Sen. Damon Thayer
Thayer was raised in Grayling, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1989 with a B.A. in communications. He is the owner of Thayer Communications and Consulting LLC, a marketing communications firm. After graduating from M.S.U., Thayer worked in racing at Detroit Race Course, Thistledown and spent several years as the Director of Marketing at Turfway Park. Thayer was vice chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky from 1999 to 2004. Republican Sen. Damon Thayer was named Republican floor leader of the Kentucky Senate in an election held Nov. 27 replacing Sen. Robert Stivers of Manchester, KY. Sen. Stivers was elected Senate President. Thayer supported a measure for expanded gaming in a bi-partisan effort with Gov. Steve Beshear earlier this year that would have put the issue on the 2012 ballot. Thayer works as a marketing consultant in the horse industry and has previously held positions with the Breeders' Cup and Turfway Park.
