John Bolzé is new CJ advertising director

Local News

Related Photos

John Bolzé, 51, a respected business and civic leader in Pulaski County, is the new advertising director of the Commonwealth Journal.

June 18, 2008

By KEN SHMIDHEISER, Editor The Commonwealth Journal Wed Jun 18, 2008, 06:44 AM EDT

Somerset — A respected Pulaski County civic and business leader has joined the Commonwealth Journal as advertising director.

“I am excited to announce John Bolzé as the newest member of our management team at the Commonwealth Journal. John brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of the local market. His attention to detail and emphasis on customer service will be an asset to our sales team and advertising clients,” said Jack McNeely, CJ publisher.

Bolzé, 51, and a 35-year resident of Somerset, has strong roots in Pulaski County. He is the son of Art and Betty Jo Bolzé. His mother was a physical therapist at Oakwood until her retirement. He is the oldest of four boys — his brother, Bruce, also lives in Somerset, and his brothers Scott and Kevin now live in Lexington.

Bolzé graduated from Pulaski County High School in 1975. He subsequently attended Somerset Community College before transferring to Eastern Kentucky University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

His wife of many years, Wanda, was a full professor with the University of Kentucky, spending 34 years at the SCC campus until her untimely death to cancer on Nov. 27, 2006.

Bolzé has led an active career in sales, public relations and marketing. He managed the Camera Shop in Somerset before becoming sales account manager for the Metro Piston, and subsequently the Auto Trader, a position he held for many years.

He then joined Jeff Treado Automotive Group as director of marketing, public relations and customer service, later moving to a position as service manager for Don Marshall Chrysler.

In more recent years he served as finance and insurance manager for Alton Blakley Honda-Mazda.

He most recently joined the management team at Somerset Refinery during the tenure of Roy Shirley and Frank Lynch. Early on, Shirley and Lynch acquired Southern Tire and Bolzé was assigned to manage the business until it was sold. He then was named credit manager for the refinery and served in that position until its recent sale.

“Following the death of my wife and the emotions that came with it, I tried early retirement and even considered relocating to Florida. But I found I couldn’t leave this community and all the support and friends I had here. Instead, I decided to begin a new challenge and am glad the opportunity became available to join the Commonwealth Journal team,” Bolzé said.

In addition to his business career, Bolzé has been an active volunteer civic leader. Her currently serves on the Adanta board of directors; is volunteer chair of the Lake Cumberland Area Chapter of the American Red Cross; is sergeant of arms for the Somerset Rotary Club; and has been active in Boy Scouts.

His hobbies have included travel and scuba diving, and he is an accomplished photographer.

Asked what he likes best about his new position as Commonwealth Journal Advertising Director, Bolzé said:

“I have so many friends here and I love this is community. I am happy that I will be able to have an active role helping develop and promote their businesses. After all, this is home.”

Text Only

Local News

Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Local Democrats diss Obama
May 23, 2012
Floyd edges incumbent in city council run-off
May 23, 2012
Pine Knot man leads law enforcement on chase
May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Tragic accident claims toddler
May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Woman with child in car cited for DUI
May 18, 2012
Weigel: Law enforcement, doctors must communicate about drugs
May 18, 2012
Man charged with utility trailer thefts
May 18, 2012 1 Photo
Credit card policies for utility bills are eyed by councilors
May 17, 2012
March for Hope to spotlight drug problem
May 17, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

John Bolzé is new CJ advertising director

Site Map