Paul E. Osborne
Encyclopedia
Paul Edward Osborne is a realtor who served as the mayor
of Campbellsville
in Taylor County
in central Kentucky
from 1999 to 2002.
A Democrat
, Osborne unseated the 33-year-incumbent Robert L. Miller
in the election held on November 2, 1998. Miller was also a Democrat, but the municipal offices in Campbellsville are elected on a nonpartisan
basis. At the time of Osborne's election, the Fruit of the Loom
plant, the largest employer in Taylor County, was closing its operations after forty-six years. Amazon.com
later moved into Campbellsville to fill part of the large void in employment there.
Osborne noted that Fruit of the Loom had signaled a decade before its closing that it might eventually move to Latin America
. However, because of the long-term stable employment in Taylor County, local officials were caught off-guard. Not long after the underwear plant ceased operations, the Indiana
-based Batesville Casket Company
also closed its Campbellsville operations. Amid the economic readjustment, Campbellsville had to re-tool its industrial recruitment efforts. In October 1998, a month before Osborne's election as mayor, the city and county governments formed the Team Taylor County Industrial Development Authority, usually known as Team Taylor County, and established a strategy to recruit manufacturing, service, and distribution businesses to Campbellsville. The Taylor County assets included (1) location and accessibility to domestic and Canadian
markets, (2) an abundant work force, (3) sound infrastructure, (4) the low cost of conducting business, (5) state financial incentives for business growth, and (6) available education and training opportunities through Campbellsville University
, which among other studies offers a Master of Business Administration
program. Beginning with Amazon.com in 1999, ten other companies soon located or relocated to Taylor County.
Osborne did not seek a second term in 2002 and was succeeded by the city's first female mayor, Brenda Allen. He is co-owner of Osborne-Humphress Real Estate.
Osborne is a member of the Campbellsville University Board of Trustees.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Campbellsville
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville is a city in Taylor County, Kentucky, United States. The population within city limits was 10,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County, and the home of Campbellsville University...
in Taylor County
Taylor County, Kentucky
Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 22,927. Its county seat is Campbellsville. The county is named for President Zachary Taylor, who served from 1849 to 1850. Taylor is a moist county...
in central Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
from 1999 to 2002.
A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Osborne unseated the 33-year-incumbent Robert L. Miller
Robert L. Miller
Robert L. Miller, Sr., also known as Bobby Miller , was a politician and civic leader from Campbellsville in Taylor County in central Kentucky. He was principally known for his work as the mayor of the small city of Campbellsville from 1966 to 1998.-Background:Miller was born in Taylor County to...
in the election held on November 2, 1998. Miller was also a Democrat, but the municipal offices in Campbellsville are elected on a nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
basis. At the time of Osborne's election, the Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
plant, the largest employer in Taylor County, was closing its operations after forty-six years. Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
later moved into Campbellsville to fill part of the large void in employment there.
Osborne noted that Fruit of the Loom had signaled a decade before its closing that it might eventually move to Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. However, because of the long-term stable employment in Taylor County, local officials were caught off-guard. Not long after the underwear plant ceased operations, the Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
-based Batesville Casket Company
Batesville Casket Company
Batesville Casket Company is a manufacturer of caskets and cremation urns. The company is a subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc., and is headquartered in Batesville, Indiana....
also closed its Campbellsville operations. Amid the economic readjustment, Campbellsville had to re-tool its industrial recruitment efforts. In October 1998, a month before Osborne's election as mayor, the city and county governments formed the Team Taylor County Industrial Development Authority, usually known as Team Taylor County, and established a strategy to recruit manufacturing, service, and distribution businesses to Campbellsville. The Taylor County assets included (1) location and accessibility to domestic and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
markets, (2) an abundant work force, (3) sound infrastructure, (4) the low cost of conducting business, (5) state financial incentives for business growth, and (6) available education and training opportunities through Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University, also known as CU, is a private university in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the seat of Taylor County. Founded as Russell Creek Academy, a Baptist institution, the university currently enrolls more than 3,000 students and is open to students of all denominations...
, which among other studies offers a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
program. Beginning with Amazon.com in 1999, ten other companies soon located or relocated to Taylor County.
Osborne did not seek a second term in 2002 and was succeeded by the city's first female mayor, Brenda Allen. He is co-owner of Osborne-Humphress Real Estate.
Osborne is a member of the Campbellsville University Board of Trustees.