West Kentucky Star

McCracken County

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Renee Raney
PHOTO:Donna Groves

Write-in Mayoral Candidate Comes Forward

By WestKyStar Staff

PADUCAH, KY - A write in candidate has surfaced in the race for Mayor of Paducah. Renee Raney is a single mother of two and a full time student at SIU. She says she got the idea to run when she was collecting signatures about saving Duck Island.

"In talking to the community, they were starting to voice their opinions and their questions and their worries. And when you listen to their voice and you look into their eyes you can tell that they've lost hope in the city government. And when (Robert) Coleman dropped out of the race, I decided it was time to step up and that the people should have the opportunity for an option."

Raney says she knows it'll be an uphill battle as a write-in candidate against Gayle Kaler but says she's running to give the people a choice.

"But I feel with faith and ambition and the support of the power of the people, that anything's possible."

"I'm kinda running for the people. It's about the people. I feel that it's time for us to start over. You know sometimes you have to backtrack to make things right. I feel we have to bring back some of that Dolly McNutt ambition and I believe I'm that person. I believe if you take time out for the people, get to know the people, that's what it's about."

Published 06:39 AM, Tuesday Sep. 11, 2012
Updated 08:18 AM, Wednesday Sep. 12, 2012

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- Name: PawPaw x.
  
  10/7/2012 6:18:21 AM
  
  x
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/18/2012 12:59:40 AM
  
  What ? to simple!
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/18/2012 12:57:49 AM
  
  correction... get off your butt and do it yourself....got a boat only need someone to Donate rip rap and a large dog house. daa
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/18/2012 12:52:31 AM
  
  19 hole course and 3 course meals... Hard time for all..Why are people wanting something new? Good or bad-- only time will tale.. Less your a Wizard and can look into the future? Why not vote for this person. Duck island we can done our selves if u get off your butt
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/16/2012 6:43:44 PM
  
  I hope OPM comes with cramps. lol
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  9/16/2012 10:40:04 AM
  
  Not to mention while Paducah is in the throes of the biggest embezzling scandal in city-govt history - and owing over 100K in unpaid utility bills, Kaler is flying the friendly skies of Air Taxmoney. These idiots have an O-P-M addiction . . . . . . . . . . . Other People's Money.
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  9/16/2012 10:34:20 AM
  
  Yep, we orta just keep the status quo. I mean, why would a feller NOT cast a vote for Kaler. Why, only as late as Nov. of last year Kaler was jetting off to Seoul, South Korea, to the taxpayer-funded tune of $3,950+. Did you hear me? Taxpayer dollars. This was so Kaler could "listen to presentations and network" hoping Paducah might - I say MIGHT - become a member of this ridiculous UNESCO-Creative Cities Network that will never put a nickel in the city coffers, much less make up for the near $4K Kaler so flippantly pissed away on this royal junket. Paducah is the smallest city in the world to apply for this UNESCO horse maure, and they sent 3 Paducah-ites (2 CVB members, along with Kaler) to possum-smile, drink sake, and eat kemshee on our money. By all means, stick with the current administration.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/16/2012 7:20:51 AM
  
  Wendy, your comments look a little like covert threats of "outing" anyone who chooses to run against the inside candidate....the candidate most likely to protect the status quo. Unfortuneatly, the status quo in Paducah seems to be a city government that shows a clear preference to the downtown artists crowd and the once-a-year visiting quilter while showing contempt for the taxpaying public. Do you know some real history on the new candidate that would prevent her from holding public office, or were your comments only veiled threats coming from the inside?
  
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  Name: Wendy S.
  
  9/15/2012 7:29:57 PM
  
  I think our new candidate is forgetting that when you run for a public office your whole life is an open book and people are going to be reading it and talking about it. I hope she is prepared for that. There won't be any more half-truths out there.
  
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  Name: PawPaw x.
  
