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[Page S2725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING JEANNETTE PRIEBE
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I am sorry to note the passing of
Jeannette Priebe, a longtime friend and an instrumental part of my team
when I was Jefferson County judge-executive. Jeannette was a skilled
public servant, animated with a fierce spirit for our work. Today, I
would like to pay tribute to her life and her many contributions to our
Commonwealth.
Jeannette's work embodied President Reagan's notion that ``personnel
is policy.'' A great deal of her career was dedicated to putting the
right individuals into positions of consequence, regardless of
political affiliation. Jeannette became the first female personnel
director of the Louisville Civil Service Board and later ran Jefferson
County's personnel office. Her unyielding diligence made local
government more effective for the families we served.
Take, for example, Jeannette's transformative impact on the city's
police force. To address a serious under-representation of African
Americans in the department, she intentionally placed a strong emphasis
on giving qualified, minority candidates a fair shot. She helped create
a police force that was more representative of the community it
protected.
Jeannette joined my team when I was the newly elected Republican
judge surrounded on all sides by skeptical Democrats. Almost everything
we did brought an uphill climb. As a result, my staff and I developed a
deep bond and a collective sense of purpose.
In professionalizing the personnel office, Jeannette never let the
bureaucracy slow her down. She did away with political patronage,
insisting on merit in the county's policymakers. She knew the rules
governing her position and used them to shake the malaise off local
government. If I told Jeannette where I wanted to end up on a
particular policy, she could chart the course to get there. She was
absolutely critical to our accomplishments for the people of Jefferson
County.
There is perhaps no better example than the hiring of Norma Fletcher
as the consumer protection division director. Norma might not have been
the conventional choice among the stack of 60-plus resumes. She was a
26-year-old attorney who had only recently joined local government. In
Jeannette's characteristic way, however, she saw Norma's initiative and
drive. Norma got the job and would prove an invaluable asset to
Jefferson County over the coming years in several important leadership
roles. I am grateful that Jeannette recognized the potential of Norma
and several other talented individuals who made our administration
better as a result.
Jeannette's job came with many serious responsibilities. But she
never took herself or her colleagues too seriously. She was quick to
break the tension with a joke and a smile. Her deep reservoir of faith
helped give us all strength, even on the most grueling days. I will
warmly remember the times she invited me to her home for dinner.
Jeannette was a wonderful cook, and I enjoyed the chance to spend time
with her, her husband Victor, and their family.
Throughout my career, I have been lucky to work with some of the most
capable and trustworthy staff around. Much of my early team was
directly attributable to Jeannette's influence. After she left the
county courthouse, I wasn't certain I would ever find another person
quite like her. Then, about a decade ago, Jeannette's daughter Angie
joined my staff. As my director of State operations, Angie has been
tireless in helping me represent Kentucky in the Senate. She is so
impressive in her own right and a wonderful reflection of her mother. I
am grateful that brilliance happens to run in this particular family.
It was a sincere privilege to call Jeannette a friend for so many
years. I am forever grateful for her impression on my life and on lives
around Jefferson County. I join with her family in remembering this
remarkable Kentuckian.
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