BuildING a Better Barren County
Leadership. Integrity. Community.
Paid for by Paula Pedigo, Republican candidate
Meet Paula Ratliff Pedigo
Paula!
Paula Pedigo resides in the Merry Oaks Community and considers Barren County her forever home. As a graduate of the University of Louisville, she has established herself as a criminologist, author, and speaker. Her previous roles include small business manager and grant and program administrator, where she managed millions of dollars, drawing on approximately fifteen years of experience in local and state government.
In her career, Paula has taught at the college level, and general education classes. She also holds a certificate in Housing and Community Development from the University of Maryland, being one of only two individuals from Kentucky selected for this course while pursuing a Ph.D. in community development.
Paula understands the importance of effective leadership in building a community that balances commodities with preservation. She believes that workforce development is not just a random effort to recruit anyone available, but rather a strategic approach tailored to meet the needs of local constituents. Her goal is to foster local businesses and ensure the vitality of the community.
Paula Pedigo has served on numerous boards and committees, including the University of Louisville Justice Administration Alumni Association Board from 1990 to 2000, where she was honored with the 1992 Alumni Service Award (see photo from the big hair days).
She was appointed to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, the Kentucky Corrections Commission, and the South Central Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors. Currently, she serves on the Steering Committee of the American Society of Industrial Security Cultural Properties Community, collaborating with security professionals across various fields.
In this capacity, Paula has written and collaborated on numerous research papers and articles and developed security assessments utilized globally, with her work cited in federal publications. She has also presented her research and solutions at national conferences, advocating for initiatives that aim to make our world a safer and better place.
In 2004, she was inducted into her high school Hall of Fame. Paula is the author of a textbook published in 2015 and is a co-author and contributor to other books. She has written program evaluations and hundreds of articles, including several featured in national newspapers. Her passion for research and attention to detail align with her belief that
'Revision improves all things.'
Her ability to understand and manage complex regulations provided an opportunity for her to write the first published assessment of impediments to fair housing in the country as she examined the City of Louisville, addressing critical issues such as poverty, housing stock, red-lining, brownfields, ADA compliance, and all elements necessary for fostering community development.
She served on the City of Louisville's Community Oriented Policing Task Force for several years, evaluated the sheriff's community service programs, and has administered various grant programs including DARE and drug task forces throughout the state.
As a local advocate and coordinator for Veterans, she played a crucial role in bringing home two heroes from Pearl Harbor and one from World War II. In 2021, she was selected as a member of the press corps at the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, where she published three stories nationally. She describes this experience as an "absolute honor of a lifetime." In November 2023, Jobe Publishing recognized her as the "Hometown Hero of the Month" for her dedicated work with local veterans (see articles).
Most recently, she has been an outspoken opponent of solar development on farmland, having researched the contaminants in solar panels and the industry's fluctuating performance in fulfilling its promises. She is a strong advocate for the preservation of farmland in Barren County.
Her extensive experience includes working with many political leaders, allowing her to communicate and coordinate effectively with members from both sides of the aisle, from local leaders and mayors to senators.
Paula has volunteered with numerous organizations throughout her life, holding a firm belief in serving others. She is committed to serving the residents of Barren County and pledges a full-time dedication to her position.
Having spent several years on a large cattle and grain farm, Paula now resides on a small hay farm with fields for cattle, where she enjoys photographing beautiful sunsets and cherishing the land. She is skilled with a weed-eater and chainsaw, and has assisted in delivering a calf or two, embracing her identity as a country girl at heart.
Many describe her as "tough as nails," having overcome cancer in 2012. She remains grateful for God's intervention in her life and his many blessings.
Capturing moments with Heroes
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A friend. A leader. Extraordinary compassion.
We will encourage youth and health initiatives with community and local businesses. We will support "leadership of the people, for the people and by the people.*" I want our youth to stay and thrive here and our elderly to play a role of significance.
*Gettysburg Address 1863
