Rafe Buckner feels that running for City Commissioner is his next natural step of progression. After years as the chair of the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance, he’s excited for the chance to bring that experience to the Commission should he get elected in 2024.
Buckner, 47, is also the owner of A Cut Above Mowing LLC.
In his capacity as Alliance chairperson, Buckner said he already has plenty of experience with the City government by working with the Owensboro Police Department, hosting events, and collaborating alongside current commissioners and administrators.
“I just feel like we’re already kind of doing that work. So I just think it’s a natural progression and the next step of what we were already doing,” Buckner said.
Buckner said some of the problems the Northwest area deals with can also be found citywide, and he hopes to be able to address those issues for residents across the entire community.
Namely, he pointed to the issues of homelessness and affordable housing. By reducing the former and increasing the latter, he said the City can find success in the economy and continue to grow.
“I think we’ve got to continue to grow the economy, so that means working with the Economic Development Center and the Chamber. But we also have to continue to support the nonprofits and organizations that are out here to support our youth with education or mentorship,” he said.
Buckner also has aspirations of working on development on the south end of Frederica Street. He said he knows the government may not always be able to impact which businesses come into the area, but he wants to work on the infrastructure to help better prepare it for growth.
Buckner said he plans to use his experience to be a connector between the community and government as they move forward, including by engaging the community and helping them find any resources needed.
“I want to treat it like a full-time job. I want to be in the office. I want to make calls. I want to meet with the people. I want to be out and learning about what we’ve got going on,” Buckner said. “… I want to be accessible. I want folks to feel like I’m a normal guy. I want to represent the working class people, which is what my background is.”
