FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky state Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, who recently stated publicly that he is gay, said it will be a non-issue when he runs for re-election next year.

He expects to win another four-year term because of a voting record on health care and education in a district with two universities and a sizable population of the elderly, Scorsone said in an interview.

“I think you should be judged in Frankfort for the kind of job you do as a legislator,” he said. “I’ve passed the test so far with my district, and I intend to pass it again next November.”

Scorsone (D-Lexington) disclosed his sexual orientation by referring to himself as “a gay Kentuckian” in a luncheon speech to an audience at the Governor’s Equal Employment Opportunity Conference in Louisville.

He is thought to be the first elected Kentucky officeholder to announce a gay sexual orientation, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a national political action committee headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Victory Fund estimates that about 200 elected federal, state or local officials are openly gay.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Scorsone would say only that his statement “seemed like the right thing for me to do at the time.”

“It’s a personal decision and I made it,” he said.

Scorsone, a criminal defense attorney, represents Fayette County’s 13th Senate District. Many of his constituents are from the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University.

He has spent 18 years in the General Assembly — elected to the Senate in 1996 after 11 years in the House — and was unopposed for re-election in 2000. He serves on the Judiciary, Transportation and Health and Welfare committees.

Considered one of the General Assembly’s most liberal legislators, Scorsone’s major initiatives include the “living will,” which people can use to forego medical intervention, and a bill to require insurance coverage of mammograms for breast cancer screening.

Scorsone said he did not expect a free ride in 2004, but not because he is gay. Senate races are routinely contested now as the GOP seeks to expand its 22-16 majority.

Fayette County Democratic Chairman Eddie Jacobs said Scorsone would likely win re-election because of his door-to-door canvassing and a proven ability to get his supporters to the polls. “He’s one of the strongest campaigners in the Fayette County legislative caucus,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs’ Republican counterpart, Bill Roberts, could not be located for comment.

Scorsone ran for Congress in 1998 and won the Democratic nomination but lost the general election to Republican Ernie Fletcher. The campaign was noted for a devastating Fletcher television commercial in which a rape victim lambasted Scorsone for being her attacker’s court-appointed defense attorney.

Scorsone declined during the interview to discuss the 1998 race.