[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 104 (Thursday, June 4, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING JEANNETTE PRIEBE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I am sorry to note the passing of 
Jeannette Priebe, a longtime friend and an instrumental part of my team 
when I was Jefferson County judge-executive. Jeannette was a skilled 
public servant, animated with a fierce spirit for our work. Today, I 
would like to pay tribute to her life and her many contributions to our 
Commonwealth.
  Jeannette's work embodied President Reagan's notion that ``personnel 
is policy.'' A great deal of her career was dedicated to putting the 
right individuals into positions of consequence, regardless of 
political affiliation. Jeannette became the first female personnel 
director of the Louisville Civil Service Board and later ran Jefferson 
County's personnel office. Her unyielding diligence made local 
government more effective for the families we served.
  Take, for example, Jeannette's transformative impact on the city's 
police force. To address a serious under-representation of African 
Americans in the department, she intentionally placed a strong emphasis 
on giving qualified, minority candidates a fair shot. She helped create 
a police force that was more representative of the community it 
protected.
  Jeannette joined my team when I was the newly elected Republican 
judge surrounded on all sides by skeptical Democrats. Almost everything 
we did brought an uphill climb. As a result, my staff and I developed a 
deep bond and a collective sense of purpose.
  In professionalizing the personnel office, Jeannette never let the 
bureaucracy slow her down. She did away with political patronage, 
insisting on merit in the county's policymakers. She knew the rules 
governing her position and used them to shake the malaise off local 
government. If I told Jeannette where I wanted to end up on a 
particular policy, she could chart the course to get there. She was 
absolutely critical to our accomplishments for the people of Jefferson 
County.
  There is perhaps no better example than the hiring of Norma Fletcher 
as the consumer protection division director. Norma might not have been 
the conventional choice among the stack of 60-plus resumes. She was a 
26-year-old attorney who had only recently joined local government. In 
Jeannette's characteristic way, however, she saw Norma's initiative and 
drive. Norma got the job and would prove an invaluable asset to 
Jefferson County over the coming years in several important leadership 
roles. I am grateful that Jeannette recognized the potential of Norma 
and several other talented individuals who made our administration 
better as a result.
  Jeannette's job came with many serious responsibilities. But she 
never took herself or her colleagues too seriously. She was quick to 
break the tension with a joke and a smile. Her deep reservoir of faith 
helped give us all strength, even on the most grueling days. I will 
warmly remember the times she invited me to her home for dinner. 
Jeannette was a wonderful cook, and I enjoyed the chance to spend time 
with her, her husband Victor, and their family.
  Throughout my career, I have been lucky to work with some of the most 
capable and trustworthy staff around. Much of my early team was 
directly attributable to Jeannette's influence. After she left the 
county courthouse, I wasn't certain I would ever find another person 
quite like her. Then, about a decade ago, Jeannette's daughter Angie 
joined my staff. As my director of State operations, Angie has been 
tireless in helping me represent Kentucky in the Senate. She is so 
impressive in her own right and a wonderful reflection of her mother. I 
am grateful that brilliance happens to run in this particular family.
  It was a sincere privilege to call Jeannette a friend for so many 
years. I am forever grateful for her impression on my life and on lives 
around Jefferson County. I join with her family in remembering this 
remarkable Kentuckian.

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