“Beware of Candidates Who Lie to Your Face or Use Negative Campaigning to Manipulate you.”
Dear Neighbor,
One of my opponents is lying about my support for our hardworking police officers. This opponent is knocking on doors and telling residents that I advocate defunding the police. He understands that crime is a hot-button issue driving voter sentiment in the lead-up to the November 8th election. He also knows that the “defund the police” mantra that has grabbed headlines for the past two years is a dog whistle that evokes raw emotions. However, he does not know that my constituents have contacted me and expressed their disdain for his manipulative lies that distort my record and years of support for LMPD. Actually, he does know this because a conscientious resident sent me a copy of an email that he sent to this candidate. In the email, the resident informed the candidate that he did not appreciate him knocking on his door and lying to his face, after he had looked me up on the Internet and found several articles that proved my support of LMPD. Despite being called to the carpet, it’s my understanding the candidate continues to spread the lie.
I have NEVER supported the ill-advised “Defund the Police” movement. It is misguided, and people who support it are misinformed. Evidently, my Republican opponent is using this tactic to attempt to win this race. It’s shameful, pathetic, and desperate, and he is revealing his true character and just how he will represent you if he’s elected – with lies, deceit, and unethical behavior. Please do not reward this bad behavior with your precious vote. You, District 7, deserve better.
HERE IS AN ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN THE COURIER-JOURNAL ON JUNE 22, 2020. IT’S ONE OF MANY THAT CAN BE FOUND BY GOOGLING MY NAME ON THE INTERNET.
Councilwoman Paula McCraney, D-7th, said she never wanted to see Metro Council “take a penny out of the police department where the penny needs to be.” “If we want to reform the police department, how about setting up some type of incentive program? At the end of the year, if they don’t have any undue deaths, they don’t have any undue claims, they do everything that a policeman is hired to do — protect and serve — then perhaps they should get a $15,000 bonus, or $20,000 bonus, McCraney said. “We need to look at ways to support our LMPD.”
—Darcy Costello, June 22, 2020. How Louisville Metro Council wants to change LMPD, city budget amid calls to defund police. Louisville Courier-Journal.
As your Councilwoman, I have repeatedly voted to increase funding and resources for law enforcement. And when re-elected, I will continue to ensure that LMPD has the resources they need to address violent crime, bring justice to victims, and keep our communities safe. I am also a huge proponent of investing more resources in social workers. Licensed and trained social workers can relieve our police department of the 911 calls that require mental health services and addiction counseling and treatment.
I am on record as the Councilmember who spoke up at a Council meeting and insisted on sending the police contracts back to the negotiations table because the pay increase was not high enough for our officers. As a result, the contract was renegotiated, and the pay was increased. Ultimately, I voted against the entire contract because initially, the LMPD officers and sergeants felt that the proposal would not be enough to stop our constant loss of officers and would not adequately increase Metro’s ability to recruit the best talent available to the LMPD (see FOP statement below regarding the contract voting results). I still contend that Louisville Metro could have offered more, and I stood in my conviction to fight for better pay for our officers.
I do not straddle the fence on crime and safety. I stand firmly against criminals and with law enforcement in its efforts to ensure the safety of our communities and the protection of the residents of our community. I will take on any anti-police progressives and misguided individuals to have a conversation about how important it is to fully fund the police AND find ways to fund social service programs that make it easier for LMPD to do their work and focus on community policing and fighting actual crime. We deserve a safe place to live, work, receive an education, and raise a family. To ensure our safety, we must support and fully fund our men and women in blue. This is what I’ve done as your Council representative for over 3.5 years.
I acknowledge all of the negative publicity about LMPD as of late, but I believe the negativity is due to a few bad apples who served on the police force. It’s unfortunate that those individuals were dishonest, unethical, or misled. We didn’t deserve how they chose to serve. And that is one of the reasons I served as co-chairwoman of a 33-member task force to introduce legislation creating a Civilian Review and Accountability Board and the Office of Inspector General. Please make no mistake; one can support good, honest policing and mandate police accountability. These concepts are not mutually exclusive.
Different officers experience disciplinary problems on the job for various reasons. Sometimes the problem is the officer; sometimes, it’s the department; often, it’s a little of both. Therefore, a range of intervention options must be available to address not just officer attitude and behavior but organizational practices. The basic message is that law enforcement discipline rarely has to be all-or-nothing, and most problem officers can be salvaged if treated correctly. If not, as good officers tell me, the problem ones must go.
There are devastating and dangerous effects of defunding the police rhetoric, and citizens should reject those using the phrase to distort someone’s record or exploit their emotions. It’s shameful that my opponent elected to make this an issue in the District 7 Metro Council race. Campaigns should be about issues. Lies and derogatory messages have no place in our democracy or a civilized society. Again, YOU deserve better.
If you would like a yard sign, please email your address to pauladmccraney@gmail.com
VOTEFOR A V.I.P.
Visionary,
Innovator, and
Public Servant
Councilwoman Dr. Paula McCraney serves District 7 with Vigor, Integrity, and Passion because all residents deserve VIP representation.
ELECTION DAY:NOVEMBER 3rd
Every Vote Counts!
In the News…
Councilwoman McCraney stays in touch with constituents through neighborhood meetings and newsletters. Plus, she is always just a phone call or email away, and encourages neighbors to contact her
Emergent Leader RecipientAffordable Housing Ribbon Cutting EventDiaper Drive for Community Residents
Inside City Hall
Councilwoman McCraney – Hosting a Podcast of the Louisville Metro Council with State Representative Tina Bojanowski and Dirk Gowen, Former Engineer, Louisville Metro Public Works
Councilwoman McCraney Greets Veterans as they return from an Honor Flight Bluegrass trip to Washington, D.C.
Accessthe District 7 Metro Council website to review: 1. Councilwoman McCraney’s legislative voting record 2. Archived Metro Council meetings 3. The Councilwoman’s District 7 Neighborhood Development Funds (NDF) & Capital Investment Fund (CIF) spending, and so much more.
To access the Councilwoman’s website and sign up to receive her weekly eNewsletter, click here: https://louisvilleky.gov/district7 or use this QR Code:
Re-Elect Paula McCraney 