Buz Smith was born and raised in Paducah and is proud to be a sixth-generation Paducah resident. He has chosen to live in the city his entire life, appreciating its beautiful neighborhoods, charming downtown, and, most importantly, its people.

“Paducah is a great place to live. My wife, Janie, and I raised our children here. Parks are within walking distance, we have outstanding schools, convenient shopping, and a tremendous sense of community,” says Smith.

Buz attended St. Mary School, Paducah Community College, and Western Kentucky University, where he concentrated his studies in business. After completing his education at WKU, he returned home and spent 23 years with US Foodservice, serving as Sales Manager. In that role, he oversaw the business segment for chain restaurants, hospitals, and healthcare facilities while managing a sales budget that exceeded the City of Paducah’s annual operating budget.

Following his career in the private sector, Buz worked for 17 years at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant with the Department of Energy as a Strategic Planner and Program Analyst.

Buz is the longest-serving member of the Paducah City Commission, having been elected to eight terms, including two terms as Mayor Pro Tem.

“I absolutely love the challenges of serving our community and the sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing projects become reality,” Smith says. “I’m proud to have been involved in transformative projects such as the riverfront redevelopment, the Paducah Sportsplex, Southside revitalization, Lowertown, Fountain Avenue, The Carson Center, the rebirth of downtown, and many others. I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of the City of Paducah.”

A Lifetime of Service to Paducah

“I love Paducah and have a deep appreciation for city living because I’ve spent my entire life here. I understand what it means to be a Paducah resident—the strong sense of community, the relationships with our neighbors, the convenience, our outstanding park system, exceptional public safety services, and the many other things that make Paducah such a wonderful place to call home.

Building on Our Progress

When I ran for—and earned the privilege of becoming—your City Commissioner in 2022, I spoke about how my grandfather inspired me to become involved in making our city better. Today, we are seeing that vision become reality, and I remain committed to bringing even more projects and promises to completion.

While no one accomplishes great things alone, I have been deeply involved in many of Paducah’s most significant accomplishments. Together, we have revitalized Lowertown and Fountain Avenue, continued the transformation of Southside, improved Coleman Park, and created opportunities for substantial private investment in the former Jetton School property. These successes are important, but there is still much more to accomplish.

One of our greatest needs is affordable housing. I strongly support initiatives that encourage the construction of new homes on vacant lots created through demolition while ensuring new development complements the character of existing neighborhoods. I also encouraged the City to host a developer seminar to promote investment opportunities within Paducah, attracting approximately 40 developers interested in future projects.

Our new riverfront development is nearing completion and will strengthen tourism, stimulate economic growth, and bring renewed energy to downtown Paducah. I have also worked collaboratively with fellow commissioners and county leaders to modernize our 911 emergency communications system, ensuring first responders have the technology they need to protect our community.

Likewise, I proudly supported the collaborative effort to create the Paducah Sportsplex, which has expanded recreational opportunities for our residents while attracting visitors and generating new economic activity for local businesses.

Public service has long been a tradition in my family. My grandfather, George Thomas, served as a Paducah City Commissioner during the 1950s. He believed that serving the community meant continuing the work until the job was done. I share that same philosophy.

Our work is not finished. Several major industrial projects are on the horizon, bringing tremendous opportunities and new challenges to our community. We must manage this growth responsibly while preserving the qualities that make Paducah such a special place to live.

I would be honored to earn your vote so I can continue working on behalf of our community and helping build an even stronger future for Paducah.