RENEW CALLOWAY
Grounded by Faith, Rooted in Service, Shaped by Leadership, Inspired by Community
my Platform
Serving The Community
I’m running for Calloway County Judge Executive because I believe government should serve, not rule. My vision is simple: lead with humility, listen before acting, and put people first. Through transparency, accountability, and unity, we can build a county government that earns trust, manages resources wisely, and strengthens our community for the future. I believe the strength of Calloway County lies in how we work together.
VISION
VISION
Committed to integrity, transparency, and service, I envision a Calloway County that grows stronger through responsible leadership, wise stewardship, and lasting progress for our community.
Leadership Style
Effective county leadership is best seen as an inverted pyramid — with the Judge Executive at the base. True leadership means carrying the weight of responsibility so that Magistrates and department heads can focus fully on serving the people. As Bernie Marcus once said, ‘If you take care of the customers, everything else will take care of itself.’ In the same way, when we put our community first and lead with service, we build a culture of trust, accountability, and lasting positive change.
Campaign Goals
• Invest in sound infrastructure; roads, broadband, parks, and public spaces to support growth and improve quality of life for all residents.
• Champion economic development and sustainable tourism, leveraging our unique assets like Kentucky Lake and Murray State University.
• Promote fiscal responsibility by maximizing efficiency, seeking grants, and prioritizing critical projects.
• Support and retain dedicated county employees by fostering a workplace built on respect, fair compensation, empowerment and opportunity for growth.
• Strengthen public safety and emergency preparedness so families, businesses, and schools feel secure and supported.
• Serve as a visible, accessible advocate to ensuring county government works for everyone.
My Values
A shared Future
Grounded by faith, rooted in service, shaped by leadership, and inspired by community — I commit to renewing Calloway County where government listens, decisions are transparent, and every voice helps shape our shared future.
My Campaign is Built on Three Pillars
• Transparent Leadership
I will ensure government decisions are open and understandable for every resident, demystifying budgets, tax rates, and priorities through clear communication and active public engagement.
• Servant Leadership
I will empower county employees and citizens alike, valuing every voice and fostering meaningful dialogue across our community.
• Community Empowerment
By building coalitions among faith, education, business, and civic partners, I will ensure every initiative reflects our shared values and serves the common good.
Building Bridges, Not Bound by Politics
Some may see my lack of deep political ties in Frankfort as a weakness. I see it differently. My path has been shaped by public service, community leadership, and real-world experience. My time with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife gave me firsthand knowledge of how state government works, and as a Magistrate I’ve built relationships at conferences and with legislators who care about local issues.
What I may lack in long-standing political ties, I make up for with persistence, openness, and a willingness to listen and learn. I’m a fair communicator who isn’t afraid to ask questions and make sure Calloway County’s concerns are heard. Being less tied into “politics as usual” gives me the freedom to advocate for our county with fresh energy and without political baggage. My commitment is simple: to work hard every day to ensure the voices of Calloway County reach Frankfort loud and clear.
As a Magistrate for the past 7 years
Financial Stewardship
Community Engagement and Responsive Governance
Infrastructure Improvements
I secured substantial savings and funding for the county by obtaining over $200,000 in grant awards, helping to streamline contracts, and tracking revenue and expenses. I also personally contributed to maintenance and improvement projects such as cleaning county facilities, building infrastructure for the Animal Shelter, and picking up couches and trash along our roads.
Infrastructure Improvements
Community Engagement and Responsive Governance
Infrastructure Improvements
I helped improve road conditions and public safety by submitting over 1,300 road work orders, personally patching nearly 600 potholes, clearing dozens of culverts and trees, advocating for paving, and conducting traffic studies across 185+ roads.
Community Engagement and Responsive Governance
Community Engagement and Responsive Governance
Community Engagement and Responsive Governance
I worked to strengthen community engagement and representation by responding to hundreds of constituent calls, meeting with residents onsite to address concerns, maintaining an informative social media presence, and attending more than 400 meetings and trainings to ensure transparent, responsive governance.
A Researcher at Heart
As a Magistrate, I’ve earned a reputation as the one who digs deeper—always asking questions, researching thoroughly, and seeking the truth to make the best decisions for our county. With my background in biology and years of experience at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, I developed a strong foundation in numbers, data, and trend analysis.
I enjoy turning raw figures into meaningful insights; often building spreadsheets to track budgets, election data, tax rates, or even road conditions. Presenting this information visually through charts and graphs allows the numbers to come alive, making complex issues easier to understand and ensuring decisions are rooted in facts, not guesswork.
Oooh...This calls for a Spreadsheet
I enjoy digging into the numbers because they tell the real story. One of the spreadsheets I built compares how Kentucky’s 120 counties collect revenue through property, payroll, and insurance premium taxes. Using the same example across all counties—a $100,000 home, a $50,000 salary, and $1,000 auto insurance premium—Calloway County ranks 34th from the bottom in total taxes owed, meaning 86 counties collect more. For Calloway, that adds up to $210, compared to $593 in Graves, $675 in McCracken, and $828 in Marshall. Just like with personal finances, county services come down to money, and spreadsheets help make the facts clear when comparing why some counties may seem to have better roads or parks.
About Me
HI, I'm Paul, and I'm your Neighbor
My wife, Lisa, and I met as students at Murray State University. Lisa serves our community as a nurse at MCCH, and together we raised our three boys here. Each of them graduated from Murray State and built successful careers. The oldest is now raising a family of his own, another planning a wedding, and the third seeking higher education. Our story is rooted in Calloway County, and it is my love for this community — as a husband, father, papaw, and neighbor — that drives my desire to serve.
Rivers to Roads
Before I ever stepped into county government, I spent 32 years serving the people of Kentucky through the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. I was a fisheries biologist, and for 22 of those years, I served as the regional coordinator overseeing everything fisheries-related across 14 counties in western Kentucky. That meant managing budgets, leading a team of dedicated staff, and collaborating with agencies like the Division of Water and the Department of Agriculture, and other natural resource agencies in other states.
Sharpening the Ax
Throughout my adult life, I’ve devoted myself to serving our community — volunteering with local organizations, leading youth programs, and teaching Sunday School and Ramsey Financial Peace classes. Along the way, I’ve learned that true leadership requires listening, empathy, and collaboration. I believe growth and service go hand in hand, which is why I continue to “sharpen the ax” — seeking out new perspectives, attending workshops, and learning from others. By never stopping my own growth, I can better serve as a leader, a neighbor, and a steward of our community’s future.