SHERIFF MIKE NEWTON

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

April 25, 2006 - Nearly every Nelson County Democrat on the May primary ballot knew that the place to be last Saturday was the Bardstown Community Park.

Even candidates without opposition in the primary were there in a show of support for their party. Bardstown Mayor Dixie Hibbs was there, providing a fascinating display of local political advertisements and newspaper stories form the past 60 years.

Candidates in the various races were given a chance to speak after the judge-executive candidates spoke. Following the fiery comments from judge-executive candidates Kenny Fogle and incumbent Dean Watts, Nelson County party chairwoman Margie Bradford politely reminded candidates to limit their comments to three minutes or less.

JAILER DORCAS FIGG

JON RYAN JAILER CANDIDATE

DALE CLARK CANDIDATE DISTRICT 1

SAM HUTCHINS CANDIDATE DISTRICT 2

BERNARD ICE INCUMBENT DISTRICT 3

TIM HUTCHINS INCUMBENT DISTRICT 4

BILL OSBORNE CANDIDATE DISTRICT 4

AUSTIN WELLER CANDIDATE DISTRICT 4

ROY DRAKE INCUMBENT DISTRICT 5

RONNIE HATFIELD CANDIDATE DISTRICT 5

Incumbent Mike Newton was the only candidate for sheriff at the picnic, offering a pamphlet to voters that detailed the advancements in the sheriff's office.

"The sheriffs in the past didn't do what I've done because they didn't have the opportunity," Newton said. "I was very fortunate to have this opportunity. I'm never happy the way we are, I'm always wanting to change things for the better."

Bradford said sheriff candidate Kenny Downs had to work and sent regrets. There was no mention of the whereabouts of candidate John Rice, the sheriff candidate whose signs were among the earliest to pop up around the county.

JAILER

Seeking another term, Jailer Dorcas Figg spoke of her many years of service at the Nelson County Jail, including 10 years as deputy, 21 years as chief deputy and the last four years as jailer.

Former sheriff's deputy Jon Ryan spoke next, citing how much he's enjoyed campaigning and meeting people. "I've always been involved in the community and I'll continue to be involved."

Ryan's career of public service began when he was hired as a dispatcher for the Bardstown City Police in 1993. He was later hired as a city police officer before moving to the Nelson County Sheriff's Office in 2000 following the merger of the sheriff's office and the county police force. In 2004 he accepted his current position as a code enforcement officer.

Ryan said he would closely monitor the budget and consider a medical co-payment system for inmates. The jail spent $155,000 for medical care last year he said. A co-payment system would hold inmates partly responsible for these costs.

"The jail's budget takes money away from the taxpayers," he said. "There's a lot of money spent down there."

Ryan said he would like to see more community service work performed by jail inmates, and he would require more training for jail deputies.

MAGISTRATE DISTRICT 1

Roads are the most pressing need for southern Nelson County, candidate Dale Clark told picnic-goers.

"I've been hearing a lot of complaints from the people of District 1 about this," he said.

Some of the roads in the district need guard rails to improve safety, and the county needs to be more proactive about cutting dead trees from the right-of-way of county roads.

"People in the Howardstown and New Haven areas feel underrepresented on Fiscal Court sometimes," he said.

Incumbent candidate Maynard Wimsett did not attend the picnic.

MAGISTRATE DISTRICT 2

John Downs, currently a vice president at Town & Country Bank & Trust, wants to see the county continue to grow and develop.

Downs, former director of the county's planning and zoning, read a long list of accomplishments and past and current areas of community involvement.

In addition to recruiting industry to the county, Downs believes Nelson County should recruit companies to move their headquarters or regional offices within Nelson County.

"I really believe we have a high quality of life to offer, and I really think we can tap into that market," he said.

Downs said his experience would be an asset to Nelson Fiscal Court. "I truly care about Nelson County, and I enjoy being involved in decisions that make a difference for all of us who live here," he said.

Sam Hutchins said that while he's been a farmer all his life, his current public job -- 22 1/2 years with Newcomb Oil Co. -- may not be very popular with voters in this time of high gas prices.

