MOVING McCRACKEN FORWARD THROUGH PROVEN LEADERSHIP
CRAIG Z. CLYMER, McCRACKEN COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE
WHY RE-ELECT JUDGE CRAIG Z. CLYMER?
An election is a decision. Should the incumbent stay in office or should he/she be replaced. The answer is found in looking at the candidate’s accomplishments, experience, education, community engagement, and future plans. Continue reading below to see why Judge Craig Z. Clymer is the best choice for McCracken County Judge Executive.
We’ve grown McCracken County’s economic status from desperate to STRONG. Let’s keep moving forward!
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
LAST 7-YEARS AS JUDGE EXECUTIVE
- Brought County from a weak to a strong financial position
- Lowered taxes and kept them among the lowest in the region
- Created Industrial Development Authority for E.D. land purchases
- Uranium enrichment at D.O.E. for nation’s nuclear fuel needs
- Decontamination of Nickel at D.O.E. site
- Pay increases for Sheriff’s Dept. to retain experienced, trained deputies
- Purple Heart Memorial Monument on Courthouse grounds
- Replaced roof on Convention and Expo Center
- Sports flooring in Expo Center for basketball and volleyball
- Developing Sports Park for our children and economic development
- Moving our children from a landfill park to a state of the art sports facility
- Merged McCracken and Paducah Water for huge residents’ savings
- Negotiated Bluegrass Downs acreage donation to the County for sports park
- Upgrades and playground equipment in Lone Oak Park
- New pickleball courts, lighting, and landscaping Heath Park
- New fencing, lighting, batting cage, landscaping Reidland Ballpark
- New dog park at Reidland Community Center
- Created Sports Tourism Commission funded by nonresident visitors
- Promoting racial unity through meetings and “United We Stand” mural project
- Funding Lifeline Recovery Center
- Supporting River City Mission
- Upgrades and increased use of Carson Park and Floral Hall
- Funding Sprocket Coding located in Coke Plant
- Funding Paducah Cooperative Ministry housing project
- Support of Merryman House domestic violence center
- Support of Lotus abuse counseling and advocacy center
- Support CASA/Child Watch counseling and advocacy center
- Funding Paducah-McCracken Humane Society
- Funding Paducah-McCracken Senior Citizen Center
- Purchasing and making build-ready economic development land
- Working with D.O.E. for uranium enrichment and nickel decontamination
- Preparing for unprecedented growth in jobs and industry in McCracken.
“My philosophy is to proactively search for and take any action that will benefit McCracken County; with these principle guidelines: a. will it benefit the County?, b. can we afford it now?, c. how does it rank compared to other needs? ” – Judge Executive Craig Z. Clymer
EXPERIENCE
- 7 years as the current elected McCracken Judge Executive
- 23 years KY State Judge (6 District Judge and 17 Circuit Judge)
- 4 years judicial attorney, U.S. District Court, Paducah
- 10 years law enforcement (1 yr McCracken Co., and 9 yrs Paducah)
-
12 years United States Dept. Of Defense Ombudsman
“Leading a County our size is a tremendous honor. It is also difficult, demanding, and requires meticulous adherence to county, state, and federal laws and regulations. My prior legal and law enforcement experience, along with 7 years “on the job” as Judge Executive has been invaluable in moving McCracken County forward.” – Judge Executive Craig Z. Clymer
EDUCATION
- Northern Ky University, law degree (Juris Doctorate), 1988
- Eastern Ky. University, Bachelors Degree, Law Enforcement, 1977
- Murray State, 16 of 32 hours for Masters, Public Admin, 1987-88
- Paducah Community College, Associates Degree, 1974
- Graduated #1 in Class, KY Law Enforcement Bureau of Training, 1976
- National Judicial College, Reno, Nv., Certified Mediator, 2016
- Northwestern University, Chicago, Law & Economics Seminars, 2012-2016
- George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., Economics Seminars 2011 to Present, numerous seminars and trainings in the areas of County Government Operations and Management.
“My law degree, law enforcement degree, education in public administration and economics, and certification as a mediator, equip me to address all aspects of county administration. I know the law, I understand government administration, know economics theories, and how to negotiate for our County.” – Judge Executive Craig Clymer
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
- Greater Paducah Economic Development Board
- Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Board
- Paducah-McCracken Industrial Development Authority Board
- Greater Paducah Economic Development Board
- Energy Communities Alliance (ECA)
- Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Authority Board
- Purchase Area Health Department Board
- McCracken County Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- McCracken County Health Department Board
- Purchase Area Development District Board
- Paducah-McCracken County Joint E-911
- Barkley Regional Airport Terminal Board
- West KY Alliance for a Vibrant Community (WAVE) Board
- Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization (PACRO)
- Paducah Junior College Foundation Board
- West Kentucky Coalition Board
- KY County Judge Executive Association (KCJEA)
- KY Association of Counties (KACO)
“I am heavily engaged and active in all aspects of county government, working closely with other leaders and groups for the benefit of the entire region.” – Judge Executive Craig Z. Clymer
FUTURE PLANS
We will have two corporations enriching hundreds of thousands of metric tons of hazardous Uranium into enough fuel to supply the entire U.S.’s nuclear needs for decades.9,700 metric tons of contaminated Nickel will be cleaned from a hazard to a valuable commodity.
An Artificial Intelligence Center will be built and required to provide its own operations power, so as to not increase power rates for our residents.
In five years or so, we will have multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) powering the DOE sight with clean, safe, renewable energy, and likely selling into the grid to lower power costs.
These projects will result in several thousands of high-wage construction jobs in the next year and continuing for several years to come. These projects will result in faster and cheaper cleanup of the DOE site, freeing more land for even more development.
We will see, within the next year I believe, a project at our Triple Rail Site that will be unmatched in the State and region. No promise, but what a prize it could be. Stay tuned.
While this growth will be a dramatic change in our County, we will continue to prioritize as number one, a safe, low-crime community by increasing pay and support to our Sheriffs office.
They will employ a thousand plus long-term employees to operate the facilities and offer our children high-paying, rewarding, careers right here, instead of moving elsewhere to live.
We will see a growth of 3 to 5 thousand new housing units, plus numerous associated businesses to support the needs of the facilities and the employees.
This growth will create a huge supply of tax revenue into the County. We have already begun reducing taxes on our residents, and we will continue to do so. The corporate property and occupational taxes flowing into the County will permit us to substantially reduce residents’ taxes over the next few years while still providing high levels of service.
This unprecedented development will be a generational shift in our County. Our future is unfolding now. We have tremendous growth bringing great jobs, lower taxes, a stronger and safer community.
Let’s not stop now. I have the experience as the County’s highest elected leader. We have a team of dedicated professionals. We have the momentum, we are working every day fulltime, to build the relationships and progress that will build our Community. We have put in the work, now we see the fruits.
With your support, we will continue forward building our County into a “energy juggernaut” and Kentucky’s next “BOOMTOWN” as declared by Senate President Stivers.
We are McCracken County Kentucky. We are “ATOMIC CITY 2.0 “
We have the momentum. McCracken County has already emerged as a far more sound, energetic and accomplished community. I am eager to continue leading toward even greater achievements. I am confident that our future is STRONG. – Judge Executive Craig Z. Clymer
SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN
Support the campaign of Craig Z. Clymer and help keep strong, responsible leadership working for McCracken County. Your contribution allows the campaign to reach more voters, share the vision for growth, and continue building a community that works for everyone. Every donation—large or small—makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated. Donations may be mailed to:
Clymer For Judge Executive Campaign Fund
5998 Bristol Dr
Paducah, KY 42003
Contact Judge Clymer
