Three out of four incumbent magistrates have opposition

More upcoming battle lines for the May Primary election have been drawn thanks to recent candidate filings.

As of Tuesday afternoon, three of the four incumbent magistrates on the Whitley County Fiscal Court will be facing at least one primary challenger.

First-District Magistrate Scotty Harrison is facing opposition from Gary Brock.

Third-District Magistrate Michael Jarboe is facing opposition from Bob Lawson.

Fourth-District Magistrate Raleigh Meadors is facing opposition from Paul Buchanan, Eugene Smith and Arthur L. Canada.

Second-District Magistrate Mondo Cima is the only member of Whitley County Fiscal Court not facing opposition.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. is facing opposition from Williamsburg Police Officer Dorman Patrick Jr. in the Republican Primary race.

White, an attorney and former business owner, was first elected as judge-executive in 2006 and took office in 2007.

Patrick previously served one term as Third-District Constable, and he has worked as a sheriff’s deputy, firefighter, 911 dispatcher and an emergency medical responder.

There will be contested races in half of the constable districts.

Incumbent Third-District Constable Jim Thornton has announced plans to run for sheriff although he hasn’t filed for office yet. A trio of candidates are vying to replace him including Justin Daniel Oaks, Jordan Davis and Zandell Jones.

Fourth-District Constable Andy Moses is facing opposition from Carl Allen Wade and Malachi Hersey.

First-District Constable Lonnie Foley and Second-District Constable Ron “Bubba” Bowling are both unopposed so far in their bids for re-election.

Nearly every county office is up for election next year, and the filing deadline for the May Primary Election is 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7.

There will be several other contested races on the ballot next year.

For the first time in nearly 30 years, there will be a contested race for Whitley County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA).

Incumbent PVA Ronnie Moses and will face opposition from challenger Herb Petrey.

Thanks to recent retirements, pending retirements and the withdrawal of one candidate, Whitley County is guaranteed to have three new officials elected next year.

Last month, incumbent Jailer Brian Lawson withdrew his candidacy from next year’s jailer’s race so far there are six people running for the position, including: Matthew Leach, Jeff Hurst, Williamsburg Police Lt. Brandon Duane White, Rocky Moses Jr., and current jail employees Andrew Fuson and Sandra Hoke.

Sheriff Todd Shelley retired on Nov. 30, and so far four candidates have officially filed to run for Whitley County Sheriff.

Current Chief Deputy Tim Baker has already filed as has retired Kentucky State Police Trooper and current sheriff’s department 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.

Former Jailer Ken Mobley and Thornton have also announced on Facebook that they plan to run for sheriff, but haven’t formally filed paperwork to seek the position.

Interim Whitley County Sheriff Danny Moses isn’t expected to seek the office.

Regina Huff, Rep. 82^nd, 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 Mayor Suzie Razmus and Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison are both unopposed in their bids for re-election.

All six incumbent Williamsburg City Council members have filed to run for re-election, and so far are unopposed, including: Patricia “Patty” Faulkner, Loren Connell, Richard Foley, Mary Ann Stanfill, Erica Broome Harris and Laurel Jeffries West.

Incumbent Corbin City Commissioners Allison Moore and Brandon Shepherd have recently filed to run for re-election, but so far there are no other candidates in the race.

There will officially be a race for the 34^th Judicial District Division One Judge as incumbent Cathy Prewitt is seeking re-election and is facing opposition from Corbin lawyer Seth Reeves, who currently on the Corbin City Commission. Provided a third candidate doesn’t enter the race, the election for this seat won’t be appear on the ballot until the November General Election.

In the event of a three-person race, the race would appear on the May Primary ballot with the top two vote getters moving onto the General Election.

Whitley County Clerk Carolyn Willis, Whitley County Attorney Bob Hammons, 34^th Judicial Circuit Division One Circuit Judge Dan Ballou,  Division Two Circuit Judge Paul K. Winchester, and Division Two District Judge Fred White have all filed to seek re-election, and are unopposed so far.

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, Rich Van Dam, of Somerset, and Brandon Russell Monhollen, of London.