Katelyn
Meet
My name is Katelyn Elliott. I’m a wife, mother, and Bowling Green resident of nearly twenty years. I came to BG as a Bowling Green State University student in 2005. By 2010, I had graduated, married, and decided to stay in Bowling Green permanently. I wanted it to be my children’s hometown.
My son was born in 2012. At the time, I was a substitute teacher. I was able to work through his due date and he was, conveniently, born during winter break. Unfortunately, I was never able to return to work. Jacoby spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). He would later be diagnosed with a rare chromosome disorder. Before he was discharged from the hospital, a neonatologist warned us his health was too fragile for daycare. I quit working to stay home with him. Our little family was fortunate to be able to live on one income.
There were a lot of scary moments, specialists, and therapy appointments, but Jacoby was ready for preschool when he turned 3. With this new free time, I was able to be more active in the community. I joined the League of Women Voters of Bowling Green. One of my first positions was as an observer for City Council meetings. Later, I was elected to the board of directors and served as secretary for 6 years. During that time, my daughter was born.
When my daughter reached toddlerhood, I was able to increase my involvement again. The mayor appointed me to the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Board and, later, the Tree Commission. I have been honored to serve the community in these ways. With these perspectives, I believe I can make a positive difference on City Council for all residents, especially families with children.
Why I Mask
If you have seen me around town you might have asked yourself, why is she still wearing a mask?
I do it for my son. As a result of his rare chromosome disorder, his body particularly struggles with respiratory illnesses. He has been hospitalized multiple times for things you and I may have considered a cold. He spent all of the 2023 holiday season, the night of the BG Holiday Parade through New Year's, in the hospital with pneumonia. It included four weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Continuing to mask is something my family does in the hopes of protecting him from additional germ exposure while still experiencing the amazing things life in Bowling Green has to offer.