Paducah's Commissioners

Government Structure

Paducah operates under a City Manager Plan form of government. On November 8, 1932, the citizens of Paducah voted to become a City Manager form of Government. The Paducah Board of Commissioners is made up of the Mayor and four Commissioners elected at large by the citizens on a non-partisan basis. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term and Commissioners for a two-year term. The Mayor and Commissioners have equal voting powers.

The Paducah Board of Commissioners sets the policies that govern the City. It appoints advisory citizen groups that help in the decision-making process. The City Manager is appointed by the Board and assists it in formulating objectives, policies, and programs. The City Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the City's approximately 330 full-time employees. Department directors are responsible for their respective departments and report directly to the City Manager.

List of Paducah's Mayors >>
List of Paducah's City Managers >>

Class #	Election Year for Commissioners	Commissioners	Mayor
42.	2018 (term commencing January 2019) CURRENT CLASS	Richard Abraham Gerald Watkins Sandra Wilson Brenda McElroy	Brandi Harless
41.	2016 (term commencing January 2017)	Sandra Wilson Allan Rhodes, Jr. Richard Abraham Sarah Stewart Holland	Brandi Harless
40.	2014 (term commencing January 2015)	Allan Rhodes, Jr. Richard Abraham Sandra Wilson Carol Gault	Gayle Kaler
39.	2012 (term commencing January 2013)	Sandra Wilson Richard Abraham Allan Rhodes, Jr. Carol Gault	Gayle Kaler
38.	2010 (term commencing January 2011)	Gayle Kaler Gerald Watkins Richard Abraham Carol Gault	William "Bill" Paxton
37.	2008 (term commencing January 2009)	Gayle Kaler Gerald Watkins Carol Gault Richard Abraham	William "Bill" Paxton
36.	2006 (term commencing January 2007)	Robert Coleman Gayle Kaler Gerald Watkins Robert "Buz" Smith	William "Bill" Paxton
35.	2004 (term commencing January 2005)	Robert "Buz" Smith Robert Coleman George Sirk David Guess	William "Bill" Paxton
34.	2002 (term commencing January 2003)	Gerry Montgomery Robert "Buz" Smith Robert Coleman David Guess	William "Bill" Paxton
33.	2000 (term commencing January 2001)	Gerry Montgomery Robert Coleman Richard Abraham Robert "Buz" Smith	William "Bill" Paxton
32.	1998 (term commencing January 1999)	Robert "Buz" Smith Jill Gott Wrye Robert Coleman William "Bill" Paxton	Albert Jones (served 5-year term due to State constitutional amendment approved in 1992)
31.	1996 (term commencing January 1997)	Robert Coleman P.J. Grumley Zana Renfro Robert "Buz" Smith	Albert Jones (elected in 1995 with term commencing January 1996)
30.	1993 (term commencing January 1994)	P.J. Grumley Zana Renfro Robert Coleman John Hornsby	Gerry Biggs Montgomery
29.	1991 (term commencing January 1992)	Earl Feezor P.J. Grumley Rev. Tim Taylor John Hornsby	Gerry Biggs Montgomery
28.	1989 (term commencing January 1990)	Robert Coleman Robert Leeper Rev. Tim Taylor P.J. Grumley	Gerry Biggs Montgomery
27.	1987 (term commencing January 1988)	Robert Leeper Robert Coleman Joe Keeling P.J. Grumley	Gerry Biggs Montgomery
26.	1985 (term commencing January 1986)	P.J. Grumley Robert Coleman Harold "Shorty" Ford Hal Cole	Joe Viterisi
25.	1983 (term commencing January 1984)	P.J. Grumley Robert Coleman Harold "Shorty" Ford Hal Cole	Joe Viterisi
24.	1981 (term commencing January 1982)	Joe Viterisi Robert Coleman Harold "Shorty" Ford James Flynn	John Penrod
23.	1979 (term commencing January 1980)	Robert Coleman Joe Viterisi Harold "Shorty" Ford James Flynn	John Penrod
22.	1977 (term commencing January 1978)	Robert Coleman Gordon Meeks P.J. Grumley Henry Puryear	William Murphy
21.	1975 (term commencing January 1976)	Clifford Brumley P.J. Grumley Henry Puryear John Hornsby	William Murphy
20.	1973 (term commencing January 1974)	Henry Puryear John Hornsby Cliff Brumley Robert Coleman	Dolly McNutt (first woman elected as Mayor)
19.	1971 (term commencing January 1972)	Henry Puryear Joh Hornsby Tommy Lambert W.G. Harvey	Dolly McNutt
18.	1969 (term commencing January 1970)	W.G. Harvey Henry Puryear H.E. "Gene" Fisher John Hornsby	Robert Cherry
17.	1967 (term commencing January 1968)	Dolly McNutt Tommy Lambert W.F. "Bill" Fellers (died in office February 6, 1968) Rev. W.G. Harvey (appointed to Fellers' seat-first African-American Commissioner) Henry Puryear	Robert Cherry
16.	1965 (term commencing January 1966)	Robert Johnston William Paxton William Kressenberg Henry Puryear	Tom Wilson
15.	1963 (term commencing January 1964)	Jimmie Davis William Kressenberg A.B. Fendley John Hornsby	Tom Wilson
14.	1961 (term commencing January 1962)	Winston Gholson Albert Karns John Hornsby Oba D. Fields (died in office February 19, 1962) A.B. Fendley (appointed to fill Fields' seat)	Robert Cherry
13.	1959 (term commencing January 1960)	Haley Hook Leon Davis Winston Gholson A.B. Fendley	Robert Cherry
12.	1957 (term commencing January 1958)	Haley Hook Winston Gholson A.B. Fendley R.E. Fairhurst	Robert Cherry
11.	1955 (term commencing January 1956)	Ed Trevathan Morris McBride H.L. Gangnath Tory W. Clark	Robert Cherry
10.	1953 (term commencing January 1954)	George Jacobs Schultz Riggs Roy Hughes George A. Hannin, Sr.	Robert Cherry
9.	1951 (term commencing January 1952)	George Jacobs Robert C. Marrow Clark Stuart Johnston	Robert Cherry
8.	1949 (term commencing January 1950)	C.G. Sims George Jacobs George Hannin George Thomas	Gene Peak (died in office in 1949-Stuart Johnston completed Peak's term)
7.	1947 (term commencing January 1948)	Paul Abell George E. Allen Stuart Johnson Edward Carlick	Gene Peak (youngest mayor elected at 30 years of age)
6.	1945 (term commencing January 1946)	Stuart Johnston C.G. Sims Paul E. Friedlander J.C. Williams	Pierce E. Lackey
5.	1943 (term commencing January 1944)	(searching archives for information)	Pierce E. Lackey
4.	1941 (term commencing January 1942)	Marian Dorian Stuart Johnston Dr. S.B. Pulliam Wagner	Pierce E. Lackey
3.	1939 (term commencing January 1940)	Dr. S.B. Pulliam Mary M. Dorian (first female Commissioner) George C. Baker W.A. Blackburn	Pierce E. Lackey
2.	1937 (term commencing 1938)	Gus. E. Hank, Jr. Dr. S.B. Pulliam Bob Stubblefield Herbert Melton	E.G. Scott
1.	First Commission under City Manager Form of Government	Edgar T. Washburn John S. Ripley George Baker E.R. Bradshaw	E.G. Scott