Local officials credit McConnell’s leadership as pivotal for city, county
When Sen. Mitch McConnell retires from office at the end of 2026, Owensboro and Kentucky will have lost a supporter who helped build up the city, county and state, local officials said Thursday.
“He always made sure we punched above our weight, not just Kentucky, but Owensboro,” said Candance Castlen Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.
McConnell, who turned 83 recently, announced that he won’t run for reelection in 2026. McConnell recently stepped down as the leader of the U.S. Senate Republicans.
McConnell has been to Owensboro on numerous occasions.
Most notably, McConnell helped secure the funding that remade the city’s riverfront. McConnell Plaza in Smothers Park is named in tribute to McConnell.
“The downtown project has truly transformed our community,” Brake said.
McConnell was able to allocate $40 million in federal funds to build a new river wall and expand Smothers Park in 2005.
“That was a pivotal moment for us, because that’s when we realized a downtown transformation wasn’t just a dream,” Brake said. “We could make it a reality.”
Mayor Tom Watson said McConnell’s support for Owensboro went beyond the riverfront.
Watson recalled joining McConnell on a tour of the old H.L. Neblett Community Center building.
McConnell noticed a roof leak and told Watson, “we need to get that fixed,” Watson recalled.
In 2006, McConnell secured $3 million to help fund the building of the new Neblett Center.
“He has been a great supporter,” Watson said. “We’ve known each other for 40 years, and he encouraged me to get into public service. I always thought so highly of him.”
McConnell “has always been a real friend of Owensboro,” Watson said.
Owensboro will continue to have powerful supporters in Washington, such as Rep. Brett Guthrie, Watson said.
Regarding McConnell, Watson said, “we will be hard-pressed to (find) as strong an advocate as he is” for the city.
Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said while McConnell is best remembered locally for the riverfront project, “if you swing over to the Neblett Center, he’s the one who delivered the money for the building they are in today. He has been a friend to Owensboro and our county for a long time, pretty much out of the gate.”
McConnell’s efforts have also been pivotal nationally, Castlen said.
“When he was in leadership (as Senate majority leader), for conservatives, it meant a lot getting the majority on the (Supreme) Court,” Castlen said.
Castlen said McConnell’s retirement at the end of next year could mean the community is losing a strong supporter.
“I think for a little bit it might,” Castlen said. “I think it depends on who gets in his seat.”
By James Mayse Messenger Inquirer