County sees high voter turnout

Ohio County Clerk Bess Ralph said voter turnout was high with approximately 41% of the 17,813 registered voters in the county casting their ballots in the election.

The only contested countywide office up for grabs was that of jailer. Republican candidate Landon Ross Spurlock emerged victorious over Democrat Terry Lynn Wright. Spurlock received 5,617 with Wright earning 1,661. Spurlock will replace retiring Ohio County Jailer Rip Wright.

The other county-wide races were decided during the May primary as the opposing party in each race did not have a candidate seeking the office.

In other local races:

In the First District Magistrate’s race, Incumbent Sam Small (Democrat) was defeated by Republican challenger Michael McKenney. McKenney picked up 781 votes to Small’s 403 and independent candidate Georgina Midkiff’s 206.

Republican candidate Bo Bennett defeated Democrat Scott G. Tichenor 912 votes to 725 in the race for Magistrate in District 3.

Republican Kenneth Calloway defeated Democrat Bryn Aud 1,087 votes to 251 votes to win the Fourth District Magistrate seat. Incumbent Larry Keown was not seeking reelection.

In the Second District Constable race, Republican Steven Epley received 933 votes to defeat Democrat Paul E. Lindsey, who received 340.

In contested nonpartisan races on the ballot:

Tim Johnston was elected as the Fifth District Member of the Board of Education with a victory over challenger Jamie Skudlarek, 715 to 253 votes.

In the race for the Second District Board of Education seat, incumbent Jeff Evans was challenged by write-in candidate Amy Michelle Beard. Evans received 832 votes. Beard got 10.

Incumbent Paul Sandefur received 500 votes to defeat challenger Gary Jaggers, who picked up 270.

Mike Aldridge was victorious over Benny Kessinger in the Mayor of Centertown race. Aldridge had 89 votes to Kessinger’s 21.

Seven candidates were vying for the six seats available on the Hartford City Council. David Coleman received 387, Stacia R. Cole 386, Jerry Likens 383, Jeff Renfrow 357, Tony Renfrow 334, and Mary Belle Fisher 320 all to earn a seat. Larry Clayton received the lowest number of votes with 281.

In statewide races on the ballot, Kentucky voters reelected Incumbent Republican Rand Paul

over challenger Democrat Charles Booker in the United States Senator’s race. Paul also received the majority of the votes in Ohio County with 5,617 to Booker’s 1,660. In the United States Representative in Congress for the second congressional district, S. Brett Guthrie emerged victorious over Hank Linderman. Locally Guthrie received 5,778 to Linderman’s 1,448.

In the nonpartisan judicial races, Kelly Thompson Jr. received 3,375 votes in Ohio County to Shawn Marie Alcott’s 1,469 for the office of Supreme Court Justice in the second district. Thompson was also the winner statewide. Jeff S. Taylor received 3,511 votes in Ohio County to David J. Clement’s 1,027 for the office of Judge of the Court of Appeals - Second Appellate District - First Division.

The two constitutional amendments on the ballot both failed in Kentucky. Statewide, Amendment #1 failed with 53.7% of the voters voting “no.” Amendment #2 failed with 52.5% of the voters voting “no.” In Ohio County, Amendment 1, which would allow the Legislature to call itself into special session, received 3,299 yes votes and 2,875 no votes. Amendment Two, which asked voters if they wanted to put this sentence into the state constitution: “To protect human life, nothing in this constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion,” received 4,282 yes votes in Ohio County and 2,622 no.

Candidates whose names appeared on the ballot in uncontested races are Scott Lewis for 14th District State Representative; Arthur Leach for Property Value Administer; David L. Johnston for County Judge-Executive; Justin Keown for County Attorney; Bess Tichenor Ralph for County Clerk; Adam Lane Wright for Sheriff; Elvis Doolin for Coroner; William Tracy Crume for County Surveyor; Joe Renfrow for First District Constable; Jason Wayne Bullock for Second District Magistrate; David Himes for Third District Constable; Justin Wayne Cooper for Fourth District Constable; Larry W. Morphew for 5th District Magistrate; Nathan Geary for 5th District Constable; Kelly Mark Easton for Second Appellate District Second Division Judge; Timothy R. Coleman 38th Judicial Circuit Judge; Benjamin D. McKown for 38th Judicial Circuit Family Court Judge; Daniel Boling for 38th Judicial District Judge - Second Division; Jeffrey S. Fuqua for Mayor of Fordsville; Beau Wright for Mayor of Hartford; Michael Derek Taylor for Mayor of McHenry. Kevin Davis, Charles W. Patton, Sandy Johnson Robinson and James “Jim” Crump seek the four seats available on the Beaver Dam City Commission. Dwight Vance, Vic Daugherty, Grace Bishop and Andy McIntyre were seeking the four seats available on the Centertown City Commission. James K. Dalton and Charles E. Mattingly were two candidates seeking four available seats on the Fordsville City Commission.