David is a lifelong resident of Paducah, Kentucky. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Murray State University. He is married to Sandra, and they have 2 children. David is a member of the First Baptist Church and attends Heartland.

David is the president, owner, and operator of David Guess Heating and Air and the president and co-owner of Hipp Property Group, Inc. He has also served on the Brooks Stadium Board, Paducah Water Board, and currently serves on the JSA Board.

David Guess has served as a Paducah city commissioner in 2002, 2004, 2020, and 2022. 

As of June 6, 2025, David Guess’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

Housing & Urban Development

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Believes in the importance of flood prevention, property protection, public safety, and community resilience.

Advocates for continued investment in infrastructure for flood prevention, property protection, public safety, and community resilience.

- Supports upgrading the 911 system.
- Advocates for continued investment in infrastructure for flood prevention, property protection, public safety, and community resilience.

Public Safety

Believes consolidating overlapping services between the City of Paducah and McCracken County could result in financial savings.

Supports consolidating overlapping services between the City of Paducah and McCracken County.

Supports the creation of public services such as the Greenway Trail.

Supports the creation of public greenspaces such as the Greenway Trail.

Supports transparency and accessibility in public services, with open and recorded commission meetings.

- Supports consolidating overlapping services between the City of Paducah and McCracken County.
- Supports the creation of public greenspaces such as the Greenway Trail.
- Supports transparency and accessibility in public services, with open and recorded commission meetings.

Public Services

Supports the construction of new airports.

Supports the construction of new airport.

Supports enhancing the stormwater system.

Supports bolstering the stormwater system.

Supports the renovation of local infrastructure, such as the Cherry Civic Center.

- Supports the construction of new airport.
- Supports bolstering the stormwater system.
- Supports the renovation of local infrastructure, such as the Cherry Civic Center.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to prioritize creating a business-friendly environment and community engagement through the program "Paducah's Growth, Your Voice" if elected.

Believes managing tax dollars is an "honor and a commitment" and supports continued efforts to improve financial management.

Supports continued efforts to improve financial management.

Believes taxpayer money is being misallocated, citing $53,000 for a water bowl in a new dog park and over a million dollars on a pickleball court.

- Plans to prioritize creating a business-friendly environment and community engagement through the program "Paducah's Growth, Your Voice" if elected.
- Supports continued efforts to improve financial management.
- Believes taxpayer money is being misallocated, citing $53,000 for a water bowl in a new dog park and over a million dollars on a pickleball court.

Economy

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David Guess

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George is from Paducah, Kentucky. He earned a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing from Indiana University and a master's degree in business administration from Ohio State University. He lives with his wife, Angela, and they have 8 children.

George is the vice president of member engagement for the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Foundation. He previously worked as chairman of the Barkley Regional Airport, vice president of customer development at Cencora, and senior vice president of sales and marketing at McKesson.

George Bray was elected mayor of Paducah in 2020 and is serving his first term. 

Supports students gaining certifications, joining unions, or pursuing four-year degrees.

Supports creating vocational or trade schools that prepare students for college and technical careers.

Supports collaboration between local schools, technical schools, higher education, economic development, and businesses to enhance education and workforce development.

- Supports students gaining certifications, joining unions, or pursuing four-year degrees.
- Supports creating vocational or trade schools that prepare students for college and technical careers.
- Supports collaboration between local schools, technical schools, higher education, economic development, and businesses to enhance education and workforce development.

Believes there is a need for diverse housing options and plans to aggressively collaborate with developers, residents, and landowners to address housing shortages.

Believes addressing homelessness, addiction, food insecurity, and mental health is crucial for community well-being.

Believes any downtown hotel project should be closer to the convention center to leverage taxpayer investment.

Plans to revitalize the Southside of Paducah by introducing commercial and residential incentives to support neighborhood and business growth.

Supports incentivizing remote workers to relocate to the community.

