An interview with County Attorney-elect Margaret Matney
Margaret L. Matney captured the majority of the votes in the Nov. 7 county attorney race, which makes her not only the new county attorney for this next term but the first female county attorney in the history of Meade County. Matney, a native of Letcher County, earned both a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Kentucky University. She then earned her law degree from University of Kentucky law school. In 1999, Matney moved to Meade County, and was employed by the law office of attorney Alec Stone. From 2000 to 2003, Matney was Meade County’s assistant county attorney. In 2004, Matney established her own private law practice in Brandenburg. Matney resides in Vine Grove with her husband Mike and children John, 4, and Avery, 2. Now that Matney has been elected county attorney, she plans to close her private practice in order to fully devote herself to the duties and responsibilities of the county attorney’s office. Since her new job hinged upon whether or not she was elected, Matney felt making solid plans prior to the election was a bit premature. However, she is now in the process of formulating ideas and making plans so that once she assumes her new position in January, she is up and running and ready to get to work. “I have some ideas for what I want,” said Matney. “And will build around these. I’ll be looking at the current staff. My goal is to sit down with the people currently working for the county attorney’s office to discuss their roles and duties and see if they want to continue employment there.” Matney says her most significant goal for the county attorney’s office is for people to feel like the door is open and that everyone feels comfortable coming through the door – be it the office in the courthouse or the child support division office. “I want to promote accessibility, equal treatment, and services,” said Matney. “Customer service is important. All the ways to implement those will come over the course of being in the office and doing the job.” Along with the responsibilities of the job, Matney also understands the importance of being able to work with other offices within the Meade County Courthouse, such as the judge-executive’s office. “Harry [Craycroft] and I will need to sit down and talk as far as what his plans are,” said Matney. “I think I’ll work well with everyone and look forward to the job ahead.”
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By KAREN KENNEDY