Election results will mean changes for Corbin, Williamsburg boards

The county’s two cities will see some changes in leadership as a result of Tuesday’s election – a collection of new faces and old political hands are now in the mix.

In the Corbin City Commission race, the five-member board will get two new members come January. Former Commissioner Ed Tye took second place in the race with 964 total votes, just eight more than another new member, local tax professional Joe "Butch" White.

Tye has been out of office for three terms.

Three-term incumbent Joe Shelton finished first, just a vote shy of the 1,000 mark in a race where depressed voter turnout separated the top four finishers by less than 70 votes.

For Shelton, it’s the first time he’s come out on top in the race. He’s had two second-place finishes and came in third last time around.

"I’m very appreciative of the people who voted for me. Hopefully I can continue what we’ve been trying to accomplish," Shelton said. "I want to continue progress in this city."

Shelton said that "progress" should include an expansion of efforts like the Main Street Program to make Corbin more inviting to businesses and spur economic development. He also said he’d like to see the city’s 5,000-seat Arena "get back on track."

"I’m really for a youth movement in this city, too," Shelton said. "We’ve started a sports complex at our Civic Center and I want to see that continue. I just want to do things that will make the quality of life better for the citizens of Corbin."

White, who was just narrowed out by Bruce Farris in an effort to get on the commission in 2006 struck a chord with voters this time around. He garnered 956 votes.

"I really don’t know what to say. I guess I’m just ready to go to work," White said shortly after the results were in. "I think I can bring some good ideas to the table. I’m ready to help out the city in any way I can."

White said he feels he can adequately fill a void left by Farris, a local Certified Public Accountant who won his most recent term in 2008 by a huge margin. This past February, he suffered a debilitating stroke, and officials doubted he would be able to serve even if elected.

Write-in candidate Freddie "Bruce" Hodge got 313 votes in Whitley County, less than half the total of Farris who finished fifth. Knox election officials said they did not plan to count Hodge’s write-in votes until this morning, but he figures to be an insignificant factor in the race.

The Williamsburg City Council will be getting one new member next year after Tuesday’s vote.

Former Assistant Police Chief Troy Sharp was the fourth highest vote-getter on the city council garnering 695 votes in his first bid for a council seat.

Once again the three highest vote-getters were the three female incumbent city council candidates. Laurel Jeffries West was the highest vote-getter with 783 votes followed by Erica Harris with 748 votes and Mary Ann Stanfill with 739 votes.

Incumbents Richard Foley and Chet Riley will fill out the remainder of the six-person city council. Foley received 642 votes and Riley 619 votes Tuesday.

Incumbent J.L. Hamblin failed in his bid for re-election with 540 votes. Keith Brashear, another challenger, finished close behind Hamblin with 536 total votes.