About Paula McCraney
Known for her quick wit and energetic personality, Paula McCraney lives her life with the understanding that to whom much is given much is required. As a 29-year resident of the City of St. Matthews, Paula ran for a seat on the Metro Council to be a part of something greater than herself. She champions the issues that matter most to District 7 residents because she cares about our city and wants to give back to the community that has given so much to her.
Councilwoman McCraney was elected November 6, 2018, as the third citizen to serve on the Metro Council for District 7 and re-elected for another four-year term in 2022. She proudly represents the following 19 suburban cities, and 6 neighborhoods: Bancroft, Beechwood Village, Briarwood, Crossgate, Graymoor-Devondale, Lyndon, Maryhill Estates, Meadowbrook Farm, Moorland, Northfield, Norwood, Old Brownsboro Place, Plantation, Rolling Hills, St. Matthews, Thornhill, Westwood, Windy Hills, Woodlawn Park; Autumn Ridge, Eagle Creek, Lancaster Manor, Village of Olde St. Andrews, Westmoorland, and Brownsboro Meadows.
In 2023, Councilwoman McCraney was unanimously selected to serve as the Majority Caucus Chair. She also serves on the Budget Committee and Committee on Committees. In addition to her committee duties on the Council, she serves as the Co-Chair of the Metro Council Women’s Caucus and is an appointed member of the Equity in Contracting and Procurement task force and the Juneteenth Jubilee Commission.
Paula has over 40 years of combined experience in banking, human resources, public relations, and government. Her unique qualifications and skills are put to good use on the Council as she works effectively with other councilmembers, the mayor, and city agency heads to make our neighborhoods safer, and to create an economy that works for everyone.
Paula is a graduate of Webster University, with a Master of Arts degree in Management and Leadership. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University and is also a graduate of Focus Louisville (Class of 1997), Leadership Louisville (Class of 1999), the Bingham Fellows Program (Class of 2001), and the Courier-Journal Newspaper Forum Fellow (2009). In 2020, the Councilwoman graduated from Leadership Kentucky, and was awarded the prestigious Lisa Murrell Award. She is currently enrolled at Spalding University in the Education and Leadership Doctoral Program. Her anticipated graduation date is December of 2023.
Paula has been recognized with leadership awards by numerous organizations, including the Woman of the Year Award from the Business and Professional Women/River City, the Business and Professional Award from the Louisville Defender Newspaper, and the Black History Month Community Service Award from the Louisville Metro Council. She is recipient of the Kentucky Colonel and is an Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville. Paula was presented with a Distinguished Citizen award from the City of Louisville, a Community Service award from the Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and a United States Congressional Honor for Outstanding Community Service from The United States Congress. She is also a recipient of the Business First Newspaper Forty Under 40 Award, the Landmarks of Excellence Award from the Public Relations Society of America, the Peak Performance Award from PNC Bank, and the Employee Performance Award from the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office. In 2007 and 2008, Paula was featured as “Influential” in the highly-acclaimed publication, “Who’s Who – African American Profiles.” In subsequent years she is featured in the publication as a successful entrepreneur. Most recently, she was recognized in 2022 by The Kentucky Gazette as a “Notable Women in Kentucky Politics and Government”.
Throughout her career, Paula has served on several boards and commissions, including the Community Investment Team of the Metro United Way, Executive Team of Simmons College of Kentucky, the Executive Institute for the Center for Women and Families, the Kentuckiana Works Board, the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Board, the Council on Aging, and the Site-Based Decision Making Councils at Greathouse Elementary School and Ballard High School. Prior to being sworn in as a Metro Councilwoman, she served on the Citizens Commission on Police Accountability Board, and the Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board.
Paula’s love for her community is commensurate with her volunteerism and leadership roles as a community servant. She has served as president of the Business and Professional Women/River City organization, president of the Windhurst Acres Homeowners Association, president of the National Council of Negro Women/Louisville Section, and was a two-term member of the Executive Board of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., in Washington, D.C.
In 1999, Paula wrote a grant and was awarded $5,000 to commission a pay equity study of Louisville businesses and the Jefferson County Government. The study revealed work and pay inequities and prompted a County Commissioner to investigate. The investigation resulted in pay adjustments across the board throughout County Government, including a huge pay adjustment for the then Deputy Police Chief who was an African American female with an equivalent job description as her male Deputy Police Chief counterpart. With the $5,000 grant, Paula also convened several female community leaders to write and publish a pay equity guide. Thousands of copies of the booklet were distributed throughout the community to nonprofit organizations and through human resource departments at select for-profit companies.
Councilwoman McCraney has co-sponsored several key pieces of legislation, including the ban of ‘No-Knock’ Search Warrants and the creation of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities. She is known as the architect of the landmark Civilian Review and Accountability Board ordinance, having co-chaired a 33-member review board task force to write the legislation and lobby for its approval. It passed through the Council on a 25-1 vote and was signed into law by the Mayor on December 2, 2020. She also sponsored the first Link law in Kentucky and the first one in the United States to mandate Link training to law enforcement. “The Link” acknowledges a connection between the cruelty to animals and domestic violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse.
On a more personal note, Paula is married 37 years to Billy McCraney, and they have two adult sons – one is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, and one is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University. Paula enjoys reading, writing, and arithmetic. That’s right – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic! READING: She has read the Bible three times from Genesis to Revelation, is a connoisseur of historical fiction books and collects celebrity memoir books. Paula also sets a goal each year to read at least 10 books, and she scours the internet daily to read several newspapers and magazines. WRITING: Paula’s writings have been featured in various magazines and newsletters, and she has written and directed five stage plays: “Getting Past Your Past”, “He Restoreth My Soul”, “Nothing New Under the Son”, “Those Triumphant Women”, and “The Woman at the Well: The Untold Story”. ARITHMETIC: While in college, Paula tutored students in Calculus and Accounting II, and takes pleasure in analyzing budgets and, in a former life, helping others complete their tax returns.
A part of her diverse work experience includes a 10-year career in the banking industry. She began her financial career as a banking center branch manager and loan officer and climbed the corporate ladder to Vice President of Retail Banking. Paula is putting her banking experience to good use as the owner of two businesses, P Mc & Associates Management Consultants, and The Traveling Boutique. The one thing people may not know about Paula is, she’s a licensed Minister of the Gospel. Although not licensed until age 58, she wrote her first sermon at 13.
Councilwoman Paula is strategic enough to think outside of the box, resilient enough to not give up when facing adversity, and committed enough to dig deeply to find the best solutions to support and protect the interest of District 7 and the community at large. As a Metro Councilwoman, Paula vows to always lead with Vision, Integrity and Purpose. As she puts it, “District 7 residents deserve VIP representation.”
updated 02/21/2023
