Shelton bows out of Corbin Commission race

Long time Corbin City Commissioner Joe Shelton announced Monday that he is no longer pursuing re-election to the commission.

The Corbin City Commission is now guaranteed to have two new members beginning in January as Joe Shelton announced at the meeting Monday that he is in the process of moving to a new home outside the city.

Shelton, who has served on the commission since 2004, said he contacted Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz several months ago concerning his impending move, asking her to remove his name from the ballot.

“Being down here has been a wonderful experience,” Shelton said. “I would encourage anyone to run for city council, and be on city council because I think it is a very important process that we all go through.”

Shelton said one of the things that makes the experience so great is the number and variety of people you meet as a commissioner.

Shelton said he determined that he has attended 146 commission meetings. In that time, the commission has overseen the construction of The Arena, renovations of the Little League facilities, completion the creek walk project, secured the grant to tear down the old hospital and replace it with senior housing, finishing out The Corbin Center, installation of air conditioning in the McBurney Center, oversaw replacement of 10 to 12 miles of sidewalks throughout the city, remodeling of the Engineer Street Bridge and installation of the gazebo and construction of Sanders Park.

“I’ve lived through an alcohol vote, a smoking ban, Sunday sales and a 12-year fight with Knox County over their occupational tax,” Shelton said.

“The first meeting I was in, I got them to put a Christmas tree in front of the building,” Shelton said.

Shelton said, in all honesty, he has enjoyed his time on the commission.

“I can promise you guys this,” Shelton told the commissioners. “I will never, ever complain about anything in the city of Corbin.”

Shelton joins Commissioner Suzie Razmus, who previously announced that she would not seek re-election in order to focus more time on the family business, Tri-County Cineplex.

The seven candidates vying for the four commission seats include: David Grigsby Hart, Ed Tye, Freddie Bruce Hodge, Trent Knuckles, Bruce Rains, Andrew Pennington and Alex Onkst.

Tye and Hodge are the two remaining incumbents.