{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jon Draud | image = | office = Kenton County Commissioner<br />from the 2nd district | term_start = January 3, 2011 | term_end = | order1 = 4th | office1 = Kentucky Commissioner of Education | term_start1 = December 3, 2007 | term_end1 = January 31, 2009 | predecessor1 = Gene Wilhoit | successor1 = Elaine Farris (interim) | predecessor = Sara Voelker | state_house2 = Kentucky | district2 = 63rd | term_start2 = January 1, 1999 | term_end2 = December 2, 2007 | predecessor2 = Richard Murgatroyd | successor2 = Alecia Webb-Edgington | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|9|18}} | birth_place = Covington, Kentucky | party = Democratic (before 1990s)<br>Republican (after 1990s) | children = 3 | occupation = Educator (retired) | education = Eastern Kentucky University (BA, MA)<br>Xavier University (MA)<br>University of Cincinnati (EdD) }}
'''Jon Edward Draud''' (born September 18, 1938) is an American educator and politician from Kentucky who has served as a member of the Kenton County Commission since 2011.
He previously served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007, representing Kentucky's 63rd House district. He also served as the Kentucky Commissioner of Education from 2007 to 2009.
== Early life and education == Draud was born on September 18, 1938, in Covington, Kentucky. Raised in Kenton County, he graduated from Ludlow High School in 1956, and went on to attend Eastern Kentucky State College (now Eastern Kentucky University) on a football and baseball scholarship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scalf |first=Amy |title=Two compete for Kenton District 2 seat |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/2014/05/03/kenton-commissioner-district/8675051/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=The Enquirer |language=en-US}}</ref> He played four seasons for the Eastern Maroons baseball team under coach Turkey Hughes, and was the teams's co-captain during his senior year.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Ismail |first=Raviya |date=December 2, 2007 |title=ACHIEVEMENT: Chief Draud Takes Charge of State Education System |work=Lexington Herald-leader |pages=B1}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Jon Draud (2016) - Hall of Fame |url=https://ekusports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/jon-draud/125 |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Eastern Kentucky University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
After graduating from Eastern in 1960 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and physical education, Draud spent one year as a teacher for Covington Public Schools before returning to Eastern as a graduate assistant baseball coach for the 1962 season. Afterwards, he returned to Covington Public Schools where he taught American government and was a baseball coach at Covington Holmes High School, leading them to their win at the 1963 Kentucky state high school baseball championship.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Clabes |first=Judy |date=2024-04-13 |title=NKY Education Council to honor Jon Draud for 'lifetime achievement' at its celebration April 23 |url=https://nkytribune.com/2024/04/nky-education-council-to-honor-jon-draud-for-lifetime-achievement-at-its-celebration-april-23/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=NKyTribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
He also received a Master of Arts degree in school administration from Eastern, a Master of Arts degree in political science from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Educational Leadership degree with a minor in public policy from the University of Cincinnati in 1978.<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Day |first=Richard |date=2007-11-12 |title=Kentucky School News and Commentary: Why Jon Draud deserves our respect - and strong consideration as Kentucky's next Education Commissioner |url=https://theprincipal.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-jon-draud-deserves-our-respect-and.html |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Kentucky School News and Commentary}}</ref>
== Career == In 1966, Draud left Holmes High School to be principle of Covington's Third District School.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hansel |first=Mark |date=2016-08-25 |title=Kenton County's Jon Draud to be inducted into Eastern Kentucky University Hall of Fame |url=https://nkytribune.com/2016/08/kenton-county-commissioner-draud-to-be-inducted-into-eastern-kentucky-university-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=NKyTribune |language=en-US}}</ref> During this time, he served on the Crestview Hills city council for five years.<ref name=":0" /> From 1978 to 1997, he served as superintendent of the Ludlow Independent Schools district.<ref name=":1" />