  9/15/2012 3:41:44 PM
  
  . . . and if she does win, maybe she'll change that goofy slogan: "Paducah - Art, Rhythm, and Rivers" to somthing more dignified like . . . umm . . . "Paducah - Ducks, Dolly, and Do's". At least after they have the Puddin' Rasslin' Cage Match.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  9/15/2012 6:29:54 AM
  
  If she does not win they should give her the key to the city for saving Duck Island.
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/14/2012 10:52:19 PM
  
  J S Ya a little harsh on this person since you did not point out the good points of the person she is running against. To me you read one story and ran into a rabbit hole.
  
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  Name: J S.
  
  9/14/2012 8:49:30 PM
  
  Really, she has NO qualifications whatsoever to be mayor. None! She is trying to save a doll house that ducks don't even use as a shelter. Folks, ducks live outside, they like the rain. So we are going to spend $50K - $100K+ for what? A doll house that has been here and some folks would like to see it stay, heck Paxton been here and everyone says they are glad he will be gone soon. This is a waste of a vote just like spending thousands on a duck house would be a waste of your hard earn tax dollars. The city needs to put this duck island thing to bed and be done with it.
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/14/2012 7:34:45 PM
  
  Jimmy it will go back for the GREAT show for the sewers. It is not if but when..
  
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  Name: Jimmy P.
  
  9/14/2012 8:24:48 AM
  
  Dan, at least they didnt have to pay $10k to take it down for a few months and then put it back up so it's not considered "permanent"...but when they put it back up maybe!
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/13/2012 10:33:21 PM
  
  M.G. Yes sir present mayor in halter top and g-string right smack in a middle of a pile of mud>>>> You think the jiffy pop building would be a good form to hold this match?
  
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  Name: M G.
  
  9/13/2012 7:50:16 PM
  
  Come on people, stick to the facts and respect these two women.........hold on, Did someone mention mud wrestling?????
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/13/2012 3:40:30 PM
  
  Welllll, we just had a banker running jobs and people out of Paducah. It's looks like it's a good bet that we are going to have one of two hairdressers serving the quilters and downtown artists......errrrr.......I mean the good people of Paducah. That is an idea though.....free hairstyling for quilters?
  
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  Name: S. T.
  
  9/13/2012 1:03:43 PM
  
  Yes, please go to the 15 minute interview on WPSD.com. WOW!! Comic relief!! There's a breath of fresh air. WOW!! I think she's "for the people"... OMG!! Seriously? HA!
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  9/13/2012 7:35:07 AM
  
  @ George J. By my understanding of your comment about the P family holding all the strings is that like calling Paducah a one horse town.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  9/13/2012 7:18:44 AM
  
  I guess the only thing that Paducah will have is duck Island.She said it's time for us to start over back to the days of Dolly McNutt.We dont need to go backward we need to go forward for we live in a changing world and Paducah needs to change for business and jobs.If Paducah does not change Paducah will die.
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/13/2012 12:21:12 AM
  
  Right eddy a. Like all micro managed state/city they fail. Been going on for I'm taking a guess here 2000 years. lol
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  9/12/2012 3:41:49 PM
  
  Independent T. One day in the future people will look back and think to themself what happen to Paducah where did the city go to did you say that the population is only 10,000 people,WHY.Because we lost all of our good paying jobs.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/12/2012 12:51:01 PM
  
  ...not to mention all of us who have "escaped" the city. No way do any of us want them back in our lives in terms of a "merger." NO WAY!!!!! They can keep their high opinion of themselves while the exodus continues.
  
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  Name: eddy a.
  
  9/12/2012 10:15:07 AM
  
  All of the good old boys live out of town for we know that having nothing to do with the city you are better off.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/12/2012 10:14:11 AM
  
  Did you folks see the new mayoral candidate interview on WPSDtv.com? Uhhh....she's a hairdresser too.....as is the current candidate. OK OK OK...maybe we can't really have a halter top wearing mudwrestling contest to see who gets to become mayor. BUT....I think we might very well have a tease-fluff & spray off staring us in the face.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/12/2012 9:45:47 AM
  
  I think all those requirements are reasonable, Dan. lol And BTW...I like the twists
  
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  Name: George J.
  
