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Boyle County native and Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts Mike Harmon is seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for the 2023 Kentucky governor’s race, according to his announcement on Monday.

“My launch is not filled with fireworks and fanfare, but merely my strong determination to help renew Kentucky and hopefully help this state become the best version of itself it can be,” he wrote in the statement.

“Over the last year and a half, sadly Kentuckians have had their liberties and their livelihoods suspended and stolen while promises to make those losses whole have gone for the most part unfulfilled.”

Harmon added that when he served as state representative, he was known “as one of the most conservative members in the House …” and as auditor of public accounts, his goal is to protect taxpayers and make government more efficient, effective, and ethical. “I love serving as your State Auditor, and I will continue working toward those same goals if elected to the Governor’s office.”

Harmon won the seat for District 54 State Representative in 2002, and held the position through 2016.

He was first elected auditor of public accounts in 2016 where continues to hold that office.

In 2011, Harmon ran as lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffett but lost the primary election.

Harmon also has experience in the insurance and banking industry. According to his website, Harmon served as vice chairman of the House Standing Committee on Tourism and Energy, and was a member of the committees for Banking and Insurance; Elections; Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs; Health and Welfare; and Tourism Development and Energy.

Harmon is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with degrees in math, statistics, and theater. He was valedictorian of his Boyle County High School class and serves as a deacon and church moderator at Junction City First Baptist Church.

He has been married to Lynn for more than 30 years and has two daughters and two grandsons.

In his news release, Harmon wrote, “So that you can better understand what motivates me, I share my mission statement that I adopted after my first successful election to public office and one I have tried to live by: I have no desire to leave a legacy, except, that I served my Lord, that I served my family, and that I served my country, well.”

Boyle County Republican Party Chair Tom Tye said in an email, “I’ve had the pleasure to work with Mike as both State Representative from the 54th District and as probably one of the best State Auditors Kentuckians have ever elected. As an officer of the Republican Party of Kentucky and Chair of the Boyle County Republican Party, I can’t endorse any particular candidate in the primary, but I can say that I am looking forward to a gubernatorial primary field of extraordinary candidates.”