Paducah, Kentucky formed from a mixed settlement of Native Americans and White Settlers along the confluence of the Tennessee River and Ohio River. The town was incorporated in 1830 and chartered as a city in 1856. The city is governed as a council–manager form of government whereby a directly elected mayor and directly elected city commissioners. The mayor is a ceremonial title, as the City Manager is appointed to oversee daily operations of the city. The following is a list of mayors of Paducah, Kentucky from the charter date thru to the present.
History of the office The first election to take place under the Act of Incorporation took place in 1857 resulting in the first Mayor of Paducah, Jesse H. Gardner, taking the office. The office has been under direct election since its beginning and each incumbent resides in office for four (previously two) years before the next election.
Incorporated city Mayor Term Began Term Ended Political Party Jesse H. Gardner 1857 1859 John W. Sauner 1859 1863 John G. Fisher 1863 1867 John W. Sauner 1867 1871 Meyer Weil 1871 1875 John G. Fisher 1875 1877 Meyer Weil 1877 1881 Charles Reed 1881 1889 Joseph H. Johnson 1889 1891 David A. Yeiser Sr. 1891 1897 James M. Lang 1897 1901 Democrat David A. Yeiser Sr. 1902 1907 James P. Smith 1908 1911 Republican Thomas N. Hazelip 1912 1915 Republican Ernest Lackey 1916 1916 Democrat Frank N. Burns 1916 1919 Democrat F. W. Katterjohn 1920 1924 Democrat Jacob N. Bailey 1924 1928 Democrat Ernest Lackey 1928 1932 Democrat Edward G. Scott 1932 1936 Democrat Edgar T. Washburn 1936 1940 Democrat Pierce E. Lackey 1940 1944 Democrat Wayne C. Seaton 1944 1948 Democrat Gene Peak 1948 1949 Democrat Stuart Johnston 1949 1952 Democrat Robert C. Cherry 1952 1956 Democrat George G. Jacobs 1956 1960 Democrat Robert C. Cherry 1960 1964 Republican Thomas W. Wilson 1964 1968 Republican Robert C. Cherry 1968 1972 Democrat Dolly McNutt 1972 1976 Democrat William S. Murphy 1976 1980 Democrat John K. Penrod 1980 1984 Democrat Joe Viterisi 1984 1988 Republican Gerry B. Montgomery 1988 1996 Republican J. Albert Jones 1996 2000 Democrat William F. Paxton 2000 2012 Democrat Gayle Kaler 2012 2016 Republican Brandi Harless 2016 2020 Democrat George Bray 2020 Republican
References