Elaine Walker

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Elaine Walker is the 39th mayor of Bowling Green, Kentucky. She assumed office on January 1, 2005.

[edit] Life Prior to Mayorship

Walker moved to Bowling Green from California during the summer of 1993 with her husband and children. 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 such as the Book-fest co-chair in 2004. Historic preservation is one of her personal interests and she has been involved in numerous historical preservation groups. She has been Chair of the Bowling Green Downtown Redevelopment Authority.[1] She was a Hobson House Commission Commissioner. She was also a College Hill Historic District Board Member.

[edit] Running for Mayor

Mayor Walker and her husband Dorian run Peridot Pictures out of a renovated house in Bowling Green's downtown area. Critics point out that this connection may have helped her win the election with the "Spotlight on Bowling Green" show aired on local cable television which was hosted by Walker for nine years. The mayor Walker succeeded, Sandy Jones, denied requesting that she suspend her hosting duties during the months prior to the election.[2]

[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.