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




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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              TRIBUTE TO JUDGE-EXECUTIVE MICHAEL BUCHANON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, after 29 years as Warren County judge-
executive, Mike Buchanon is retiring at the end of his current term 
this January, leaving behind an impressive legacy of public service. He 
has overseen explosive growth in his county over the past three 
decades, developed Bowling Green into a center for art and recreation, 
and left an enduring mark on the residents, businesses, and new 
initiatives he championed. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring Judge Buchanon on his well-deserved retirement and thanking 
him for his contributions to Kentucky.
  I have been proud to call Judge Buchanon both a close colleague and a 
personal friend during his three-decade tenure on the job, working with 
him to promote job growth, workforce training, and development in South 
Central Kentucky. As a former judge-executive, I know both the 
difficulties and rewards of his position intimately. Judge Buchanon 
shares the passion I felt for my constituents during my time as 
Jefferson County judge-executive. After all, they are not just your 
voters; they are also your neighbors, family, and friends. Every 
achievement on the job brings real, tangible change to the community 
you call your home.
  Judge Buchanon built his reputation for diligent leadership in the 
face of intense crises. From almost the moment he started the job, a 
major snowstorm battered Warren County, forcing Judge Buchanon to 
declare an emergency and call in the National Guard. Toward the end of 
his career, he faced similar disasters, first with the onset of the 
COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and then with last winter's devastating 
tornado outbreak. In each of these emergencies, he worked long days and 
nights to ensure the security and safety of his constituents, deftly 
handling communication with my office and other Federal authorities to 
ensure Warren County received the assistance it required.
  When not dealing with crisis situations, Judge Buchanon dedicated his 
time to helping Warren County grow. That growth came from a multitude 
of directions: the addition of tens of thousands of new residents 
during his tenure, the arrival of major new businesses, and the 
cultivation of one of Kentucky's finest art scenes and public 
recreation systems, to name just a few. He fostered this development by 
maintaining a consistent pro-job, pro-business mentality, persistently 
pitching Warren County to private sector investors as a premier 
location for expansion opportunities.
  His tenure has left a physical mark on the surface of Bowling Green. 
From the Kentucky Transpark industrial park, which is now home to 2 
dozen companies employing some 3,000 people, to Bowling Green's 
downtown revitalization, anchored by the Southern Kentucky Performing 
Arts Center, to the county's large and growing public park system, his 
touch is apparent all across Warren County. Judge Buchanon is a 
builder, understanding long ago that, for Bowling Green to achieve the 
success it has found today, its leaders needed to invest in projects 
that would be attractive to the residents of the future.
  Judge Buchanon has achieved success in part because of his dogged 
efforts, but also in part because his long tenure enabled him to plan 
and actualize projects over an extended timeframe. That would not have 
been possible were it not for the support he has seen among voters, 
time and time again, since his first election three decades ago. He has 
cultivated a close relationship with his constituents, earning their 
trust and votes seven consecutive times, a rare feat for elected 
officials. No doubt, they are sad to see their foremost champion depart 
after so many years of success, even as he plans to stay closely 
involved in Warren County government.
  But Judge Buchanon has undeniably earned his retirement. His wife 
Ellen, two sons, Michael and Roy, grandchildren, and great-
grandchildren have stood by his side during his long public service 
career, offering support and understanding when he had to work long 
nights on behalf of his community. Now, he looks forward to having 
``time to go to my grandkids' ball games and travel some with my 
family.'' He certainly deserves the respite.
  I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Judge Buchanon for his 
decades of service to his constituents and the entire Commonwealth of 
Kentucky. Warren County's future is bright because of his dedicated 
work. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Judge Buchanon 
on his retirement and wishing him the best as he moves on to the next 
chapter of his life.

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