Madison County Republican Party of Kentucky

Elected Officials

Senator Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Kentucky’s history, is the Senate Republican Leader in the 111th Congress. Elected to that position unanimously by his colleagues on November 18, 2008, he is the 15th Senate Republican Leader and only the second Kentuckian to lead his party in the Senate. To read more about Sen. McConnell, visit his website at http://mcconnell.senate.gov/about.cfm.

Senator Rand Paul

Senator Rand Paul, M.D. has been married for 20 years to the former Kelley Ashby, who is originally from Russellville, Kentucky. Rand and Kelley have three sons: William, 18; Duncan, 14; and Robert, 11.

Dr. Paul and his family live in Bowling Green, where Rand owned his own ophthalmology practice and performed eye surgery for 18 years.

Rand is the third of five children born to Carol and Ron Paul. He grew up in Lake Jackson, Texas and attended Baylor University. He graduated from Duke Medical School in 1988. Dr. Paul completed a general surgery internship at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Duke University Medical Center. Upon completion of his training in 1993, Rand and Kelley moved to Bowling Green to start their family and begin his ophthalmology practice.

In 1995, Rand founded the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, an organization that provides eye exams and surgery to needy families and individuals. Rand is a former president and 17 year member of Lions Clubs International, which is dedicated to preserving sight by providing eyeglasses and surgery to the less fortunate around the world. In recognition of his outstanding and sustained efforts to provide vision care to Kentuckians in need, Lions Clubs International has awarded Rand many of its highest commendations.

In addition to his work with the Lions Clubs, Dr. Paul has provided free eye surgery to children from around the world through his participation in the Children of the Americas Program. A large part of Rand's daily work is dedicated to preserving the vision of our seniors. In 2002, The Twilight Wish Foundation recognized Rand for Outstanding Service and Commitment to Seniors.

Rand is a devoted husband and father. He regularly volunteers to coach teams for each of his three sons in Little League baseball, soccer, and basketball. Rand and Kelley have been members of The Presbyterian Church since 1993, where Kelley currently serves as a Deacon. Rand is a hard-working, dedicated physician, not a career politician. His entrance into politics is indicative of his life's work: a desire to diagnose problems and provide practical solutions.

He pledges to work every day in the U.S. Senate at reforming government and ending business as usual here in our nation's capital. For more information, visit http://paul.senate.gov

Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer

Richie Farmer was elected Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture in November, 2003, and was sworn into office in January, 2004. He was re-elected to a second four year term on November 6, 2007. Since taking office, Commissioner Farmer has fought vigorously on behalf of Kentucky's consumers and for Kentucky's agriculture industry. Commissioner Farmer recently spearheaded an effort to protect Kentucky motorists by persuading the legislature to fund a new state-of-the-art motor fuel quality laboratory. He has improved the efficiency of the Department's public protection functions by streamlining processes and introducing new technology, and by working with legislative leaders to strengthen consumer health and safety legislation. He has fought vigorously for the expansion of the state's world-class animal health diagnostic laboratories, which play a vital role in protecting the public health, as well as our signature horse industry and other vital animal agriculture industries. He has also created the Department's signature Kentucky Proud marketing program, which is helping to expand the markets for Kentucky farm products. Since the inception of the program in 2004 has grown from just under two dozen members to over 1500, and has resulted in the sale of roughly a quarter billion dollars in Kentucky Proud food and farm products since 2006.