Bob Leeper
{{Short description|American politician (born 1958)}}
{{for|the Idaho Supreme Court justice|Robert D. Leeper}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bob Leeper
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| office = Judge/Executive of McCracken County
| term_start = January 5, 2015
| term_end = January 7, 2019
| predecessor = Van Newberry
| successor = Craig Clymer
| state_senate1 = Kentucky
| district1 = 2nd
| term_start1 = January 1, 1991
| term_end1 = January 1, 2015
| predecessor1 = Helen Garrett
| successor1 = Danny Carroll
| birth_name = Robert J. Leeper
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|12|8}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Independent (2005–present)
| spouse =
| children =
| residence = Paducah, Kentucky
| alma_mater = Paducah Community College
Sherman College of Chiropractic
| occupation =
| profession = Chiropractor
| website = {{URL|www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/S002.htm|www.lrc.ky.gov/...}}
| branch =
| otherparty = Republican (1999–2005)
Democratic (before 1999)
}}
Robert Joseph Leeper (born December 8, 1958) is an American independent politician and chiropractor. He was a member of the Kentucky Senate from 1991 to 2015 retiring to run for McCracken County Judge-Executive.{{cite web | title = Bob Leeper | url = http://ballotpedia.org/Bob_Leeper | publisher = Ballotpedia | accessdate = July 16, 2014}}{{cite web | title = Robert 'Bob' J. Leeper's Political Summary | url = http://votesmart.org/candidate/4037/bob-leeper | publisher = Project Vote Smart | accessdate = July 16, 2014}} In 2014, he was elected Judge-Executive of McCracken County, but chose not to seek reelection in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Kelly |title=City, county formally open Bob Leeper Bridge |url=https://www.paducahsun.com/news/city-county-formally-open-bob-leeper-bridge/article_8f019c50-71f7-503b-9ba6-0502f31bd89f.html |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=The Paducah Sun |date=September 12, 2020 |language=en}}
Education
Political career
Prior to serving in the Kentucky Senate, Leeper was a city commissioner in Paducah.{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2013 |title=Kentucky State Senator Announces Retirement |url=https://www.wkyufm.org/politics/2013-10-01/kentucky-state-senator-announces-retirement |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=WKU Public Radio {{!}} The Public Radio Service of Western Kentucky University |language=en}}
= Kentucky Senate =
Originally a Democrat, Leeper joined the Republican Party in 1999, and became a political independent later in 2005. Leeper has been described as an "ultra-conservative independent", and was known in the legislature for his opposition to expanded gambling.{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Ronnie |title=Acting on principles, conscience rare in politics |url=https://www.richmondregister.com/opinion/acting-on-principles-conscience-rare-in-politics/article_6498b3d5-0f57-5a4c-aa8c-11f0726693ec.html |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=Richmond Register |date=October 6, 2013 |language=en}} In 2012, he mounted an unsuccessful candidacy to serve as president of the Kentucky Senate.{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2012 |title=Bob Leeper, an Independent, Makes Case to Be Next Kentucky Senate President |url=https://www.wkyufm.org/politics/2012-11-22/bob-leeper-an-independent-makes-case-to-be-next-kentucky-senate-president |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=WKU Public Radio {{!}} The Public Radio Service of Western Kentucky University |language=en}} He decided against re-election in 2014 and ran for McCracken County Judge-Executive.
= Judge-Executive of McCracken County =
In 2014, Leeper was elected Judge-Executive of McCracken County.{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Bob Leeper Wins McCracken County Judge-Executive Office |url=https://www.wkms.org/government-politics/2014-11-04/bob-leeper-wins-mccracken-county-judge-executive-office |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=WKMS |language=en}} In 2018, he faced criticism over the termination of Paducah Economic Development president and CEO Scott Darnell, and issued a statement saying he would not answer questions about the matter.{{Cite web |last=Snow |first=David B. |title=Official ducks questions about firing of economic development director |url=https://www.kentuckynewera.com/news/ap/article_89e98020-b619-11e8-b673-438a299f0f87.html |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=Kentucky New Era |date=September 12, 2018 |language=en}} He did not seek reelection in 2018.
Honors
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/S001.htm Senate District 2: Senator Bob Leeper (I)] at Kentucky Legislature
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leeper, Bob}}
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Democratic Party Kentucky state senators
Category:Republican Party Kentucky state senators
Category:Independent Kentucky state senators
Category:Politicians from Paducah, Kentucky
Category:Baptists from Kentucky
Category:American chiropractors
Category:Sherman College of Chiropractic alumni
Category:20th-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly
Category:21st-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly
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