Final tally lists 75 candidates for public office in Whitley County

 The battle lines are set for the upcoming May Primary Election and in some cases the November General Election in Whitley County.

A total of 75 candidates have filed to run for office this year, which will result in contested primaries in 10 Republican races.

Only three Democratic candidates filed for election this year.

Whitley County is guaranteed to see at least two new faces on the Whitley County Fiscal Court, a new jailer and a new Third-District Constable.

Long-time Second-District Magistrate David Myers opted not to seek re-election this year.

Vying for Myers’ job in the May Primary Election will be James Michael Petrey, Lon Head, James D. Blankenship and Roy Cornelius in addition to Lori Miller and Kenneth M. Miller, who both filed Tuesday. Mondo Cima, who previously filed, withdrew from the race.

Incumbent Third-District Magistrate Jamie Fuson is challenging two-term Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. in his bid for re-election ensuring that there will be a new Third-District Magistrate.

Nine candidates have filed to run for Third-District Magistrate to replace Fuson, including: Michael Jarboe, Mike Faulkner, Truman Lawson, Ted Barrineau, Michael Fuston, Matthew Taylor, A.J. Barton and Jerry Leach, who are all seeking the Republican nomination. The winner will take on former Third-District Magistrate Johnny Lawson, who is the only Democrat in that race.

In the Fourth-District Magistrate race, incumbent Magistrate Robbie Brown, Mark Brock, Raleigh Meadors, Terry Huddleston and Raymond J. Campbell have all filed.

In the First Magistrate District, incumbent Roger Wells is facing opposition from Scotty Harrison, who is the brother of Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison.

By far the most crowded race in this year’s field is the jailer’s race where 11 candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for Jailer, including: Sandra Hoke, who is the current Whitley County Chief Deputy Jailer; Sheriff’s deputies Tommy Hurst and Brian Lawson, former deputy Shawn Jackson; Russell W. Smith; Robert Taylor; former constable Will Leach, former jail nurse Melinda Moses, Ralph Skidmore, Arnold Gene Young and Daniel Essek. Prior to the filing deadline Bill Moses withdrew his name as a candidate.

Current Sheriff Colan Harrell is one of five candidates seeking the Republican nomination for sheriff, including incumbent Whitley County Jailer Ken Mobley, incumbent Third-District Constable Jim Thornton, Darren Gilreath and Denver Bargo. Brad Terrell has filed to run for the Democratic nomination.

Four candidates are vying to replace Thornton as Third-District Constable including: Dorman Patrick Jr., Randall Caddell, David Rowe and Noah Brooks Daniels. Adam Jarboe withdrew from the race.

Incumbent three-term Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley is facing opposition from Terry "T.J." Hamblin in his bid for re-election.

82nd District Representative Regina Bunch is facing opposition from Eskridge Andy Shelton in the Republican primary to see who will be representing Whitley County and four districts in southern Laurel County in the Kentucky General Assembly.

Fourth-District Constable Andy Moses is seeking re-election and faces opposition from challengers Ronnie Fritts, Carl Neal and Steve Hayes.

Incumbents Ed Tye, Bruce Hodge, Suzie Barton Razmus and Joe Shelton all filed to run for re-election on the four-person Corbin City Commission in addition to newcomer David Grigsby Hart. Their names won’t appear on the ballot until November.

All six incumbent Williamsburg City Council members filed to run for re-election, including: Mary Ann Stanfill, Richard Foley, Laurel Jeffries West, Troy D. Sharp, Erica Broome Harris and Patty Faulkner, who was appointed to fill out the remainder of Chet Riley’s term in office after he resigned earlier this month due to health problems. Their names also won’t appear on the ballot until November.

Whitley County Attorney Bob Hammons, Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz, Division-One Circuit Judge Dan Ballou, Division-Two Circuit Judge Paul Winchester, Division-One District Judge Cathy Prewitt, Division-Two District Judge Fred White, Whitley County Surveyor Bob Moses, Whitley County PVA Ronnie Moses, Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney, Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison, First-District Constable Lonnie Foley and Second-District Constable Ron "Bubba" Bowling are all uncontested in their bids for re-election.

In addition, Ed McGrath filed to run for the Williamsburg Independent Board of Education. The Williamsburg school board race won’t appear on the ballot until November.