the medical field with training at both the University of Kentucky for medical school and University of Louisville, becoming an anesthesiologist. Douglas has now spent more than 40 years in the medical field in Kentucky, with much of that time spent in the area of non-narcotic pain management. 

That resume, however, doesn’t touch on what Douglas calls his “most important treasures” – his wife of 40 years, and his three children who have themselves become physicians and servant leaders. 

“I could not be more proud of them all,” Douglas said. 

 The Douglas family moved to Jessamine County 13.5 years ago and have continued to be active in church and community activities.  

Now, Douglas looks to serve the people of the 22nd Senate district in a different way .

““We in Kentucky are renowned for our watershed to the Kentucky and Ohio Rivers. We are also a great watershed of strength and resilience as a population of hard workers. As your Senator, I will focus on your issues and needs, not for votes, but for solutions. We together will help heal our problems and unite our strengths. We can restore personal responsibility, respect for others, confidence in our families and trust in our communities and our representatives,” Douglas said.

Gov. Andy Beshear has not yet issues an order setting a date for a special election to fill the remainder of Buford’s term. After the call is issued, representatives of both the Democratic and Republican Parties in the five counties of the district will meet to select nominees to run in the special election.