Lynch’s son picked to finish father’s term on Corbin City Commission

The son of a former Corbin City Commissioner Dennis Lynch, who died in mid-June while still in office, will serve the remainder of his father’s unexpired term.

At a special meeting Tuesday, the Corbin City Commission voted unanimously to appoint 57-year-old Rickie Lynch to fill the seat left vacant by the sudden death of his father on June 14. Dennis Lynch, 78, was in the midst of serving his second two-year term on the Commission and had filed to seek a third.

Shortly after his father’s death, Rickie Lynch said he was not interested in being a city commissioners and felt others were more suited to the task. But after being officially sworn into office Tuesday, he said he spoke in haste then, and now hopes he can be an asset to the city and carry on in much the same way his father served.

"My dad did talk to me about a lot of the things that were going on, so I do know some of what is happening. I’m not totally left out," Lynch said. "I told them that if you all think I can help you then I would come on."

Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said Rickie Lynch showed interest in serving on the commission when he came to city hall to turn in his father’s keys.

"At first he wasn’t interested, but I think when he got to looking at it he realized what a privilege it would be … He just wanted to do this for his father," McBurney said. "There’s a lot of things going on and you can’t just expect someone to come in cold turkey and know everything. I told him we would be there for him and help him when he needed it."

Rickie Lynch worked much of his life for his father in various business ventures. Dennis Lynch was part owner of Forest Hills Shopping Center and Commonwealth Plaza, another shopping center in south Corbin. He also owned the Advanced Auto Parts building in south Corbin and was one of the owners and developers of a new subdivision being built on Scuffletown road.

He has two daughters, one living in London and another in Corbin.

Rickie Lynch said he’s spent his entire life in Corbin, but never really had any political aspirations. He said he doesn’t foresee seeking political office once his short stint on the commission has expired.

Commissioners had 30 days from the date of Dennis Lynch’s death to appoint a replacement. They did so nearly a week ahead of that deadline.

McBurney said there were no others being considered to fill the void left by Lynch on the commission. Two viable candidates, outside of incumbents Phil Gregory and Joe Shelton, remain on the ballot for November’s General Election: tax professional Joe "Butch" White and former city commissioner Ed Tye. Current Commissioner Bruce Farris, who has not attended a meeting since he suffered a stroke in February, remains on the ballot but may be physically unable to serve if elected again.

"He [Rickie} was the only one that came to us and said he would like to serve," McBurney said. "I think it was important that he doesn’t plan on running for office and isn’t running. We couldn’t have appointed anyone that is running right now. I didn’t feel like that would be right."

Commissioner Phil Gregory said after Tuesday’s vote that he felt Rickie Lynch just seemed like a natural replacement given the circumstances.

"I think Dennis would have felt good about it. Rickie will do a good job," Gregory said. "I’ve known him for a long time. He’s like his dad. He was born and raised right here in Corbin and loves Corbin. I think we made the right choice."

Lynch was sworn into office by Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt at about 12:15 p.m. He will attend his first official meeting next Monday.