Meet the State’s first ever African American Circuit Clerk

CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Clark County Circuit Clerk has made history by becoming the first African American to ever hold the position in Kentucky.

Martha Miller has worked in the office for 41 years. After the previous Circuit Clerk retired, she was promoted to the position. She ran unopposed and was elected in November.

“If there was racism, it didn’t exist in this position for me. I don’t think they looked at the color of my skin. I think they looked at my qualifications and my integrity and the love for what I do,” said Miller.

Lifelong friend Jo Ann Lofton knows those qualifications better than anyone.

“I was in the military, stationed across the seas, so when I went to Korea, my son and my daughter came to stay with her. She had them for the year I was in Korea,” said Lofton.

Her adopted daughter, Amari Turley, is getting ready for college. She’s not undervaluing the impact of Miller’s accomplishment.

“Despite your color or your race or anything like that, it’s not a setback. You can still achieve what you want and go higher than that,” said Turley.