Election 2018 Promises To Be Contentious

Robert Moore

Herald Staff

rmoore@harrodsburgherald.com

This year is shaping up to be one of the most contentious non-presidential election years in American history, with thousands of people across the country as well as here in Kentucky, many of them political novices from either side of the aisle, challenging incumbents.

In the last election, Republican Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green, who has represented the 2nd congressional district, which includes Mercer County, in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2008, ran unopposed.

This year, four Democrats are vying to challenge  him: Rane Sessions of Webster, Brian Pedigo of Glasgow, Grant Short of Owensboro and Hank Linderman of Leitchfield.

Down the ballot, all 100 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives and seats in even districts in the Kentucky Senate are up for grabs.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than a thousand candidates filed for local offices across Kentucky’s 120 counties. More than 200 candidates—half of them women and around 40 of them teachers—are challenging incumbents in the General Assembly.

Kim King, a Republican who has served the 55th district, which includes Mercer County, in the Kentucky House of Representatives since 2011, is being challenged by Cathy Carter, a retired teacher and a Democrat.

Democrat Carolyn Dupont, a college professor, is challenging Republican incumbent Tom Buford for the 22nd senate district, which includes Mercer County. Both candidates are from Jessamine County. Buford has served in the state senate since 1991.

Here in Mercer County, long seated incumbents are also being challenged. Sheriff Ernie Kelty, a Democrat who has held office since 2010, is being challenged by Republican Kevin D. Bugg.

County Clerk Chris Horn, a Democrat who has held office for over 11 years, is being challenged by Republican Rodney Compton.

David L. Best, a Democrat who has served as property valuation administrator since 2006, is being challenged by Republican Jessica Elliott.

The two county offices  seeing the most competition are county jailer and magistrate of district four, which includes Burgin.

Jailer Bret “Chambo” Chamberlain, a Republican, is not only being challenged by Democrat William Moore, but also by Republican Garland Christopher.

Magistrate Donald Webb, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican George Jones and Democrat Mary Margaret Heaton, who are both Burgin residents.

Not every office is being contested in Mercer County. Running unopposed are  Circuit Court Clerk Allison Buchanan, Judge-Executive Milward Dedman, County Attorney Ted Dean and Coroner C. David “Sonny” Ransdell.

Magistrates Ronnie L. Sims, a Democrat; Tim Darland, a Republican; Jackie L. Claycomb, a Republican; Wayne T. Jackson, a Democrat, and Dennis Holiday, a Republican, are also running unopposed for reelection.

Constables Ray Tarter, William McFerron, Donald C. Smith and Delbert Sullivan, all incumbents, are running unopposed as well.

No one filed for  surveyor or for district 5 constable. No one has filed yet for districts 2 and 3 of the Mercer County Board of Education. The deadline for entering that race is Aug. 14 at 4 p.m.

In Harrodsburg, Mayor Eddie Long and Commissioners Charlie Mattingly, Scott Moseley, Jack L. Coleman and Marvin “Bubby” Isham are all running unopposed for reelection.

In Burgin, no one has yet filed for the mayoral, city council or school board races. Burgin candidates, who do not have to run in a primary, do not have to file until April.

Independent, political group, or political organization candidates for offices that require a statement of candidacy must file by 4 p.m.  on April 2, 2018.

Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes and local county clerks held drawings for ballot positions last Thursday. Secretary Grimes will certify the candidates’ names for printing of the ballots on Feb. 12.

The primary will be held May 22. The general election is Nov. 6.

To learn more, check out this week’s issue of the Harrodsburg Herald.