Fall 2005 COURIER online

For the people
Elected to serve her hometown, Julie Raque Adams '91 brings heart, faith, and commitment to a challenging profession.

by Kathi Vieser Bianco

Anyone who has ever seen an episode of The West Wing, a Congressional debate on C-SPAN, or a Sunday morning news program, has seen politics at work. Whether real or fictionalized, the task of governing can be exhilarating or frustrating, rewarding or mind-numbing. People who choose careers in politics must have patience, thick skin, and a strong belief in the work they are doing.

Julie Raque Adams '91 has had many roles in her political career–legislative aide, lobbyist, media specialist, campaign manager, and elected official. Throughout, she has held firm to the conviction that one person with dedication and faith can make a true, positive difference in the lives of many.

Adams is serving her second term on the Louisville, Ky., Legislative Council, known familiarly as the Metro Council, formed after the citizens of the city of Louisville and its surrounding suburbs voted in 2002 to merge their local governments. "I decided after many long discussions with my husband, that there was no better time to make the leap from working in government to elected office," she says. "Since I had spent my career in government and managed a congressional race, coupled with the fact that there was no incumbency factor, I
thought I had a pretty good shot at winning my race."

A native of Louisville, Adams has focused her legislative initiatives toward business, quality
of life, and family-oriented issues. She helped lead an effort to ban smoking in all workplaces in
Louisville, an accomplishment especially significant in the leading tobacco-producing state in
the nation. She has also spearheaded an initiative to print the names of flagrant child support
violate in the local newspaper, giving law enforcement agencies an additional tool in their effort
to force payments. "These regular payments of child support not only benefit the child in
question," says Adams, "but also save the taxpayers on the human services end of the system."
Adams serves as chair of the Parks Committee, vice chair of the Appropriations and Finance
Committee, and is a member of the Planning and Zoning Committee.

The seeds for Adams's career were first planted at Saint Mary's during her participation in
the Washington Semester. "I realized that government and politics was an exciting field, ever
changing, and an arena where positive change can occur." She also points to the guidance of
Patrick Pierce, professor of political science. "He challenged me to go beyond even what I
thought I was capable of, and gave me confidence in myself and my abilities." After receiving
her bachelor's degree in political science from Saint Mary's, she moved to Washington, D.C.,
where she earned a master's degree in legislative affairs and public policy from George
Washington University. Her first job in Washington was in the office of Kentucky Senator Mitch
McConnell, where she learned the nuts and bolts of the legislative process and office operations.
"This is very important, valuable work for those interested in government and the legislative
process," she says. From there, she took a position with Massachusetts Institute of Technology's
Washington office, where she monitored federal legislation and made contacts to help the
university secure funding for ongoing research and educational initiatives.

But Adams's most significant professional influence was Saint Mary's alumna Anne
Northup '70, a member of the United States House of Representatives serving Kentucky's 3rd
Congressional District. Adams held several positions in her office, including campaign manager
and press secretary. "She taught me the nuts and bolts of how to raise money, how to define
yourself as a candidate, and how to win," says Adams. "She also taught me about being
a working mother and the reasons it is so important to get involved, to make your community a
better place to live, work, and play." Like her mentor, Adams has made a commitment to
volunteerism and community activism. She serves on the board of Project Women, a Louisville organization that assists young mothers as they complete their college degrees, and is an active member of Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church.

Adams's current term on the Louisville Metro Council runs through January 2008; she has not yet decided what her political future holds. Such decisions are made with James, her husband of eight years, and their children, James, 6, and Joseph, 5. But whatever her professional future may hold, her commitment to public service will always remain. "Saint Mary's taught me that it was my responsibility to give back to my community, and this basic lesson rings true for me today," she says. "Public service is truly a rewarding experience, and I honestly go to work every day believing I can make a difference.

Kathi Vieser Bianco is a freelance writer living in New York.