Story and Photos By Abigail Roberts
The Broughtontown Community Center hosted a Meet the Candidates forum last Friday for anyone interested in learning more about local candidates before they go to the polls.
The event garnered a decent turnout and lasted about two hours.
The following candidates spoke at the forum (in this order):
Michael Rankin (running for Magistrate – District 2)
Rankin said if elected, his focus would be on the youth of the county and providing local jobs for them. He also said he would be focused on attracting new businesses, industries and restaurants as well as maintaining roads.
“One of the main reasons I’m running for Magistrate is because I’m really concerned about the jobs in the community. I think this is the biggest problem we have is there’s no jobs for young people,” he said. “Our younger generation is moving off and they’re not coming back.”
Kevin Smith (running for 5th Congressional District)
Kevin Smith, a London attorney, is one of several running against incumbent Hal Rogers in the race for the 5th Congressional District.
“I’m here to bring a new generation of conservative leadership…” Smith said. “…When I’m in Congress, I’m going to fight for faith, family, freedom and the future of Eastern Kentucky. My faith in Jesus Christ is foundational to who I am.”
Smith said he will be a fighter for the people and ensure there are opportunities and economic freedom for the next generation.
Benjamin Hurley (running for 5th Congressional District)
Benjamin Hurley, an Army veteran, has also thrown his hat in the race for GOP’s 5th Congressional District.
Hurley said when he returned home from serving in the U.S. Army, he found his hometown of Phelps, Kentucky, had regressed, not progressed.
“My hometown was dilapidated and much of Eastern Kentucky and the 5th District has only gotten worse since I left. So that encouraged me to run for the U.S. House of Representatives,” Hurley said.
Hurley said he would focus on job creation, term limits and ending insider trading and corporate lobbying in Congress. He said if elected, he would take a pay cut to match the median household income of the 5th district.
Terry Wilcher (running for Lincoln County Sheriff)
Terry Wilcher is running against incumbent Shawn Hines for Lincoln County Sheriff in the May primary election.
Wilcher asked the public to visit his website https://www.terrywilcherforsheriff.com and make an educated vote.
Shawn Hines (running for reelection for Lincoln County Sheriff)
“Four years ago I stood up here and talked to you about a vision I had for the Sheriff’s Office. So four years later I’m talking to you about my record and the accomplishments that we’ve had,” Hines said.
During his term, Hines said he has reopened the lobby at the Sheriff’s Office and equipped it with new surveillance cameras, made paying taxes easier by offering online pay options, deputies have received raises and the number of deputies has increased. The evidence logging system has received major upgrades and an interview room was created and new equipment has been obtained, including body cameras and a newer fleet of vehicles.
Since taking office, Hines reported the following statistics: 6,293 citations; 3,856 arrests; 1,436 drug arrests; 962 collisions; 1,225 cases opened; 962 drug cases; 252 trafficking cases; $669,202 seized drug value; and $813,900 seized drug money.
Willie Ashley (running for Constable – District 2)
Ashley, a volunteer firefighter and local business owner, said he enjoys helping people and becoming a constable would give him that opportunity.
“I’m a first responder and I enjoy helping people,” Ashley said. “Being constable, I’d be able to do that even more.”
If elected, Ashley said he would obtain additional training through the police academy.
Mike Mullins (running for reelection for Constable – District 2)
Mullins reviewed several of the things he does as Constable of District 2 including: lock outs at no charge; funeral home escorts; career day at the elementary school; working with Friends of Crab Orchard PTO; help buy school supplies; and other local charities.
Mullins is a state certified Emergency Medical Technician, is CPR certified and first-aid trained. He was a longtime Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy and has also served on the Lincoln County Fire Protection District Board for 17 years.
“My goal is to help protect and serve our district and community,” Mullins said.
Mary Russell (running for 80th House District)
Russell is running against incumbent David Meade for the 80th District of the House of Representatives.
“I’m just kind of tired of when I go to vote, because I’m a Democrat, there are no choices,” she said. “I think we need choices in our election, it makes it fair for everybody and you get better candidates that way.”
Russell said she is also running because she is not satisfied with the 2027-28 state budget for schools.
Linda Holtzclaw (running for Magistrate – District 1)
Holtzclaw, who recently retired after working for the University of Kentucky Hospital for 50 years, said she has worked every job possible in that time.
“From caregiver to director of the emergency department, it gave me a lot of experience in managing resources and people and projects. As I learned about the magistrate duties and fiscal court I think those are all things that would serve me well in representing the district,” she said.
If elected, Holtzclaw said she would serve all of Lincoln County, not just District 1.
Bro. Dan Gutenson (running for reelection for Magistrate District 2)
Gutenson said magistrates take care of Lincoln County’s tax dollars and he tries to be a good steward of other people’s money.
Administrative oversight of department heads, infrastructure management like roads and buildings, public safety and senior citizens are priorities for the Lincoln County Fiscal Court, he said.
“There is a lot of stuff that we do,” he said. “It’s a lot of responsibility.”
Gutenson said he believes the future of Lincoln County is bright.
Shelby Lakes (running for Lincoln County Clerk)
Lakes, a veteran and former Lincoln County Sheriff, said he wants to make the County Clerk’s Office better with great service.
He said anyone who comes to the office for assistance should receive help from friendly staff. He also said he would unlock the back door, open the office every Saturday of the month except holidays and reduce waiting times for the division of motor vehicles.
