Brent Yonts (March 21, 1949 – August 20, 2021) was an American politician and a Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from District 15.[1] He took office in 1997 and was defeated for re-election in 2016 by Republican Melinda Gibbons Prunty.

Brent Yonts
Yonts at an event in Greenville, Kentucky, in 2015
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from the 15th district
In office
January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2017
Preceded byCharles Nelson
Succeeded byMelinda Gibbons Prunty
Personal details
Born(1949-03-21)March 21, 1949
Greenville, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedAugust 20, 2021(2021-08-20) (aged 72)
Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJan Yonts
Children3
Alma materMurray State University
University of Kentucky College of Law
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Adjutant General's Corps
Years of service1971–1973
RankFirst Lieutenant

Yonts died from COVID-19 at a hospital in Owensboro, Kentucky, on August 20, 2021, aged 72.[2]

Education

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Yonts earned his BS from Murray State University, and his JD from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Elections

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  • 1994 Yonts ran in the District 15 1994 Democratic Primary, but lost to Charles Nelson, who went on to win the November 8, 1994 General election.
  • 1996 When Representative Nelson left the Legislature and left the seat open, Yonts won the six-way 1996 Democratic Primary and won the November 5, 1996 General election against Republican nominee Marshall Prunty.
  • 1998 Yonts was unopposed for both the 1998 Democratic Primary and the November 3, 1998 General election.
  • 2000 Yonts was unopposed for both the 2000 Democratic Primary[3] and the November 7, 2000 General election, winning with 9,448 votes.[4]
  • 2002 Yonts was unopposed for both the 2002 Democratic Primary[5] and the November 5, 2002 General election, winning with 8,348 votes.[6]
  • 2004 Yonts was unopposed for both the 2004 Democratic Primary[7] and the November 2, 2004 General election, winning with 10,259 votes.[8]
  • 2006 Yonts unopposed for the 2006 Democratic Primary[9] and won the November 7, 2006 General election with 9,315 votes (71.6%) against Republican nominee Matthew Oates.[10]
  • 2008 Yonts was challenged in the 2008 Democratic Primary, winning with 5,805 votes (69.4%)[11] and was unopposed for the November 4, 2008 General election, winning with 12,275 votes.[12]
  • 2010 Yonts was unopposed for both the May 18, 2010 Democratic Primary[13] and the November 2, 2010 General election, winning with 8,288 votes.[14]
  • 2012 Yonts and returning 1996 Republican opponent Marshall Prunty were both unopposed for their May 22, 2012 primaries,[15] setting up a rematch; Yonts won the November 6, 2012 General election with 8,696 votes (56.0%) against Prunty.[16]
  • 2016 Yonts was defeated in the general election by Melinda Gibbons Prunty (wife of Marshall Prunty), who carried 57.1% of the vote.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Brent Yonts' Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  2. ^ Kobin, Billy (August 20, 2021). "Former Kentucky state rep dies from COVID-19. He was fully vaccinated, loved ones say". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "2000 Primary Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  4. ^ "2000 General Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "2002 Primary Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  6. ^ "2002 General Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  7. ^ "2004 Primary Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  8. ^ "2004 General Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  9. ^ "2006 Primary Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  10. ^ "2006 General Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  11. ^ "2008 Primary Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  12. ^ "2008 General Election". Frankfort, Kentucky: Kentucky State Board of Elections. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  13. ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky May 18, 2010 Official 2010 Primary Election Results" (PDF). Frankfort, Kentucky: Secretary of State of Kentucky. p. 23. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  14. ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky November 2, 2010 Official 2010 General Election Results" (PDF). Frankfort, Kentucky: Secretary of State of Kentucky. p. 33. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  15. ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky May 22, 2012 Official 2012 Primary Election Results" (PDF). Frankfort, Kentucky: Secretary of State of Kentucky. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  16. ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky November 6, 2012 Official 2012 General Election Results" (PDF). Frankfort, Kentucky: Secretary of State of Kentucky. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Kentucky 15th District State House Results: Melinda Prunty Wins". The New York Times. November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
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