Mission: Kentucky Free is the leading free-market think tank in the state capital, shaping and advancing innovative policy solutions to the most significant challenges facing the state.
OUR FOUR PILLARS
| Economic Freedom |
We believe entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive in free markets, fiscal responsibility is the foundation of limited government, rolling back excessive bureaucracy is essential to economic growth, and waste, fraud and abuse in state government must be targeted for elimination.
| Education Accountability |
We prioritize students, not systems. Parents should be empowered to choose the best education option for their child. Holding the public school system accountable to parents and responsive to their communities will provide the long-term transformation our state needs and deserves.
| Smart Justice |
Allocating resources towards proven criminal justice strategies is the most effective way to protect the public while supporting the aspirations of our fellow neighbors who are ready to stand on their own two feet again. We balance accountability with redemption by supporting public safety policies that will make our communities safer and give a “second chance” to Kentuckians who have earned it.
| Open Government |
Accountable and transparent government is the best servant to its citizens. We will shine a light on any waste of taxpayer resources, abuse of public procurements, or questionable earmarked appropriations in the budget. Effective and honest government is our north star and we motivate Frankfort to make it the highest priority.
OUR STORY
In 2023, two Frankfort veterans, tired of business-as-usual in state government, decided it was time to join together to reboot our state's future. KYFREE was born out of that moment with a simple ethos: innovative ideas, home-grown grit and bold honesty.
Since that day, KYFREE has become the state’s leading voice for free-market principles, armed with the capabilities to advance policy in Frankfort through effective advocacy and engagement. We are an “on the ground” policy organization with a reputational value that defines our competitive advantage.
Our founders have decades of combined experience promoting ideas that create greater economic opportunity, empower parents to choose the right educational option for their child, offer a center-right point-of-view to criminal justice and public safety policy coalitions, and hold government accountable. We’re bringing all our experience to this effort with the goal of making a transformational impact on our home state.
Andrew McNeill, President
Andrew McNeill served as Senior Policy Advisor and Deputy State Budget Director for Gov. Matt Bevin. He was the Director of Legislative Policy for Gov. Ernie Fletcher and then was appointed as Chief of Staff to Kentucky’s Commerce Secretary. McNeill has been a member of the University of Kentucky’s Martin School’s Board of Visitors and served on the Kentucky Long Term Policy Research Center’s Board of Directors. He has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Kentucky’s Martin School of Public Policy & Administration.
OUR TEAM
Sarah Durand, VP of Government Affairs
Sarah Durand has spent more than 15 years as an activist and community leader. She served 5 years as the Government Affairs Director for the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, leading efforts to gain policy wins at Kentucky’s capitol. She has a wide range of campaign experience from state House campaigns to serving on Gov. Matt Bevin’s successful 2015 campaign. After the election of Gov. Bevin, Durand served as Chief of Staff for Kentucky First Lady Glenna Bevin. Sarah also serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to Kentucky’s abused and neglected children.
Evan Wright, KYFREE Research Fellow
Wright became a KYFREE research fellow in 2025. He is the founding machine learning engineer at Roth River. He leads efforts in AI, including signal processing, predictive modeling, and scalable ML systems. Evan also works as a consultant specializing in large language models (LLMs) and enterprise AI applications. Prior to Roth River, he gained experience in financial technology at White Clay. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in business analytics from the University of Louisville. Wright is passionate about using AI to improve government efficiency and public policy.
FEATURED COMMENTARY
