2022 Primary Election will see contested races for sheriff, jailer

The battle lines for the 2022 May Primary Election are starting to take shape in Whitley County, with contested races for sheriff, jailer, and fourth-district magistrate are already assured.

Current Whitley County Sheriff Todd Shelley is not seeking re-election and is retiring at the end of the month. Disaster and Emergency Services Director Danny Moses has been tapped to be interim sheriff after Shelley retires, and isn’t expected to seek the office.

Current Chief Deputy Tim Baker has already filed to run for sheriff as has retired Kentucky State Police Trooper and current sheriff’s School Resource Officer Willard Scott Bunch, retired KSP Lt. and current Corbin School Resource Officer William “Bill” Elliotte, and Williamsburg resident Benny Joe (BJ) Leach.

In the jailer’s race, incumbent Brian Lawson has filed to run for re-election and is facing challengers Matthew Leach and Williamsburg Police Lt. Brandon Duane White.

82^nd Rep. Regina Huff has announced that she plans to retire after completing her current term in office next year. Williamsburg attorney Nicolas “Nick” Wilson, who won $1 million on the television reality show “Survivor,” is the only candidate in the race thus far. Huff has endorsed him for the position.

Corbin lawyer Seth Reeves has filed to run for the 34^th Judicial District Division One Judge’s seat, which is currently held by incumbent Cathy Prewitt. Prewitt has indicated that she plans to seek re-election, but she hasn’t filed so far.

34^th Judicial Circuit Division One Circuit Judge Paul K. Winchester and Division Two Circuit Judge Dan Ballou have both filed to seek re-election. Both are unopposed thus far.

Incumbent constables Lonnie Lee Foley (first-district), Ron “Bubba” Bowling (second-district), and Andy Moses (fourth-district) have all filed to seek re-election, and currently are unopposed.

Incumbent First-District Magistrate Scotty Harrison and Second-District Magistrate Mondo Cima have both filed to seek re-election, and neither are currently opposed.

Incumbent Fourth-District Magistrate Raleigh Meadors is seeking re-election and is facing opposition from Paul Buchanan and Eugene Smith.

Whitley County Clerk Carolyn Willis and Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. are the only candidates so far in their respective races. Williamsburg City Council members Patricia “Patty” Faulkner, Loren Connell and Richard Foley have all filed to seek re-election and are the only candidates in the race currently.

Fifth District U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers has filed to seek re-election and will have a Republican primary challenge from Gerardo Serrano of Manchester.