Winchester unopposed for open Circuit Judge seat

Barring the possible filing of a write-in candidate at the last minute, Whitley County Attorney Paul Winchester is unopposed in his bid to become circuit judge in the November general election.

As the filing deadline passed at 4 p.m. Tuesday for candidates to have their names placed on the ballot, Winchester was the only candidate to file for the division-two circuit judge’s position.

The special election is to fill out the remainder the unexpired term of Paul Braden, who passed away in June. Braden’s term expired on Dec. 31, 2014.

Winchester, 42, has been a licensed attorney since 1996. He is married and has two children.

He is a 1987 graduate of Corbin High School. He attended the University of Kentucky, and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University.

Winchester is currently serving his third term as Whitley County Attorney. Prior to that he served several years as an assistant county attorney in both Whitley and Knox counties at different times.

"It has always been in the back of my mind that some day I would like to serve as judge. After the untimely passing of Judge Braden, that vacancy opened up and it felt like that now was the time," Winchester said three days after he filed for the office on June 17.

"Being the county attorney and being in the courtroom and being in front of the judges, it is something you just want to do. In growing up with my dad, I always thought some day I would like to do that and I just feel like now is the time. I’m excited for the opportunity to serve as judge. I will continue to try and do the best job that I can do."

Winchester is the son of retired circuit judge Jerry Winchester, who currently serves as a senior status judge.

So what was his father’s reaction when told that he planned to run for circuit judge?

"He said, ‘Let’s talk about that son. Let’s think about that here a minute,’" the younger Winchester said laughing. "He told me if that is something you really want and feel like you really ought to do, then you need to go for it and pursue it. He is 100 percent supportive."

Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz said that assuming Winchester is elected as circuit judge, it would be up to Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. to appoint an interim replacement for Winchester as county attorney.

There would then be a race on the 2012 ballot to fill out the remainder of Winchester’s term as county attorney, which also expires on Dec. 31, 2014, Schwartz said.

The election would be like a normal election with a primary in May, and the general election in November, but the winner would assume office once the November election results are certified rather than waiting until the first of the year.

The circuit judge’s race is one of three special elections, which will be on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot in Whitley County.
Besides the jailer’s race, there will also be a special election to fill the Whitley County Board of Education District Four seat.

The board of education position is on the ballot because Dallas Sawyers resigned on Sept. 2, 2010, so that his daughter could take a job with the school system as a school psychologist.

In November, Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner Terry Holliday appointed Brenda Hill to replace Sawyers. She filed last month seeking to fill out the remainder of the term, and is unopposed.