Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw dies after 26 years of service

The Jefferson County Clerk's Office made the announcement on Wednesday.

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Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw, who served the Louisville metro area for more than two decades, died peacefully Wednesday morning surrounded by her family, according to an announcement from the Jefferson County Clerk's Office.

Holsclaw leaves behind a legacy of 26 years of dedicated public service to Jefferson County residents. All offices of the Jefferson County Clerk's Office will close at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in her honor.

A legacy of innovation and integrity

First elected as County Clerk in 1999, Holsclaw transformed the office's operations and significantly elevated its performance during her tenure. Her mission was to revolutionize citizen-government interaction while delivering what she called "VIP service" to customers.

"For over two decades, Bobbie served the citizens of Jefferson County with integrity and honor," her office said in a statement. "Throughout her distinguished career, Bobbie made lasting contributions through her work at the Clerk's Office, leaving an indelible mark on this community with her many accomplishments."

"Bobbie Holsclaw was one of the good ones in politics, unfailingly focused on maintaining a top-notch team to provide courteous, professional service to Jefferson County's citizens. I had the pleasure of sharing Metro Hall with Bobbie and her team for 12 years when I was Mayor, "Former Mayor Greg Fischer said, "I was always impressed by her wealth of knowledge and strength of character. She will be missed. My condolences to her loving family and her County Clerk team."

Pioneer in accessible voting

As County Clerk, Holsclaw also served as Chairperson for the Board of Elections, where she became the first clerk in Jefferson County to successfully implement private voting accommodations for visually impaired and physically challenged voters. Her commitment to maintaining election integrity and security was a hallmark of her service.

Under her leadership, the office modernized numerous services, making government more accessible to residents while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

What people will remember

Ask anyone who dealt with Holsclaw's office and they'll probably mention how she actually seemed to care about making things easier for regular folks. Her whole philosophy was about bringing government closer to people instead of making them jump through hoops.

She wasn't perfect- her office faced criticism after some voting problems during the 2024 election that led to long lines and an audit. But even her critics acknowledged she generally ran a tight ship.

“Bobbie Holsclaw will forever be remembered as a committed public servant who loved working for the people of Jefferson County, which she proudly did as County Clerk for the past 27 years," Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "Our thoughts are with Bobbie’s family, as we mourn the loss of a dedicated Louisvillian who devoted her life to serving our city. May her memory be a blessing.”

Now Jefferson County has to figure out what comes next. Holsclaw's term wasn't supposed to end until January 2027, so there will need to be decisions made about who takes over in the meantime.

Details about funeral arrangements and memorial services have not yet been released.

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