The deadline to file for political office in Kentucky has come and gone.
Candidates had until 4:00 Tuesday afternoon to file candidacy papers, but the deadline does not apply to those who file as Independent candidates, who have until April 2 to file. Write-in candidates have until October 26 to file a declaration of candidacy, and write-in votes will only be counted for those who file the declaration.
Within Grayson County, 60 candidates filed to run at the Grayson County Clerk’s Office for the many government offices and positions on the ballot. Fourteen of the candidates filed to run for either mayor of Leitchfield or Leitchfield City Council, both non-partisan positions, but of the remaining 46 candidates filing to run for office, 42 are Republicans and four candidates are Democrats.
The cities of Clarkson and Caneyville have ordinances that dictate no primary elections will be held in the respective city’s non-partisan mayoral and city commissioner races. Candidates for those offices have until August to file candidacy papers.
The candidate lineup for contested county positions in the May 22, 2018 Primary Election:
- Grayson County Judge-Executive – Incumbent Kevin Henderson (R), current Magistrate Jason Dennis (R) and Randall Fowler (R)
- Mayor of Leitchfield (non-partisan) – Kevin W. Pharis, Rick Embry, Margaret Fey, Charlie Elmore, and David J. Higdon (the top two finishers in the Primary Election will square off in November)
- Leitchfield City Council (non-partisan, six seats) – Raymond “Tooty” Cotrell, Margie Decker, Harold Miller, Kelly Stevenson, Billy Dallas, M. Kayleane House-Santos, James Clayton Miller, Kiley Milliner, and Travis Stewart (all nine candidates will be on ballot for General Election)
- County Attorney – Clay Ratley (R) and Jeremy Logsdon (R)
- County Clerk – Charlotte Willis (R), Jaime Layman Bratcher (R) and Becky Mercer (D)
- 1st District Magistrate – Robbie Higdon (R) and Harold E. Johnson (R)
- 2nd District Magistrate – Preston Gary (R) and Darin Whitely (R)
- 3rd District Magistrate – Terry Hayes (R), Tommy Higdon (R), Randy Joyce (R), and Stephen C. Votaw (R)
- 4th District Magistrate – Steve Alvey (D), Greg Crawford (R), Damon Hornback (R), Ricky Paul (R), and Ronnnie Smith (R)
- 5th District Magistrate – Brian Ashley (R), Leslie Allen Gibson (D), Curtis Grant (R), and Hank Meredith (R)
- 6th District Magistrate – Barry J. Cannon (D), Gary “Cookie” Cook (R), Dennis R. McCrady (R), Travis Rainey (R), Neal Saltsman (R), and Paul Witten (R)
- 2nd District Constable – Alvin Dockery (R) and Doran Burgin (R)
- 5th District Constable – Herb Popham (R), Mark Stanton (R) and Mark E. Williams (R).
Candidates in Grayson County’s uncontested races:
- Grayson County Sheriff – Norman Chaffins (R)
- Grayson County Jailer – Jason Woosley (R)
- Property Valuation Administrator – Ernie Perkins (R)
- Circuit Court Clerk – Stacie Blain (D)
- Grayson County Coroner – Joe Brad Hudson (R)
- Grayson County Surveyor – Franklin Keith Higdon (R)
- 1st District Constable – Damon Lasley III (R)
- 3rd District Constable – Marion E. Higgs (R)
- 4th District Constable – Bryan Hammonds
- 6th District Constable – Tim “Lizard” Saltsman (R)
In district races, the following candidates have filed papers with the Secretary of State’s Office in Frankfort:
In the 2nd District U.S. House of Representative’s race, incumbent Republican Brett Guthrie, of Bowling Green, will not face a GOP challenger in the primary, but four Democrats will battle to determine who challenges Guthrie in the November General Election – Hank Linderman, of Falls of Rough, Brian Pedigo, of Glasgow, Rane Eir Olivia Sessions, of Webster, and Grant Short, of Owensboro.
In the 18th District State Representative race, incumbent Republican Tim Moore, of Elizabethtown, will run unopposed in the Primary Election, but will face Democrat Donielle Lovell, of Elizabethtown, in the November General Election.
In the 46th District Commonwealth’s Attorney race, Democrat Adam Cart, of Ekron, will take on Republican Rick Allen Hardin, of Leitchfield, in the November General Election.
In the non-partisan 46th District Judge Division 1 race, incumbent Kenneth Harold Goff II, of Leitchfield, will run unopposed, while in the 46th District Judge Division 2 race Steven Crebessa, of Brandenburg, will face Zanda Myers, of Leitchfield, in the General Election in November.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