- Believes there is a need for diverse housing options and plans to aggressively collaborate with developers, residents, and landowners to address housing shortages.
- Believes addressing homelessness, addiction, food insecurity, and mental health is crucial for community well-being.
- Believes any downtown hotel project should be closer to the convention center to leverage taxpayer investment.
- Plans to revitalize the Southside of Paducah by introducing commercial and residential incentives to support neighborhood and business growth.
- Supports incentivizing remote workers to relocate to the community.

Believes in upgrading current fire stations and considers building a new fire station and police station.

Believes in upgrading current fire stations.

Supports replacing the obsolete 911 system with a state-of-the-art approach to enhance community safety.

Believes that in a few years, the city will be able to fund the construction of new police and fire stations.

Believes the loss of funding from landline phones must be addressed by both the City and County.

- Believes in upgrading current fire stations.
- Supports replacing the obsolete 911 system with a state-of-the-art approach to enhance community safety.
- Believes that in a few years, the city will be able to fund the construction of new police and fire stations.
- Believes the loss of funding from landline phones must be addressed by both the City and County.

Supports strong human resource teams in public services to enhance employee support, accountability, and communication.

Supports the completion of the Robert Cherry Civic Center, believing it will be "a great community asset" once finished.

Supports establishing monetary funds to support local businesses.

Supports public services that enhance community well-being and safety.

- Supports strong human resource teams in public services to enhance employee support, accountability, and communication.
- Supports the completion of the Robert Cherry Civic Center, believing it will be "a great community asset" once finished.
- Supports establishing monetary funds to support local businesses.
- Supports public services that enhance community well-being and safety.

Believes basic infrastructure improvements, such as storm water system maintenance, 911 funding, and enhancing current parks, should take priority over developing an aquatic/recreational center.

Supports developing a long-term plan for storm water remediation.

Aims to enhance Paducah's road infrastructure by collaborating with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Plans to enhance Paducah's road infrastructure by collaborating with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Supports expanding flights from the Barkley Regional Airport to more convenient hub cities.

Supports investing in infrastructure to improve transportation systems, including roads, bridges, and public transit.

- Believes basic infrastructure improvements, such as storm water system maintenance, 911 funding, and enhancing current parks, should take priority over developing an aquatic/recreational center.
- Supports developing a long-term plan for storm water remediation.
- Plans to enhance Paducah's road infrastructure by collaborating with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
- Supports expanding flights from the Barkley Regional Airport to more convenient hub cities.
- Supports investing in infrastructure to improve transportation systems, including roads, bridges, and public transit.

Plans to continue developing downtown and supporting local retail and hospitality businesses.

Supports fostering relationships with developers to boost community growth through outside investment and public-private partnerships.

Supports setting aside funds for future capital expenditures.

Supports tax increases if deemed necessary for future economic stability.

- Plans to continue developing downtown and supporting local retail and hospitality businesses.
- Supports fostering relationships with developers to boost community growth through outside investment and public-private partnerships.
- Supports setting aside funds for future capital expenditures.
- Supports tax increases if deemed necessary for future economic stability.

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George Bray

- The duties of the mayor depend on the type of government within the city, 
- If the city has a mayor-council form of government, the mayor is responsible for the executive and administrative functions of the government. They oversee all city departments, but cannot vote in most council matters. 
- If the city has a mayor-aldermen form of government, the mayor is responsible for executing and enforcing local and state laws. The mayor may appoint city officials with approval from the aldermen. 
- If the city has a mayor-commission form of government, the mayor presides over the city commissioners and can vote within the commission. The mayor is responsible for executing all decisions reached by the commission. 
- If the city has a city manager form of government, the mayor presides over the city commissioners and can vote within the commission. The mayor is recognized as the head of the city department but does not have any regular administrative duties. 
- City mayors are elected during general elections for a four-year term. Most cities in Kentucky hold nonpartisan elections for mayor. 

Paducah Mayor

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