  9/12/2012 9:11:48 AM
  
  I think more people would run for the office if P Family wasn't holding all the strings. It is hard to fight the system when they control it all.
  
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  Name: william h.
  
  9/12/2012 6:57:26 AM
  
  A fresh face in this office could not do any worse than what William has done over his career in office. Even though she has no expernience that is still better than the worst Paxton in the family running the city. If I still lived in the city I would vote for her. We need to get the west end people out, because that is all they are concerned with. Paducah might be a better place with a common person running things instead of some one who lived off what his family done in the past.
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/11/2012 11:22:24 PM
  
  Ha Kyle W. it was Indy's ideal but with a twist.LOL
  
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  Name: Kyle W.
  
  9/11/2012 11:02:20 PM
  
  While a funny idea Dan I think the mental trauma caused by seeing that would be catastophic.
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/11/2012 9:14:50 PM
  
  Indy. I take it you think our real seasoned mayor has done a bang up job. Also I'm with with you on the halter tops. Need to have Paxton put on a halter top & g string and mud wrestle each candidate and who gives the best showing against him becomes the mayor. What ya think. Might even get this picked up by ESPN.
  
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  Name: Kyle W.
  
  9/11/2012 9:06:25 PM
  
  Can the ones who love Mayor Paxton please tell me what good has he done for Paducah? The only ones who have prospered during his regime are him and his buddies.
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/11/2012 8:35:06 PM
  
  I think halter tops should be mandated. Anyone really think the inexerience this new candidate might have could possiblly keep more industry and jobs out of Paducah than Paxton has? I think we could have "Otis from Mayberry" as mayor and he would do a better job than the Jiffy Pop Mayor and Commission crowd.
  
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  Name: Dan t.
  
  9/11/2012 7:56:43 PM
  
  S T I take it your single or give your wife would willing be pissed to read your post? A mother with 2 kids going to school and on her own. You say she has no concept on how to manage money or handle today's pressure. I'm like a few here and like a fresh view. And as for as tax codes and such - heck our mayor now will spend 10's of thousand dollars for out OUT OF STATE consultants to help out..
  
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  Name: Brent M.
  
  9/11/2012 4:38:50 PM
  
  Good points by all...variety is a good thing. I don't know Mrs. Raney personally either and this article is not too detailed. I would be interested in knowing more. I am sure she has some very valid life experiences that she could bring to bear on the job. But...I guess the more troubling question would be...why does no one else seem to be interested in this job?
  
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  Name: V .
  
  9/11/2012 4:20:00 PM
  
  For what it's worth, I would rather have a person fresh out of college and with kids going into the school system who is directly involved with education today in office, with this county merger going on. You people continue to whine and complain about not wanting the merger, and this lady is interested in representing you parents as mayor, who have the same concerns. She's currently going through the hardships of getting into higher education. She has first hand knowledge of how hard it is to raise a family AND go to school. How much more down to earth could the race to mayor be? We have a REAL citizen without a silver spoon in her mouth running for election. How's that feel for equal representation in the race? Paducah should be proud to have her name available to choose this November.
  
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  Name: Jan G.
  
  9/11/2012 4:00:23 PM
  
  Give her a break, people! Since Mr. Coleman dropped out because of health problems, you have ONE choice--Gayle Kaler. This lady clearly said that she was merely giving people a CHOICE. That's it; she said it and I heard it. Now you have a choice so don't complain.
  
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  Name: S. T.
  
  9/11/2012 3:24:49 PM
  
  Know anything about tax codes? Mangaging people? Managing money? Working with other elected officials? Attracting business / jobs? I mean, come on!!
  
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  Name: S. T.
  
