Bob Glenn has announced his bid for re-election to the Owensboro Board of Commissioners, seeking a seventh term overall and fourth consecutive. Glenn, 65, said he remains passionate about helping the city grow while maintaining the financial and civic momentum built in recent years.
“We’re in great financial shape as a City government,” Glenn said. “I believe that we’re generally moving in a positive direction in almost every area.”
Glenn pointed to a long list of accomplishments he’s proud of during his tenure, including the City’s involvement in clearing and redeveloping the long-abandoned juvenile justice building on KY 54, an issue he said he first spotlighted publicly in early 2023. That property, he said, has been a “haven for drug users and the homeless” and a blight in one of Owensboro’s most prominent retail corridors.
Other recent highlights Glenn cited include progress on the new senior center, the indoor sports facility, and land preparation for new pickleball courts at Ben Hawes. He also praised the recent opening of a third downtown hotel and efforts to expand the city’s industrial footprint through the purchase of the former Massey property off the bypass near Parrish Avenue.
“Whether we like it or not, we are a tourist destination — and that’s good,” Glenn said. “Once people come to our community, they want to come back again and again.”
Glenn also expressed excitement about the coming Malibu Jack’s family entertainment center development, which he described as a “game-changer” for the community, and said continued investment in Owensboro’s brand through festivals, concerts, and cultural attractions is critical to attracting both tourists and new residents.
Still, Glenn acknowledged challenges ahead. Chief among them is addressing affordable housing.
“We have taken steps to address that,” Glenn said, noting partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and Jagoe Homes, as well as the City’s acquisition of property from the former Colonel House with the intent of turning it into affordable housing. He said City leaders are also examining zoning changes to allow for accessory dwelling units and tiny homes as part of the housing solution.
Another issue Glenn said the commission must continue to address is homelessness. While he credited local shelters and transitional homes for their work, he noted that many unhoused individuals in Owensboro arrive from other communities to enter treatment programs but don’t finish, leaving them stranded locally without a support system.
“We’re not sure that just building more shelters is the solution,” he said. “We need more certified transitional housing, and we need a way to help people who want to return home actually get there.”
Gun violence, particularly among young people, also remains a concern. Glenn said the City must continue supporting organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc., and Breaking the Cycle to intervene early and offer productive paths forward.
“Our livability is affected when these incidents become normal — and they shouldn’t be,” he said. “We need to continue working with state and county partners to get at the root of the problem.”
Glenn added that fostering strong City-County cooperation is key to making sustained progress across many of these challenges. He said he regularly communicates with County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen and other Daviess Fiscal Court members and hopes to strengthen those ties further.
On economic development, Glenn said land acquisition by the City has been essential to positioning Owensboro for future growth. He defended recent city purchases of land — including property near the new Kroger and downtown riverfront — as prudent moves that will support residential and commercial expansion.
“There isn’t a lot of land that works in Owensboro, Kentucky, because of our floodplain,” Glenn said. “So when we have an opportunity to buy land that is developable, we need to do it.”
He said his approach to decision-making includes research, input from residents and stakeholders, and often direct calls to leaders in other Kentucky cities to learn from their experiences.
“Most of the time, their experience is going to be our experience,” he said. “The big question is: Does this move the community forward? If it does, then it’s worth doing.”
Looking ahead, Glenn said Owensboro must ensure its infrastructure keeps up with its growth. He cited the need for a new exit on the Natcher Parkway between Owensboro and Ohio County, as well as concerns about delays in repairs to the Owensboro Bridge connecting the city to Indiana.
He also said he sees great potential in positioning Owensboro as a retirement destination, especially with the new senior center and the state’s planned reduction in income taxes.
“We’re a community that’s fairly low-cost, safe, and welcoming,” he said. “There’s no reason why a retiree from a surrounding state wouldn’t want to move to Owensboro.”
At the heart of his reelection bid, Glenn said, is a desire to see several projects through to completion and to continue advocating for ideas that can enhance Owensboro’s future.
“I love living in Owensboro. I love serving our community,” he said. “I think we’re moving in an unparalleled positive direction — but we can’t stand pat. We need to keep moving forward.”
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