Happy Days are Here Again


Happy Days are Here Again

County Judge Mike Miller - longest serving county judge in Kentucky

An Interview With County Judge Mike Miller of Marshall County

What were you doing in 1973?

Getting your diaper changed? Wearing bell bottom trousers, long hair and a peace sign?
Grade school?  High school? Drafted?  Unborn?

In 1973, Mike Miller was getting elected to his first term as county judge of Marshall County. It’s a job he’s had ever since. As the longest serving county judge in Kentucky, Miller has seen a lot of governors come and go. Some he supported in their run for governor, some he did not.

Miller, interviewed by a television reporter on election night, crowed, “Happy days are here again!” 
 
Miller has a reason to be happy. He was a supporter of Steve Beshear the last time he ran for governor. Miller said that although he didn’t support Wallace Wilkinson, who beat Beshear that year, that Wilkinson didn’t hold it against him or Marshall County.  Other governors haven’t held Miller’s political party or his support for candidates against his constituents.

Not so this governor. 

Miller watched $350 million dollars in bond money get spent all over the state – with zero dollars going to Marshall County.  The new health department was never built.

When a tornado hit Marshall County in 2005, Miller asked for state money to get the county and its stricken residents back on their feet. He’s still waiting for that money, too.

Miller marvels at the Fletcher’s administration’s neglect of Marshall County since the GOP carried the county four years ago.

 “They voted for this guy,” he says. Miller has struggled for four years to remind the governor that no matter where he personally stood, Marshall County deserved some attention.  A message that never got heard.

“That’s okay.” Miller says, “I know I’ll have a job on January 1st!”

Miller has little use for Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert and hopes he runs into him at the Kentucky Association of Counties (KaCo) meeting later this month or at the  KaCo Transportation Conference in January.  

Nighbert can expect there to be more crowing from the Marshall Countian.  He also should prepare for some salty language thrown his way.

“Happy Chandler used to say, ‘When the people of Kentucky speak, it’s the only voice I hear.” Miller quotes. “Well, the people have spoken.”

When long time Beshear supporter Judge Mike Miller speaks, expect newly elected governor Steve Beshear to be listening.