  9/11/2012 3:18:39 PM
  
  Brent, I agree with a lot you're saying. Believe me I am. BUT, to my point. I don't know this lady from Adam. I do know she's a single mother that is a full time student. OK. So, I applaud her for getting an education, but that said, she doesn't have a college education. I'm assuming she's never run a business (that's what government is, a cash cow, that needs someone who knows something about a budget) What kind of "nuts and bolts" ideas does she have to move a city forward?? You see, I'm not that different than you. When I say qualified, I don't mean a life long politician. I mean to truly have some qualifications of running a city government, not saving duck house on an island.
  
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  Name: B. H.
  
  9/11/2012 3:12:33 PM
  
  @S.T. city government is pretty much the lowest level of government. Enlighten me, what type of experience would you want a candidate for city mayor to have?
  
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  Name: Wild W.
  
  9/11/2012 3:02:33 PM
  
  Vote no to the merger!
  
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  Name: Brent M.
  
  9/11/2012 2:56:47 PM
  
  Wow...precisely the problem with Paducah. I am not from Paducah, but did chose to raise my family here in Paducah. The straight truth is that many good things have been done in the past, but it seems to me that Paducah is now stuck as too much attention was paid to what had happened that someone forgot to give any attention to what should be happening, any sense of a long term goal. So, continue to complain about the status quo...but then support the status quo with a vote for the same old politics. The entire city government needs some new faces, but when one comes on the scene, you blast him / her for not having experience. Would poor planning and execution be good enough experience for you? Would waste and good ole boy politics be a better qualifier? I would dare say this woman has done more for the City of Paducah by putting forth the effort to save a local favorite landmark than most. Sitting on your couch with your laptop and complaining from the comfort of home doesn't exactly make you a political genious now does it, but forgive me for pointing out the obvious...you are all entitled to your own opinions. I would agrue that less "experience" with the instituation of city government is a good thing...what has all that "experience" provided you in the last few years?
  
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  Name: Michelle D.
  
  9/11/2012 1:47:43 PM
  
  I agree Bobby M.
  
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  Name: S. T.
  
  9/11/2012 1:27:16 PM
  
  Oh, I'm glad the time for Paxton is over. But to say that someone with absolutely NO experience of doing anything, but collecting signatures to save a duck house on an island in a pond, is the answer to Paducah's needs - or this is the breath of fresh air that we need to clean house. C'mon man! Take off those rose colored glasses. It truly is a shame that Paducah doesn't have a choice now for Mayor, but to cast a vote for this........Not me.
  
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  Name: Bobby M.
  
  9/11/2012 1:17:40 PM
  
  Paxton has been a fine mayor. If he could run again he would easily win - and Paducah would win.
  
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  Name: aldo n.
  
  9/11/2012 11:42:06 AM
  
  So far her political experience involves seeking to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a fake house in a lake. Yup. That's the kind of politician and leader everybody needs. At least she won't be too busy with USEC like Paxton. She'll just have homework to do. LOL
  
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  Name: S. T.
  
  9/11/2012 11:26:05 AM
  
  Really?? With all due respect, is this what Paducah needs? Some lady that sees worries in peoples eyes, when she's saving a doll house on duck island???? WOW!! Good luck to her, maybe the ducks have some pull in helping her out. Let me ask the question, What are your qualifications Ms. Raney? Enlighten us.
  
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  Name: Bobby M.
  
  9/11/2012 9:53:33 AM
  
  Pay per view!
  
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  Name: Independent T.
  
  9/11/2012 9:17:01 AM
  
  Only one way to determine a winner in this race now......mud-wrestling.
  
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  Name: Matt H.
  
  9/11/2012 7:33:03 AM
  
  This is great. I wish her all the best luck. Honestly I believe this is the perfect type of candidate, someone who is from outside the political sphere of influence, bright eyed and ideological. Looks like an excellent opportunity to shake up the status quo in Paducah.
  
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