"Today, Elaine and I were saddened to learn that my friend Jerry Arnett passed away. I met Jerry in 1984 while running for statewide office for the first time. The Grab, Kentucky storeowner invited me to his storefront for a MoonPie and an RC Cola to discuss the issues facing rural Kentuckians. We chatted over the iconic Kentucky snack about his small town and the way his neighbors felt abandoned by politicians who rarely took the time to visit their community. I promised him I'd be back again.

"I visited Jerry two more times during my statewide tours, and he always gave me invaluable counsel about the interests and concerns of rural Kentuckians. I most recently saw him in 2020 for another MoonPie and RC Cola, and he was just as eager to talk about Grab as ever. People like him are the backbone of our Commonwealth, their advocacy growing out of a deep, abiding love for their hometowns and way of life. Elaine and I send our condolences to Jerry's wife Lou Ellen and the entire Arnett family."