76 candidates file for Clark election
When the registration deadline passed at 4 p.m. Tuesday, the field for Clark County’s ballot had grown significantly.
Clark County Clerk Michelle Turner said 14 people entered her office just to file their paperwork to run for elected office.
“This morning was a steady flow,” she said. “Around 3 p.m., we had another bunch.”
Turner is one of those now facing opposition in the fall, as is Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham and Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner.
There will also be a May primary for both Winchester mayor and for the city board of commissioners, with three and nine candidates, respectively. The primary will eliminate one candidate from each, Turner said, and the remainder will be on the November ballot.
Branham, a Democrat, will face former deputy judge-executive Liz Elswick in the May primary, as will Republicans Sam Williams or Chris Pace.
Billy R. Flinchum and perennial candidate Ralph Harrison will challenge Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner in May. The top two vote-getters will advance to the November ballot.
All six of the current county magistrates and three of the four current city commissioners are seeking re-election as well.
The May primary will resolve several races including sheriff between Republicans Berl Perdue Jr. and Shannon Stone; county coroner between Democrats Robert Gayheart and Jeff Willison; magistrate district 4 between Republicans Greg Elkins and Kenneth Anderson; and constable district 4 between Republicans Gerald Tackett and David Puckett.
Jason Neely, son of outgoing PVA Karen Bushart, is unopposed for property valuation administrator. Two constable candidates, Doug Woodall for district 1 and Norman Douglas Rose for district 6, are also unopposed. District judges Charles Hardin and Earl-Ray Neal and Commonwealth’s Attorney David Smith are also unopposed.
The remaining races will be settled in November.
County attorney
Democrat: Brian Thomas (incumbent)
Republican: William Elkins
County clerk
Democrat: Michelle Turner (incumbent), Wyler Dykeman
Republican: William Roy Collins Jr.
Jailer
Democrat: Frank Doyle (incumbent), Bryan Richardson
Republican: Randy Steagall
Judge-executive
Democrat: Henry Branham (incumbent), Liz Elswick
Republican: Chris Pace, Sam Williams
Sheriff
Republican: Berl Perdue Jr. (incumbent), Shannon Stone
Coroner
Democrat: Robert Gayheart (incumbent), Jeff Willison
Circuit clerk
Paula Joslin (incumbent, will withdraw)
Property Valuation Administrator
Democrat: Jason Neely
Magistrate district 1
Democrat: David Weistroffer
Republican: Daniel Konstantopoulos (incumbent)
Magistrate district 2
Democrat: Pam Blackburn (incumbent), Kevin Warner
Republican: Travis Thompson
Magistrate district 3
Democrat: Don Pasley, Mike Sosby
Republican: Joe Graham (incumbent)
Magistrate district 4
Republican: Greg Elkins (incumbent), Kenneth Anderson
Magistrate district 5
Democrat: Sheila McCord (incumbent)
Republican: Christopher Davis
Magistrate district 6
Democrat: Robert G. Blanton (incumbent)
Republican: James Nisbet, Michael F. Hack
Constable district 1
Republican: Doug Woodall
Constable district 2
Democrat: James P. “Sam” Stone Jr.
Republican: Brad James Wells
Constable district 3
Democrat: Charles Bruce Phillips
Republican: Shelby “Lynn” Toler II
Constable district 4
Republican: Gerald “Jerry” Tackett, David Puckett
Constable district 5
Democrat: John Lambert
Republican: Jerry Edwards
Constable district 6
Republican: Norman Douglas Rose
Mayor
Ed Burtner (incumbent), Ralph Harrison, Billy R. Flinchum
City commissioner
Kenny Book (incumbent), Seneca Anderson, Ramsey Flynn, Kitty W. Strode (incumbent), Shannon Cox (incumbent), JoEllen Reed, Tom Korb, Paula Branham Thomas, David Walker
State representative
Democrat: Pat Banks, Rory Houlihan
Republican: Donna Mayfield (incumbent), Les Yates
State senate
Democrat: Denise Gray
Republican: Ralph Alvarado (incumbent)
District judge division 1
Charles Hardin (incumbent)
District judge division 2
Brandy Oliver Brown (incumbent), Cole Adams Maier, Elizabeth Elkins Bond
District judge division 3
Earl-Ray Neal (incumbent)
Commonwealth’s attorney
Democrat: David Smith (incumbent)
U.S. Representative
Democrat: Jim Gray, Theodore David Green, Daniel Kemph, Reggie Thomas, Geoffrey M. Young, Amy McGrath
Republican: Andy Barr (incumbent), Chuck Eddy.