Government

City of Hodgenville

Hodgenville is served by an elected mayor and city council. The council consists of six members, each elected every two years. The mayor serves a four-year term. All elections are non-partisan.

The several vital services are provided by the city, such as sewage and water. In addition, city government is responsible for an independent police department and fire department.

The City of Hodgenville does not currently have an official web site.

City of Upton

At this time, we have no information about the city government.

Emergency Services

All of LaRue County is served by enhanced 911 emergency call services. In addition to three fire departments, the county operates an ambulance service and maintains coordination of disaster emergency services. Local law enforcement is provided by Hodgenville City Police and the LaRue County Sheriff's Office, with support from the Kentucky State Police.

Important Numbers

Ambulance Service — 270-358-4060
Sheriff's Department — 270-358-3120
Hodgenville City Police — 270-358-3013
Kentucky State Police — 270-765-6118
Hodgenville Fire Department — 270-358-3122
Buffalo Fire Department — 270-325-3100
Magnolia Fire Department — 270-324-3300
Rolling Fork Fire Department — 270-348-3600
Disaster & Emergency Services — 270-358-9903

Schools

In addition to a few private schools, LaRue County is served by a single public school district. Within the district are three primary schools which serve students in kindergarten through the fourth grades.Buffalo Elementary School is located at 50 School Loop, Buffalo, Kentucky 42716 and serves students in the southeastern region of LaRue County. Magnolia Elementary School.is located at 9050 New Jackson Highway, Magnolia, Kentucky 42757 and serves students in the southcentral and southwestern portion of the county. Hodgenville Elementary School is adjacent to the LaRue County High, Middle, and Intermediate Schools complex at the intersections of KY 1618, KY 61 (a/k/a Lincoln Parkway), and US 31-E, about 1 mile north of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site. Fifth and sixth grade students attend the LaRue County Intermediate School, while seventh and eighth grade students are served by LaRue County Middle School. The freshmen through senior classes are housed at LaRue County High School.

LaRue County

LaRue County is governed by Fiscal Court which consists of a county judge/executive and four magistrates who are elected to four-year terms. The court meets twice monthly on the second and fourth Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the small courtroom.

For more information on LaRue County Government, click here.

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Founded in 1792, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is a constitutional republic. A traditional holdover from the time of separation from Virginia, Kentucky is one of four states who are officially named "commonwealth" instead of state: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. As a constitutional republic, Kentucky has three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. All three branches are amenable to the people by election, including our supreme court. When Kentucky received statehood as the fifteenth state, the capital was Danville, but was later moved to Frankfort, between the major economic centers of Louisville and Lexington.

Executive Branch

The executive branch is headed by the governor, who can be elected to two consecutive terms. He is supported by a lieutenant governor who has only executive duties. As the head of the executive branch, the governor is also the head of state for the Commonwealth. Gubernatorial elections are partisan races, with both the governor and lieutenant governor running on the same ticket. They are elected for a four-year term. In addition, several other offices of the executive branch are elected by the people as opposed to being appointed by the governor. Among them are the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.

Legislative Branch

The commonwealth legislature is properly titled the General Assembly. The General Assembly meets annually. In even years, the General Assembly meets for a regular session. In odd years, the General Assembly meets for a short session that is governed by certain special restrictions. For instance, no tax bills can be introduced in a short session. Therefore the budget is still a biannual budget. In cases of emergency, the governor has the power to call the General Assembly into special session.

The General Assembly is a bicameral legislature characterized by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators are elected in partisan elections every four years. Representatives are elected every two years in partisan elections.

Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is properly called the Kentucky Court of Justice. The courts have four levels, each having appellate jurisdiction over the level below. The district court may only hear appeals against itself. The four levels in order of increasing jurisdiction are as follows: district court, circuit court, court of appeals, and the Supreme Court. Judges are elected in nonpartisan elections, with the governor making temporary appointments to vacated offices.

For more information on state government, click here. 

Federal Government

For information on the federal government, click here.