My name is Stella Ruth Neace-Pollard, and I’m running to represent the people of Boone, Carroll, Franklin, Gallatin, Kenton, and Owen Counties in the Kentucky State Senate.
If we haven’t met yet, allow me to introduce myself—not just with my resume, but with my why.
I’m an educator, a mother, a first-generation college graduate, and a proud Kentuckian raised in the hollers of Perry County. The daughter of a disabled coal miner and a mother who worked over 40 years at Hazard ARH, I was taught early the value of hard work, sacrifice, and standing up for what’s right. Though we didn’t have much, I never felt poor. My parents made sure I had every opportunity they could give, and their resilience shaped the woman I am today.
I became the first woman on my mother’s side to graduate high school through the traditional path, and the first in my family to graduate from college. Education changed my life. That’s why I’ve spent my career working to give others the same chance, starting as a substitute teacher and instructional aide, then teaching middle school math and science, becoming a Digital Learning Coach, and now serving as Director of Technology for Franklin County Schools. I also hold a degree in educational leadership.
My husband and I moved to Franklin County in 2014, just before the birth of our daughter. He was a coal miner—like my father—and when we lost my dad to black lung and lung cancer in 2011, we made a choice to seek a more stable future for our growing family. He found work at Toyota in Georgetown, and I began building my path in public education. Franklin County has been our home for over 11 years, and I love this district—its people, its potential, and its future.
In 2022, I survived a sexual assault by a distant family member. I pressed charges—and I won. But the system made the process long and painful. Survivors of sexual violence deserve better: a justice system that supports them, not one that re-traumatizes them. I’m running to be a voice for those who are often silenced.
I’m also running because I’ve seen firsthand how rural families are overlooked by politicians who say the right things but serve special interests. Too often, politicians claim to stand with working people, but their actions show loyalty to special interests, not the families in Boone, Carroll, Franklin, Gallatin, Kenton, and Owen Counties who deserve real investment and opportunity. We need real economic development across District 20—especially in areas like Gallatin County, where the closure of the Kentucky Speedway has hit hard. Families are still waiting for good jobs, infrastructure, and access to reliable internet, education, and healthcare.
Meanwhile, my Republican opponent has wasted time and taxpayer money going after the Frankfort Plant Board with little to show for it. That’s not leadership—it’s distraction.
Kentucky needs leaders who serve people, not political agendas. My whole life has been about service—to my students, my community, and my family. I’ve served on Democratic Executive Committees in both Perry and Franklin Counties, and I’ve volunteered with programs supporting kids in poverty, mental health awareness, and working families.
And now, I’m ready to serve you.
We deserve leadership that listens, leadership that acts, and leadership that cares. I’m here—and I’m ready to get to work.
Let’s build a better future together.
#Stella4KY
#StellarLeadership
#ProgressWithPollard
Stella for KY 