Instead of seeking reelection in 1998, incumbent Richard Murgatroyd of Kentucky's 63rd House district chose to run for Judge/Executive of Kenton County.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 27, 1999 |title=Protestors don't want county jail in Elsmere |work=The Lexington Herald-Leader |page=C1 |quote=... who lost a race against current Kenton Judge-Executive Richard Murgatroyd in 1998.}}</ref> Draud won the 1998 Republican primary with 1,546 votes (45.36%) against John Clyde Middleton, the son of state senator Clyde Middleton, and John Link, the mayor of Edgewood.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commonwealth of Kentucky 1998 Official Primary Election results |url=https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1990-1999/1998/98Pri_staterep.pdf |access-date=October 31, 2025 |website=Kentucky State Board of Elections}}</ref> Draud went on to win the 1998 Kentucky House of Representatives election unopposed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commonwealth of Kentucky November 3, 1998 Official General Election results |url=https://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/1990-1999/1998/98Gen_statereprev1.txt |access-date=October 31, 2025 |website=Kentucky State Board of Elections}}</ref> During his tenure, Draud served as vice chair of the House Education committee.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howlett |first=Rick |date=2008-08-07 |title=Draud Undergoing Performance Review |url=https://www.lpm.org/news/2008-08-07/draud-undergoing-performance-review |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Louisville Public Media |language=en}}</ref> In 1999, Republican leaders attempted to recruit Draud to challenge incumbent Representative Ken Lucas of Kentucky's 4th Congressional District. However, he declined, citing his short tenure and desire to remain in the state legislature.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 18, 1999 |title=GOP short on candidates to challenge Lucas |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |pages=C3}}</ref>
Following the resignation of Commissioner Gene Wilhoit to become the executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Kentucky Board of Education initially selected Illinois educator Barbara Erwin as the next Kentucky commissioner of education.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoff |first=David J. |last2=McNeil |first2=Michele |date=2006-09-08 |title=Kentucky Commissioner Wilhoit to Lead Council of Chief State School Officers |url=https://www.edweek.org/leadership/kentucky-commissioner-wilhoit-to-lead-council-of-chief-state-school-officers/2006/09 |access-date=2025-10-29 |work=Education Week |language=en |issn=0277-4232}}</ref> However, Erwin resigned from the position before she assumed office following questions about her leadership in previous districts and errors in her resume. Governor-elect Steve Beshear requested the board to conduct a new national search but the board declined, instead unanimously choosing Draud to be the next commissioner out of the remaining four finalists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Mountain Eagle |date=2007-11-21 |title=State board ignores Beshear's request - The Mountain Eagle |url=https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/state-board-ignores-beshears-request/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=The Mountain Eagle -}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Jim |date=December 20, 2008 |title=Education chief Draud resigns |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article43986090.html |website=Lexington Herald-Leader}}</ref> He resigned from the Kentucky House on December 2, 2007, and assumed the office of commissioner on the next day under a four-year contract.<ref name=":02" />
In September 2008, Draud suffered a mild stroke which affected his mobility, and only allowed him to work three days a week. Subsequently, Draud resigned as commissioner on January 31, 2009, for health reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WKMS |date=2008-12-19 |title=Jon Draud Resigns |url=https://www.wkms.org/2008-12-19/jon-draud-resigns |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=WKMS |language=en}}</ref>
In 2010, Draud was elected as a member of the Kenton County Commission, representing the county's 2nd district.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hornbeck |first=Kenton |date=2022-05-16 |title=Draud faces challenge from Schmiade in GOP Kenton County Commissioner primary |url=https://linknky.com/elections/2022/05/16/draud-faces-challenge-from-schimade-in-gop-kenton-county-commissioner-primary/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=LINK nky |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2026, he announced that he would not be seeking reelection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clabes |first=Judy |date=2026-01-09 |title=Jon Draud likes 'helping people' and proved it throughout his long career; at 87, he isn't seeking re-election |url=http://nkytribune.com/2026/01/jon-draud-likes-helping-people-and-proved-it-throughout-his-long-career-at-87-he-isnt-seeking-re-election/ |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=NKyTribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life and honors == Draud and his wife reside in Edgewood.<ref name=":0" />
The Dr. Jon E. Draud Administrative Building of Ludlow Independent Schools is named after him. In 2000, Draud was chosen by Eastern Kentucky University as that year's recipient of their Most Outstanding Alumnus Award. In 2009, he was Eastern's spring commencement speaker, and was awarded an honorary doctor of humanities degree.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Honorary Degrees |url=https://www.eku.edu/in/guides/honorary-degrees/ |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Eastern Kentucky University |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Northern Kentucky Education Council.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Draud, John}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly Category:Republican Party members of the Kentucky House of Representatives Category:20th-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly Category:County commissioners in Kentucky Category:1938 births