"I'm very dedicated to the concerns of residents in the district," he said.

Hutchins said that he thought the water line grants that brought water to his district forgot one important feature -- fire hydrants.

"We are totally neglected in this area for fire protection," he said. "That's one thing I would like to work on as magistrate."

District 2 incumbent Magistrate Raymond Greer and challenger Debbie A. Davis did not speak at the picnic.

MAGISTRATE DISTRICT 3

Incumbent Bernard Ice is unopposed in the primary, but faces Republican James Beery in November.

Ice has held been magistrate for the past 20 years, he said. "Twenty years ago I made a commitment to work hard and be honest," he said. "I think if you look around Nelson County and District 3, I've lived up to those commitments."

MAGISTRATE DISTRICT 4

Incumbent Tim Hutchins is seeking his fourth term representing District 4, noting in his comments "it seems like I've always got opposition for some reason."

Hutchins faces three opponents in the May primary, all of whom attended the picnic.

Hutchins said he has a good record representing the district. "I've put a lot of time in on it ... it takes a lot of time and dedication and I've done it for 12 years."

Hutchins said that while he's been a part of some of the accomplishments in county government, he is his own man.

"There's some things, some regulations that I've voted against," he said. "I've never been a rubber stamp, I've always stood up for people's rights. I've tried to do what's not just good for a few people, but look at the big picture."

Former Nelson County School board chairman Bill Osborne said he hasn't been a part of the accomplishments listed by other candidates, he spent the past eight years working to improve education in Nelson County.

When he ran for the school board, there were three schools rated "In Transition" with a fourth ready to slip into that category, he said.

Schools rated "In Transition" do not get state funding, and "it was draining our general fund."

During his tenure on the school board, two of the schools were replaced, with a third ready to open in January. Additionally, the board oversaw improvements at New Haven and Nelson County High School -- "all at minimal cost to the taxpayers of this county."

If elected, Osborne said he would work as hard or harder for the county.

Businessman David Shields said he extending sewers out into the county should be a priority.

"I see a lot of homes in older subdivisions with septic systems that have failed, and there's sewage on the ground," he said. "I would like to see the county help get them hooked up to sewers."

Former Nelson County Jailer Austin Weller said he decided to get back in government to give the people in District 4 a voice in county government.

Picnic-goers saw some good-natured politicking going on, most notably Weller's grandson walking the park grounds wearing a David Shields campaign hat -- a stunt Shields admitted perpetrating with the offer of a dollar to the younger Weller if he would wear the hat during the picnic.

MAGISTRATE DISTRICT 5

Incumbent Roy Drake said he promised to be fair to everyone in District 5 when he took office 3-1/2 years ago. "I think I've accomplished that," he said.

Drake noted that the accomplishments of county government and Nelson Fiscal Court aren't the work of a single person. "It's all a part of teamwork," he said.

"Just remember that we're your elected officials, and when you read about something that Fiscal Court's going to act on and you have a question, give us a call," he said.

Maple Hill native Ronnie Hatfield is mounting his second primary campaign for District 5 magistrate.

Hatfield named a long list of accomplishments, including athletic and education boards and a union local leader.

Hatfield said he was pleased to hear state officials earlier comments on Democrats having moral values.

He told the crowd he only had to look to his household for the source of his morals -- his parents and his family.

"I do not have to look at the President of the United States for his morals; I do not have to look at the Governor for his morals, but I do look within my own household," he said to applause.

District 5 primary candidate Jerry Hahn did not make an appearance at the picnic.

MISSING CANDIDATES

Neither Democratic candidate for coroner -- Field Houghlin or Robert Enlow -- spoke at the picnic. The winner of this primary race will face Republican Danielle Chladek.

County Attorney John Kelley and County Surveyor Stephen Hibbs were missing from the picnic. Neither candidate faces opposition in May or November.

OTHER UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES

Nelson County Clerk Phyllis Mattingly, PVA Barbara Tichenor, Nelson County Circuit Clerk Diane Thompson Ballard, and Commonwealth Attorney Terry Geoghegan all spoke briefly at the picnic. None of these candidate have opposition in May or November.