Moore announces deputy judge executive pick

Matt Moore, Republican candidate for McCracken County judge executive, has announced his pick for deputy judge executive.

If elected, Moore told West Kentucky Star he would choose Robert Dudley Wagner to serve in the position.

Wagner is a fourth-generation native of McCracken County. He graduated from Lone Oak High School and then went to Centre College in Danville, where he received a Business Economics degree.

His family owned and operated Wagner Candy in Paducah for 85 years before selling the business. Wagner then purchased Paducah Woodenware and Harbek Distribution before selling those businesses in 2006. For the last 15 years, he has worked with the American Red Cross.

Moore praised Wagner's experience, saying their combined business knowledge will allow them to do things that have never been done before.

"He is perfect for this position. I don't know that we've had an opportunity to have a team like this put together, with his mind and my mind in the business world, to run McCracken County's business." Moore continued, "His business sense is really going to throw us over the edge and allow us to do some things McCracken County's never done before."

Wagner said he is discouraged by McCracken County's declining population and lack of new industry and wants the best for the county. In addition, he said the county is continuously losing families because of the lack of opportunity.

"I see this trend continuing. Paducah used to be one of the top ten largest cities, and we're not even in the top 30 now. I see we're on this trajectory, and I would like to see us reverse course and become a destination for commerce again," he said.

Over the last three years, Moore said the county had experienced one of the highest tax increases in its history, and it's unacceptable. However, he said with him and Wagner at the helm, they will bring new respect for taxpayer money and run the county more efficiently.

"From a business standpoint, we don't have the luxury of reaching into someone else's pocket and grabbing money when the budget doesn't work. So we cut the budget," Moore said. "Coming from two business minds, I think we bring a whole other aspect to the table of how to be smart with spending and save our money for things we need."

If elected, Moore said residents would see projects that will change the face of McCracken County.

"We're going to bring nice things here. I'm not going to quit until we have new jobs here," he said.

Before the duo can bring their plan into action, Moore will first have to secure the nomination in the Republican primary on May 17 before facing off against a Democratic opponent in the November general election.