Kathy Carter has been a Frankfort resident since 1965. She was born in Hazard, Kentucky, and lived her childhood years in Breathitt County. Her father was a Greyhound Bus driver, and he was transferred to Louisville after she completed her sophomore year at Breathitt County High. She graduated from duPont Manual High, attended one year at Eastern Kentucky State College, now known as Eastern Kentucky University.

Following one year of business school, Kathy accepted a position as principal clerk stenographer with the Department of Education in Frankfort. During her 27+ years with state government, Kathy held several supervisory roles, which included an administrative section supervisor, a branch manager, and acted in the position of assistant to the Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. She also worked in the Department of Highways, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Office of the Attorney General, and retired from the Department of Education.

Kathy was married to Frankfort native, Bernard Taylor (Bernie) Carter for 19 years, and has one son, Mark. Since Bernie's untimely death in 1990, she has retired from state government, volunteered for eight years with the US Forest Service in Morehead working in the visitor's center and with the interpretive services program. She also volunteered with the opening of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Salato Center, and volunteered for the Nature Preserves Commission.

The following are Kathy's past and present involvements in civic activities:

CURRENT POSITIONS HELD: 

• Currently serving third term as City
     Commissioner/Mayor Pro Tem
• World Equestrian Games (WEI) Committee
• Joint Land Use Policy Study Committee
• River Development Steering Committee

AWARDS

• 2005 POESI Bronze Award - Kentucky League of Cities 
• 2006 Community Support Award - Frankfort/Franklin 
     County Community Education
• 2007 POESI Silver Award - Kentucky League of Cities
• 2009 POESI Silver Award - Kentucky League of Cities
• 2009 NAACP Outstanding Woman of the Year Award
  

ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN:

• Member of Kiwanis Club
• Warder, Order of Eastern Star- Hiram Chapter 93
• Legislative Chair, Ladies' Auxiliary VFW 4075
• President, Frankfort Optimist Club
• Chamber of Commerce
      Graduate of Leadership Frankfort
• Kentucky State Police Professional Association (KSPPA)
• Random Homemakers
• Frankfort Woman's Club
• Daughters of American Revolution (DAR)
• Holmes Street Neighbors Association
• Senior Citizens
• Kentucky Public Retirees (KPR)

FORMER POSITIONS:

• Chair of the Code Enforcement Board for the City of
     Frankfort
• Board Member, Holmes Street Neighbors Association
• Civil Air Patrol - Supervised female cadets at Oshkosh,
     Wisconsin-one being a recipient of the Sally Ride
     Scholarship.
• Board member, Kiwanis Club
• Committee Member, Franklin County Home Health
     Advisory Committee
  

Kathy initiated the Capital Rally in 2002, which is an old-fashioned political stump speaking, located on the grounds of the Old State Capital each year. She served as chair of this event for the first two years.

Former State Representative Gippy Graham enlisted her assistance with his campaign for Secretary of State in 2003. She became his campaign manager, traveled throughout the state, and represented him at several statewide candidate forums.

During the past eight years, Kathy has been involved with the revitalization of Chinn Avenue in the Holmes Street area. She has purchased eight of the ten houses on this street, gutted them, and restored them to very livable and desirable homes. Former and current tenants include two state representatives, a director of a state agency, a deputy commissioner of a state agency, a major with Kentucky State Police, a City of Frankfort police officer, an assistant to the Speaker of the House, and a manager of a local business, plus other responsible persons/families.

Kathy also enjoys excitement in her life. Her highlights include bird hunting at Park Falls, Wisconsin,  and Morehead with Sofie, her English Setter, dog sledding in Minnesota for a week, "assisted" in flying a WWII Texan T-6 training plane, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane (tandem style) at 10,000 feet, and a covered wagon train trip in the Grand Tetons. She likes to visit antique stores, yard sales, and flea markets.

Kathy's' belief is similar to former President John F. Kennedy's statement in his inaugural address "Don't ask what your community can do for you - Ask what you can do for your community."

   Kathy Carter, Mayor Pro Tem/City Commissioner