2026 CANDIDATE
Robert “Buz” Smith
Paducah City Commission
Photo credit
Robert Buz Smith: City of Paducah photograph, used with permission confirmed by Thomas Pepperz.Resized and framed for display.NOVEMBER 3, 2026
Election results
Unofficial results · McCracken County report · captured Nov 4, 7:55 AM CST
- Votes
- 3,612
- Share of reported selections
- 18.4%
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
 Dujuan ThomasNonpartisan | 4,325 | 22.0% |
 Sandra WilsonNonpartisan | 4,070 | 20.7% |
 Raynarldo HendersonNonpartisan | 3,999 | 20.4% |
 Gerald WatkinsNonpartisan | 3,632 | 18.5% |
 Robert “Buz” SmithNonpartisan | 3,612 | 18.4% |
| Write-in votes | 0 | 0.0% |
Unofficial until certified. Shares are of all reported selections in this race, including write-ins. Voters could choose more than one candidate, so shares do not show a share of voters.
About Robert “Buz” Smith
Background
- City records show Smith returned to the commission in January 2023. His city biography also describes six earlier commission terms, including service as mayor pro tem. [1][2]
- The city biography describes work in food-service sales and management and later strategic planning and program analysis at the Department of Energy plant in Paducah. [2]
Stated priorities
- His campaign supports building affordable homes on vacant lots, development compatible with existing neighborhoods, riverfront tourism, emergency communications and responsible management of industrial growth. [3]
Summary reviewed October 25, 2026. Campaign statements are attributed to their sources.
Campaign finances
3 report versions listed in this snapshot
Source captured . Counts include original and amended versions; they are not a count of distinct reporting periods.
Financial totals are unavailable here while reporting periods and amendment relationships are verified.
View KREF filing recordCampaign & public profiles
THE OFFICE
What a Paducah city commissioner does
- Paducah is governed by a Board of Commissioners: the mayor and four commissioners, elected citywide on a nonpartisan ballot. [1]
- The board sets the policies that govern the city. The mayor and the commissioners have equal votes. [1]
- The board appoints the city manager, who oversees the city's daily operations and its roughly 330 full-time employees. [1]
- Commissioners serve two-year terms; the mayor serves four years. [1]
Sources
Biography statements cite their sources inline. Campaign-finance records link to the filing agency. The portrait’s credit is under the photo. ProPaducah does not endorse candidates.