Nancy Jackson (running for reelection for Lincoln County Clerk)
Jackson said she has been in the Clerk’s Office for 32 years and has experience in every aspect of the job.
“But experience alone isn’t what makes a great County Clerk’s Office, it’s how you apply yourself and put that experience to work every day,” Jackson said.
Jackson said Kentucky County Clerks have over 180 duties according to state law which mean accuracy, accountability, integrity and transparency are not optional. As County Clerk, Jackson said she has to manage 8 different bank accounts as well as $6 million in revenue which requires constant oversight and precision. She said its a team effort and she thinks she has the best staff who keeps everything running smoothly.
Griffin Harness (running for reelection for Lincoln County Jailer)
Harness explained why Lincoln County needs a jailer, even though the county does not operate a jail any longer. The Lincoln County Jailer’s job consists of transporting inmates, managing an inmate work program that does community service at no cost to taxpayers and continuing education and training.
“I love this county. I was raised to ‘know your job, do your job.’ Well, I know my job and I do my job,” Harness said. “No one knows my job better than I do. I put every inch of heart and soul into my job and I plan to continue to do that.”
Since being elected, Harness said Lincoln County’s approach to the job of jailer without a jail has become a state model and gave the job purpose. He said he created an inmate work program using a completely volunteer staff and a donated van. He said he has also negotiated the lowest inmate day-to-rate cost in the state.
Tony Caudill (running for Magistrate – District 1)
Caudill, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said he strives for perfection.
“I’m not here to promise you the world, but I promise I will do my job and I’ll do it to the upmost of my ability,” he said.
Curt Folger (running for Magistrate – District 1)
Fogler said when he served as Lincoln County Sheriff for 16 years and collected all of the tax money he never had a say in how that money was spent.
“I didn’t ever have a voice to say what that money should go to. I saw a lot of good things that the magistrates put the money towards but I saw a few that I probably wouldn’t agree with,” Folger said. “…We need someone who will get out and talk to the people.”
David Meade (running for reelection for 80th House District)
Meade, who serves as Speaker Pro Tempore of the Kentucky House of representatives, said he has been honored to serve Lincoln County since 2012.
Since taking the number-two seat in the House of Representatives, Meade said the state has seen more job growth and economic opportunity than any other time in history.
“We’ve had the largest investment in our state’s history in education. There’s more money in it now than ever,” Meade said. “Our investments have outpaced inflation.”
Meade said Lincoln County alone has received $12 million in the last three years in Lincoln County Schools. The county has received upgraded water lines, roads have been improved with future projects in place, and $62 million was invested in the tri-county mega site located in Mt. Vernon.
Meade said Lincoln (and Garrard) Counties are directly represented by him in every major decision made by the state.
Farris Marcum (running for reelection for Lincoln County Coroner)
Marcum, a former president of the Kentucky Coroner’s Association, recognized his two Deputy Coroners Brian Jenkins and Tony Floro, who he works closely with as Coroner.
He also paid tribute to the late former Mayor of Stanford, Scottie Ernst. Marcum said Ernst was the reason he became coroner. One of the tough parts of being coroner, is having to answer calls in your community, he said, because sometimes it is your friend or family member.
Marcum said he has about 530 hours of training, has conducted 1,530 death investigations in the 26 years he has served as coroner.
“It’s not the experience that helps me, it’s the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said. “Is it easy? No. It’s not easy. I’ve had over 1,530 death investigation in Lincoln County. When we go to investigate deaths, we’re dealing with someone’s loved one. It’s not fixing a road, it’s someone’s loved one and we know how to take care of families.”
Jerry Shelton (running for the 5th Congressional District)
Shelton said he is a Crab Orchard City Commissioner and Chairman of the Lincoln County Ambulance Board as well as a member of the Lincoln County Cattlemen’s Association and serves on the Family Resource Center board in Crab Orchard.
“Our current Congressman (Hal Rogers) has been there for 40-plus years and he’ll soon be 90 years of age,” Shelton said. “Our district has never ranked any higher than the fifth-poorest for 40 years. We’re the second-poorest district in the United States…if you think we need a different direction, then I ask for your support.”
Gloria Sneed (running for School Board – District 4)
Sneed, who won’t be on the ballot until November, is a current Lincoln County School Board member for District 4.
The job market will look vastly different in 20 years, Sneed said.
“Jobs are a problem, because we don’t know what they’re going to be,” she said. “As a school board member, I’d like to encourage you to encourage your school board members to invest in technology, because that’s where it’s going.”
Woods Adams (running for reelection to Lincoln County Judge Executive)
Adams said he never misses an opportunity to come to the Broughtontown Community Center, which he called the heartbeat of Lincoln County. He recognized the hard work of the people who make the Broughtontown Community Center great.
The Lincoln County Parks and Recreation has grown tremendously, Adams said, and more jobs will be created thanks to the new regional industrial park in Mt. Vernon, which is located 9 miles east of Broughtontown. The Stanford Industrial park has also expanded and has two build-ready sites prepared for 100,000 square foot buildings/businesses.
“I appreciate you guys letting me be the Lincoln County Judge Executive and I look forward to it for the next four years,” he said.
The hard work and volunteers who manage the Broughton Community Center and its events were recognized by all in attendance.
