Mills sworn in as deputy judge
BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County is getting a new deputy judge/executive. Local businesswoman and community leader Carolea Mills was sworn in Monday by Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty.
Mills will serve in the dual role of deputy judge and economic development director.
“Carolea will be a great asset to this office and the county,” Lafferty said. “I feel the public will agree that she is one of the most approachable and friendly people they will ever meet, as well as intelligent, hard-working and dedicated to seeing a better future for Martin County.”
Mills, a lifelong resident of Martin County, brings over two decades of experience to her new role. She served as EDA director during Lafferty’s first term and as executive director of the Roy Collier Community Center for much of the last 20 years.
In those jobs, Mills oversaw community, economic and tourism development, wrote and secured millions of dollars in grants for local projects, and managed private fundraising to support local youth and community programs that served people from around the region. As EDA director, she led the planning and construction of the Roy Collier Community Center. Most recently, she ran her own home design and renovation business, Homes by Carolea.
Mills says she understands the unique challenges of the deputy judge position and knows what it takes to run things efficiently and make the most of limited resources.
Mills believes she has come full circle in returning to her former work but now has the experience to bring to the table.
“I was very surprised when Judge Lafferty approached me, but when he did, I started praying about it, and I feel this is what I’m meant to do,” said Mills. “I am both honored and humbled to have an opportunity to serve the community that I love so much. This is my home, where I was raised and am raising my kids. I am excited to use my experience to help our county.”
Making history, she is the first woman to serve as Martin County deputy judge.
“I intend to use this opportunity to serve as a positive role model for the young ladies of the county, as an example of what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it and remain diligent, dedicated and committed,” said Mills.
Mills said she will focus a great deal of her time and effort on securing funding and grants and looks forward to working with the former judge, Colby Kirk, in his new role as CEO of One East Kentucky and with the Big Sandy Area Development District.
“I ask for everyone’s prayers,” added Mills. “I want to see the county grow and prosper. To do that, we must give tourists a reason to come here. Martin County is not a pass-through location. It can be an intended destination.”
Mills has a degree from Eastern Kentucky University and graduated from the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. She is married to Eric Mills and is the mother of two sons and two daughters.
For Judge Lafferty, having Mills at work will give him time to concentrate on what he has named as his top priorities – water, sanitary sewer and reliable ambulance service.
“We have some critical problems that aren’t going to be solved quickly or without tremendous work,” said Lafferty. “But it’s past time the right efforts were made to correct years of neglect and mismanagement.”
