The filing deadline to run for partisan office in the 2026 Primary Election has passed.
According to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office, 36 candidates filed candidacy papers to run for office in Grayson County.
One person who will not be running is longtime Clarkson Mayor Bonnie Henderson.
After 30 years serving the city of Clarkson — six as a member of the city commission and 24 years as mayor – Henderson has made the gut-wrenching decision not to run for reelection.
“It’s the hardest decision I have ever made in my life, but I have decided not for the office this time,” Henderson told K105. “I feel I have accomplished most of the things I wanted. There are some good people running for the office and I will do what I can to help whoever is elected.”
Henderson, who struggled with the decision, added: “Family and health need to come first. I do appreciate the support I received in the past and the support I still have coming in the year ahead.”
The only candidate to file in the nonpartisan Clarkson mayor’s race is Tina Carby.
Candidate filings, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office
In the race to replace Norman Chaffins as Grayson County sheriff, Clarkson Police Chief Billy “Buck” Meredith and Grayson Co. Chief Deputy D.R. Sonny Poteet, both Republicans, have filed to run.
Chaffins was first elected sheriff in 2014.
In the non-partisan, six-seat Leitchfield City Council race, all six incumbents, Raymond “Tooty” Cottrell, George Hack, James Clayton Miller, Tim Bocock, Terri Haycraft, and William “Billy” Dallas, filed to run.
Newcomers Adrian Board, Darrell Harrell and Warren Barton also filed papers to run for a seat on the council. Dennis Fentress, who formerly served on the city council and as Leitchfield City Attorney, has filed to run for a seat on the city council.
(With only 10 city council candidates filing, that election will take place in November, as more than 12 candidates are needed to participate in the primary election.)
The deadline to file in a non-partisan race is June 2, 2026.
Nine candidates, all Republicans, have filed to run in the six-seat Grayson County magisterial race: Incumbents Charles Neal Saltsman (6th District), Brian Ashley (5th), Phillip Darin Whitely (2nd), Brenda Huffman (3rd), Ben Hodges (1st), and Jason Dennis (4th).
Former Magistrate Damon Hornback filed to run against Dennis in the 4th District, and new candidates Elissa Hudson and Dustin King have filed to run in the 3rd District magisterial race against Huffman.
Two vastly experienced candidates have filed to run for Grayson County Clerk. Current interim Grayson County Clerk Tonya Kessinger, who has worked in the clerk’s office for nearly three decades, along with Stephanie Brooks, who has worked for the clerk’s office for 21 years and served as chief deputy clerk under Charlotte Willis, filed papers to run for clerk. Both candidates are Republicans.
Three incumbent constables, Damon Lasley III (1st District), Bill Dalton (4th) and Mark Stanton (5th) filed to run in the primary. Former constable Tim Saltsman (6th) and Joshua Mudd (3rd), along with Matthew Logsdon, who will challenge Stanton in the 5th District, filed papers to run.
No candidates filed to run for 2nd District constable.
All constable candidates are Republicans.
The uncontested
In addition to Carby and four constables, candidates running unopposed include: Leitchfield Mayor Harold Miller, Jailer Jason Woosley, Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson, Coroner Kevin Pharis, County Attorney Jeremy Logsdon, and PVA Ernie Perkins.
The 2026 Primary Election is scheduled for May 19, while the General Election is slated for November 3.
(Photo: Clarkson Mayor Bonnie Henderson)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
