Services
2021-22 KACo President
Phil Sammons
Boyle County Magistrate
Boyle County Magistrate Phil Sammons was encouraged by Tony Wilder to go into politics more than 20 years ago. Now, Sammons has followed in Wilder's footsteps as the second Boyle County official to serve as KACo president.
Wilder was president of KACo in 2006 while serving as judge/executive in Boyle County.
“Public service has been very dear to my heart since Tony Wilder suggested I get into politics more than two decades ago and throughout my six terms as Boyle County magistrate,” Sammons said.
“To everyone in Boyle County, there’s no doubt we live in one of the most – if not the most – supportive communities in the great state of Kentucky,” Sammons added. “I simply couldn’t be able to serve and fight for all Kentucky counties without you having my back on a daily basis.”
Sammons, a Johnson County native, began his extended service with KACo in 2003 when he joined the Unemployment Insurance Board. This year, he serves as chairman of that board, which recently voted to return 100 percent of last year’s premiums to members.
Sammons was elected as KACo 2nd vice president in 2018, and he has served on the executive committee since then.
“To the KACo board, the executive committee, past and present, thank you for your leadership, your ideas, your guidance. I’m thrilled to continue working with you and learning from you,” Sammons said.
Sammons’ focus for his presidency will be advocating for KACo’s top legislative priorities.
“If there’s anything I want to see happen during my time as KACo president, I want to take the great work of KACo presidents before me and continue their progress,” he said. “That includes advocating on behalf of counties in Frankfort and beyond about the most pressing issues for counties, including access to affordable broadband, safe and well-maintained roads and bridges, clean water and properly funded jails.”
Sammons and his wife, Glenna, have three children.
Past presidents
2021
Reagan Taylor
Judge/Executive, Madison County
2020
Gary Moore
Judge/Executive, Boone County
2019
Elbert Bennett
Magistrate, Caldwell County
2018
David Nicholson
Circuit Court Clerk, Jefferson County
2017
Bruce Todd
Magistrate, Henderson County
2016
Jim Henderson
Judge/Executive, Simpson County
2015
Hubert Pollett
Magistrate, Shelby County
2014
Jerry “Peanuts” Gaines
Sheriff, Warren County
2013, 1997
Tommy Turner
Judge/Executive, LaRue County
2012
John Wilson
Judge/Executive, Garrard County
2011
Chris Harris
Magistrate, Pike County
2010
Rick Smith
Magistrate, Clark County
2009
J. Michael Foster
County Attorney, Christian County
2008
David Jenkins
Judge/Executive, Spencer County
2007
Tony Carriss
Magistrate, Shelby County
2006
Tony Wilder
Judge/Executive, Boyle County
2005
F.J. “Bear” Finn
Commissioner, Mason County
2004
Jim Townsend
Judge/Executive, Webster County
2003
Hugh McCormick
Magistrate, Henderson County
2002
Wayne Gunnell
Magistrate, Henry County
2001
Larry Whitaker
Judge/Executive, McLean County
2000
Sandy Lee Watkins
Judge/Executive, Henderson County
1999
Robert Samples
Magistrate, Shelby County
1998
Kent Clark
Judge/Executive, Madison County
1996
Jerry Stewart
Commissioner, Graves County
1995
Freddie Combs
Magistrate, Perry County
1995
Bob Arnold
Judge/Executive, Franklin County
1994
Harold Robinson
Magistrate, Franklin County
1993
Nina Mooney
County Clerk, Bullitt County
1992
David H. Pribble
Judge/Executive, Pendleton County
1991
Sherman Neace
Judge/Executive, Perry County
1990
Terry O. McKinney
Judge/Executive, Lyon County
1989
Kenneth Y. Harper
Judge/Executive, Simpson County
1988
Robert T. Harrod
Judge/Executive, Franklin County
1987
Sue Carole Perry
County Clerk, Shelby County
1986
Mike Abell
Judge/Executive, Nelson County
1984-85
John Weaver
Commissioner, Boone County
1982-83
Betty Jo Denton Heick
County Clerk, Bourbon County
1980-81
Mike Miller
Judge/Executive, Marshall County
1978-79
Harry G. Hoffman II
Judge/Executive, Montgomery County
1976-77
Robert B. Aldemeyer
Commissioner, Kenton County
1975
Robert O. Miller
Judge/Executive, Calloway County
1974
Robert F. Stephens
Judge/Executive, Fayette County