Introducing our new community columnists

The Herald-Leader has selected three people who will regularly provide interesting perspectives on state, regional and community issues during the rest of the year. The columnists, whose work will be posted first on Kentucky.com/opinion before being printed or promoted in the paper, are:

▪  Gary Bentley, a native of Whitesburg, worked as an underground coal miner for 12 years, predominantly in the southeastern part of the state, and now resides in Lexington. He currently works in manufacturing and is active in Lexington’s bicycling community. You can read about his career as an underground miner by visiting The Daily Yonder. He is especially interested in exploring opportunities for progress in Appalachia.

▪  John Roberts, a Lexington Christian Academy graduate and Eagle Scout, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in secondary social studies education at the University of Kentucky. He has a bachelor’s degree in history with minors in political science and philosophy. He has been published in UK’s Shale Undergraduate Arts Journal. He enjoys writing about politics, education and religion.

▪  J. Brandon Thompson is a self-described political junkie and lifelong conservative who served as chair of the Adair County GOP and president of the Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce. As an ordained minister, he especially enjoys writing about issues that intersect between politics and religion. He is an alumnus of Lindsey Wilson College and has been happily married to his college sweetheart, Tiffany, since 2004. The couple resides in Adair County and is expecting a son this summer.

Look for their work, beginning today. We are still looking for racial minorities interested in writing columns. Contact us at hleditorial@herald-leader.com.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Introducing our new community columnists."