[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 156 (Tuesday, September 27, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5046-S5047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO JUDGE-EXECUTIVE MIKE MALONE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in his 8 years as Carter County judge-
executive, Mike Malone has battled Mother Nature, invited new 
development to his community, and tried to bring neighbors on all sides 
of the political aisle together around their shared values. It hasn't 
always been easy, but with dogged determination, Judge Malone has left 
Carter County a safer, more beautiful, more united

[[Page S5047]]

place than he found it. Judge Malone is retiring at the end of his 
current term this January, and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring this first-rate public servant for his contributions to 
Kentucky.
  Judge Malone didn't start off his career in government. Rather, he 
spent four decades in the private sector, building his businesses in 
Carter County. He developed a keen understanding of the role of public 
officials and the ways they could either help--or harm--business 
growth. Realizing he could put that knowledge to work on behalf of his 
family, neighbors, and friends, he threw his hat into the ring and 
filed to run for judge-executive. As he says, ``The rest is history.''
  Promoting businesses and jobs was always at the top of Judge Malone's 
to-do list from his first days in office. But he was also forced to 
deal with some of the more unexpected duties of his role. Those started 
early on when, during Judge Malone's first year in office, ice storms 
and flooding crippled Carter County's infrastructure. Just 2 years ago, 
a winter storm hit the county again. Judge Malone worked around the 
clock to reconnect his constituents to accessible roadways and the 
power grid. He led an effort that removed thousands of cubic yards of 
debris and helped repair millions of dollars in damage to public 
utilities.
  Following this most recent storm, I visited Judge Malone in Carter 
County to discuss his community's recovery and help direct Federal aid 
to the region. As a former judge-executive, I know the importance of 
Judge Malone's work, from the financial assistance he helped residents 
access, to the moral support he offered storm victims. I was impressed 
by his leadership and his ability to unite community members from all 
sides of the political spectrum around the common cause of helping 
their neighbors. As he says, ``it's not Democrat or Republican. It's 
`what's the problem and how do we fix it?' ''
  Judge Malone has stood by his constituents' side in good times and 
bad, twice earning their trust and votes in his election to be judge-
executive. At the end of this term, though, he is taking a step back 
from the political arena, opting to spend more time with his family and 
enjoy his hobbies after decades of hard work. I thank Judge Malone for 
his service to Carter County and the Commonwealth and wish him the best 
in the next stage of his life.
  Mr. President, the Daily Independent paid tribute to Judge Malone's 
career in a recent article. I ask unanimous consent the article be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

              [From the Daily Independent, Sep. 15, 2022]

                Malone Moving on From Carter Judge-Exec.

       After eight years of serving as Carter County Judge-
     Executive, Mike Malone is off the ballot. Opting for a 
     simpler life of retirement filled with fishing and his 
     grandchildren, Malone said, ``I did the best I could do, I'm 
     glad I did it, but I don't want to do it again.''
       Before his current gig, Malone started out as a funeral 
     director and later decided to work alongside his brother at 
     his research business. Malone said he did compliance and 
     purchasing, and his experience in business adds up to about 
     40 years.
       ``I filed to run for judge and the rest is history,'' 
     Malone laughed.
       It hasn't been an easy job for Malone by any means.
       In just his first year as judge-executive, the county was 
     slammed by Mother Nature with crippling ice storms and 
     resulting flooding, leaving behind utter destruction and an 
     overwhelmed Malone.
       ``It was hard to step into,'' he said. He had the business 
     background, which helped, but Malone doesn't believe anyone 
     is truly prepared for the responsibility the position holds.
       Malone explained that the seat requires one to deal with a 
     ``duty dumping ground.''
       ``If it doesn't fit anywhere else, it goes on the county 
     judge,'' he added.
       Malone mentioned he was surprised to have to deal with some 
     of the issues he's run across as judge-executive.
       ``Animal control, solid waste issues and the scope of 
     making sure your 911 system is functioning because people die 
     if it doesn't,'' he said.
       When asked his favorite accomplishment, Malone stated he 
     brought civility back to Carter County saying, ``You gotta 
     work with what you've got.''
       Malone said he'll miss the people he's worked with the most 
     and extended his gratitude to the fiscal court, magistrates, 
     sheriff, clerk and attorney.
       ``I'm lucky to have such great people,'' Malone said.
       Despite polarizing beliefs, Malone said party never played 
     a role.
       ``We don't always agree, but there's never been a fight or 
     a fuss between them,'' he said. `` . . . It's not Democrat or 
     Republican, it's what's the problem and how do we fix it?''
       In 2020, a late winter ice storm smacked the area, knocking 
     Carter County down for two to three weeks and causing Malone 
     and his team to struggle under the weight of the aid required 
     after such events.
       Malone said during that time frame the citizens of the 
     county went without power, electricity and accessible 
     roadways.
       Malone said 159,000 cubic yards of tree debris were removed 
     and $10 million worth of damage was done to county roads and 
     infrastructure.
       ``Everybody stepped up,'' Malone said, referring to office 
     workers that headed out with chainsaws to cut timber and 
     deliver water.
       ``It was our most trying time,'' Malone said, ``but my 
     office really shined.''
       Malone recalled lighter memories, remembering a time he got 
     a call that a roadway had been blocked preventing a bus from 
     passing through. When Malone inquired about what was blocking 
     the roadway, he said a grand piano had been abandoned in the 
     middle of the road.
       ``These sorts of things always came out of the blue,'' he 
     laughed.
       Malone also recalled working with the late Judge Henry 
     Wilhoit to bring the veterans park to the lot across from the 
     justice center in Grayson.
       A three-way battle will take place to fill Malone's seat--
     Democrat Dustin Howard or Republican Brandon Burton or 
     Independent Duane Suttles.
       ``We have good men that are honest that are running to 
     replace me,'' Malone said, ``They're capable of doing a great 
     job. Whichever gets it, I'll do what I can to create a smooth 
     transition.''
       Malone said that although he's retiring, he wants to see 
     Carter County succeed and will do what he can to help it even 
     after he steps away from the political arena.
       But for now, Malone looks forward to fishing as he said he 
     hasn't had much time to do it in the last eight years.
  (At the request of Mr. Thune, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)

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