Elaine Walker

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Elaine Walker is the mayor of Bowling Green, Kentucky, as of 2006.

Contents 1 Prior to Election 2 Making the Run for Mayor 3 First Term 4 Future Plans 5 External links

[edit] Prior to Election

Walker and her husband, Dorian, moved to the Bowling Green area from California in 1994. Walker, co-owner of Peridot Pictures, hosted a local access television show for nine years prior to her election as mayor. She was also Chair of the Board for the Bowling Green Public Library, providing services as Book-fest co-chair in 2004. Historic preservation is one of her personal interests and she has been involved in numerous groups which share this passion. She has been Chair of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority. She was a Hobson House Commission Commissioner. She was also a College Hill Historic District Board Member.

[edit] Making the Run for Mayor

Mayor Walker, along with her husband, runs Peridot Pictures out of a renovated house in Bowling Green's downtown area. Critics state that this connection could have helped her win the election with the local "Spotlight on Bowling Green" show which was hosted by Walker for nine years. The previous mayor, Sandy Jones, denied requesting that she suspend her hosting duties during the months prior to the election.Read Article

However, this point became moot when the issue of mismanaged money came to the foreground.

Previously, the City Commission had been implicated in mismanagement of funds related to the convention center. Another issue revolved around the Chief Financial Officer of the City of Bowling Green being indicted and charged with embezzling millions of dollars over the twenty years. Neither the previous commission nor the previous mayor were implicated; however, with millions missing the townspeople were angry. Added to this was the previous commissions' vote to raise the occupational tax. Given the overwhelming dissatisfaction with the current city government, Walker, being an outsider, had a unique opportunity to take the position of mayor. Walker ran on a platform of transparency.

During the election, the Bakers (a prominent family in the town) under an assumed name ran full page ads in the local paper accusing the current elected officials of mismanagement. This kept Walker free from the taint of "mudslinger" yet still allowed mud to be slung.

As with all small towns, there is layer upon layer of back story about why the Bakers would want to defame the then current Mayor; however, that would be fodder for another entry. Interviews after election

[edit] First Term

Transparency has been somewhat accomplished through the addition of a planning meeting to the city commission meetings. Originally created by the Mayor to help the almost all new city commissioners and her learn the ropes, these meetings have been significantly shortened as the new commissioners learn about city government and the processes used therein. These additional meetings are held in the afternoons prior to the city commission meetings. However, the additional meetings have not kept the commissioners from using personal attacks on each other. During the April 18th, 2006 meeting, the commissioners devolved into an insult and shouting match that was, at times, painful to watch. The Mayor was an active participant in the insults and personal attacks. The minutes read:

RESOLUTION NO. 2006 –5 RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY MANAGER’S FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 BUDGET INCLUDE A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE Summary of Resolution No. 2006 - 5 was read by the City Clerk. Mayor Walker indicated that with the approval of Resolution No. 2006 –4 at the April 4, 2006 meeting, she would like the City Manager to consider a reduction in property tax rates in addition to the occupational and net profit fees. She stated that there was a need to increase the homeownership rate in Bowling Green and a reduction in property tax rates would assist. Comm. Strow expressed concern with decreasing the property tax rates, as that would cause a need to rely more heavily on the occupational fees as the City’s source for revenues. Comm. Strow made a motion, seconded by Nash, to amend Resolution No. 2006 – 5 to include the phrase “such that the revenue from the property tax stay the same from the current fiscal year” at the end of paragraph 1. on page 2. Mayor Walker stated that this amendment did not allow the City Manager to provide in put and make a recommendation. She also stated that if the amendment passed, as sponsor she would withdraw the resolution from further consideration. With no additional discussion, a roll call vote was taken regarding the motion to amend. ROLL CALL: Voting Yea: Strow, Alcott and Nash Voting Nay: Simpson and Walker Motion to amend Resolution No. 2006 - 5 was approved by majority vote. Mayor Walker withdrew the resolution from further consideration.

Much to the Mayor's credit, at the start of the next meeting, she again stated that this behavior was not acceptable. She had the City Clerk remind the Commissioners that they were not to speak until recognized by the mayor. Mayor Walker requested that City Clerk Katie Schaller read the rules of debate from the City of Bowling Green Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2 (Administration), Subchapter 2-2 (Board ofCommissioners), Section 2-2.20 (Rules of Debate) regarding the meeting procedures.-Minutes from May 2, 2006

 Personal attacks have diminished; however, there is still animosity among the commissioners.   

The idea of transparency was noble, but it has purportedly not been followed throughout the first two years of her term. The commissioners and the Mayor have been accused of violating the state's "Sunshine Laws" by holding secret meetings to force the long time city manager to retire or be fired. This is not verifiable.

[edit] Future Plans

Mayor Walker would like to have a second term. The fighting has fed locals' displeasure with the commissioners and mayor and may lead to another upset in the November 2006 city commission election. Furthermore, the Mayor has stated that the job of mayor doesn't pay very well nor does it offer much time off for a part time position. She believes that there should be a full time mayor for Bowling Green and that the pay should reflect that full time status. Bowling Green Daily News

[edit] External links

• Speak Your Mind E-Board