Jeff Sanford has been elected to the Owensboro City Commission, marking a return for the former commissioner who previously served five terms. Sanford said he wants to address Owensboro’s “most pressing issues” and is ready to bring his experience and a renewed sense of urgency to the commission.
“I’m very honored to get the votes I did, and I worked hard to get them,” Sanford said, noting that he personally visited more than 2,500 homes during his campaign. “I think that made all the difference.”
Sanford’s campaign focused on reinvigorating the city’s development strategy, a goal that he said grew after Churchill Downs’ plans at the former Towne Square Mall were withdrawn. He sees this as a missed opportunity and is eager to promote proactive land development to attract future projects and businesses.
“We’ve done great things with downtown, but it’s time to laser-focus on economic opportunities,” Sanford said. “Whether it’s within Daviess County or through collaboration with other counties, we need high-paying jobs and better opportunities for our residents.”
Sanford also wants to tackle homelessness, an issue he said he frequently heard about during his campaign. While he acknowledges the complexity of the problem, he emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that provides essential services without enabling long-term dependence on resources.
With a strong commitment to supporting Owensboro’s future, Sanford has already begun discussions with city staff and business leaders. He said he believes that engaging the city’s youth is key to the city’s sustainability and wants to build pathways for young people to stay and succeed locally.
“These young people want to stay here, and as elected officials, it’s our responsibility to make that possible,” Sanford said. “We need a sense of urgency to make Owensboro a place they can thrive.”
