Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission

​​​​​​Emily Dennis, Executive Director

Ms. Dennis joined the Commission staff in October 2019 and previously served as Counsel to the Commission. She served as General Counsel of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance from May 2008 – September 2019, Staff Attorney for the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet from 2002-2008, and Staff Attorney for the Cabinet for Economic Development from 1999-2002.  Prior to joining state government, she was associated with the Danville law firm of Sheehan, Barnett, Hays, Dean & Pennington, P.S.C.  Dennis received her J.D. from the University of Louisville and B.A. from Transylvania University, where she was a William T. Young scholar. When not practicing law, Emily manages Big Red Stables on her family’s third generation farm in Mercer County.

Direct Line Number - (502) 573-2911

Steven Pulliam, General Counsel​

​Mr. Pulliam joined the Commission staff in December, 2024 as the General Counsel. He is originally from Frankfort, KY and received his law degree and undergraduate degree both from the University of Kentucky. After law school he clerked for Judge Roger Crittenden (ret.) in the Franklin Circuit Court before going on to serve as Deputy Bar Counsel for the KY Bar Association, General Counsel to the KY Executive Branch Ethics Commission, and Investigator for the LRC Office of Education Accountability. 

Donnita B. Crittenden, Executive Assistant

Mrs. Crittenden is the Executive Assistant in the Commission office. She is a graduate of Franklin County High School, and has a BA in Public Administration from Kentucky State University. Mrs. Crittenden joined the Commission in August 1993. Her previous experience includes a three-year internship with the Kentucky Department of Education, specifically assigned to the State Board of Education.

Direct Line Number - (502) 573-2863

Donnita.Crittenden@kylegislature.gov

Lori M. Smither, Staff Assistant

Mrs. Smither is the Staff Assistant in the Commission office.  She is a graduate of Franklin County High School and has a degree in four areas of Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education.  In addition, Lori has obtained certificates for the Kentucky Director’s Credential, Kentucky Child Care Provider, School Age Child Care, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Technical Studies, and Early Childhood Administrator.  Her previous experience includes working as a Member Service Representative at a banking institution for seven years, as a Director/Teacher for 11 years, and part-time in the Commission Office for eight years.

Direct Line Number - (502) 564-9076

Lori.Smither@kylegislature​​.gov