Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy Recognizes Policymakers and Advocates

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 2, 2014) – The Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy’s (KCSP) awarded the 2014 David B. Stevens, M.D., Smoke-free Advocate of the Year Award to Roger Cline Sr. from Olive Hill at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s KCSP annual Spring Conference.

The event was held on April 29 at the Doubletree Suites in Lexington during the conference luncheon. Cline, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and Smoke-free Kentucky, has been successful at voluntary policy change at the local level (Carter County) and works tirelessly at both the city and state levels. The advocate of the year is recognized for excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and smoke-free policy. Other nominees for this prestigious advocacy award included: Cynthia Brown (Bullitt County Health Department) and Carol Douglas (Barren River District Health Department). 

Two new awards were presented this year. The 2014 Brian Early Mattone, Esq. Legal Counsel Smoke-free Support Award was presented to the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium (TCLC), a legal network that assists community leaders and public health organizations on issues related to tobacco control policy. Housed in the William Mitchell College of Law’s Public Health Law Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, TCLC was recognized for outstanding smoke-free legal service and continuous contributions to smoke-free environments which give life back to communities in a way that honors the memory, gentle spirit, and unwavering work ethic shown by Mattone.

The Lee T. Todd Jr. Smoke-free Hero Award was presented to the Bullitt County Board of Health. The Bullitt County Board of Health adopted a comprehensive smoke-free regulation in March 2011 but it is delayed pending legal action. Bullitt County Board of Health was recognized for their courage, perseverance, and continuous commitment to and leadership for smoke-free environments in the face of adversity.

Elected officials and advocates from the Mayfield City Council were also awarded the Smoke-free Indoor Air Endeavor Award. Members of the Mayfield City Council were recognized for their leadership in promoting the health of the citizens in their communities by enacting a partial smoke-free ordinance in 2013.

As of April 1, 2014, 38 Kentucky communities had implemented smoke-free ordinances or Board of Health regulations, with 22 of those being comprehensive policies, meaning that they cover all workplaces including restaurants and bars. This translates to 34.2 percent of Kentuckians protected by comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws. For more information about smoke-free ordinances and regulations in Kentucky, visit the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy at www.kcsp.uky.edu.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at 859-323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu