Logan Chick will return for another four years as Logan County Judge-executive, but the fiscal court he leads will be significantly different from the
current group. It appears that at least three of the six seats on the court will be occupied by newcomers when new county officials take office Jan. 1,
2011. Two of the seats are changing for sure.
Chick, a retired businessman in the food retail field, was not only was the leading overall vote getter in Tuesday's Primary Election but won every
precinct convincingly, pulling in 3,430 votes to 948 for challenger Barry Dill, the Russellville Police Chief. That's 78.3 percent of the vote. No
Republican candidate filed for the office.
Curtis Watkins was the only incumbent magistrate assuring himself of another term Tuesday. He out-polled challenger Johnny Sanford 584-165 (also 78
percent) in the Democratic primary with no Republican in the race. Sixth District Magistrate Thomas Bouldin has known since January that he would be
returning for a second term, since he faces no opposition in the primary or the general elections. Fifth District Magistrate Jo Orange, a Republican,
will go against Democrat Randy Atchley, who was also unopposed Tuesday, in November.
Tuesday's most eye-popping win was by challenger Jack Crossley, who not only unseated the dean of Logan County magistrates, Harold Prince, in District
2, but beat him convincingly. Crossley won 535 to 356 (60 percent). No Republican filed.
Preliminary results showed Russell Poore with a 12-vote win over incumbent Dickie Carter, who has served 10 years as District 1 magistrate. Carter won
two of the three precincts, but Poore's 35-vote margin in Precinct 2 at the National Guard Armory put him ahead. The office of County Clerk Scotty
Harper said that Carter and any other candidate have a week-- by 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 25-- to request a recount.
Another close magisterial race found Drexel Johnson 36 votes ahead of former magistrate Ranny Adler in the Democratic balloting for Fourth District
magistrate, 386-350. If the results stand, Johnson will face Billy Hall, who doubled the total of fellow Republican Tim Norris, 140-70. Current
magistrate Lloyd Houchens is not seeking another term.
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Joe Ross was an impressive winner over Russellville City Attorney Bob Hedges, by a margin of 2,541 to 1,659 (62
percent). Ross won 19 of the 20 precincts, falling behind only Hedges in Precinct 2, the same one that made the difference for Poore.
Jailer Bill Jenkins also had a big vote total, drawing only 11 fewer votes than Ross, although he had three opponents. Jenkins, who is in his 14th year
in office, won all 20 precincts. Jenkins had 2,530 votes while Dewayne Whittaker placed second (1,076) with James K. Penrod (353) and Sonny Duncan
(318) behind him. Jenkins will face opposition in the fall from former coroner Phil Gregory, who won the Republican nomination for jailer 559-384 over
Don Rust.
Twelve of the 14 candidates for the six seats on Russellville City Council moved on to the general election, including all four incumbents who are
seeking reelection. Banker Sandra Kinser was the top vote-getter with 997; then came three of the incumbents-- Jimmy Davenport (951), Lanny McPherson
(800) and Jack Whipple (709). Fifth place was attorney Neil Kerr (683) with Main Street Russellville Manager Darlene Gooch rounding out the top six
(669). Also qualifying were incumbent Pat Walpole Bell (658), Bill Decker (535), former mayor Shirlee Yassney (495), Ashley Bland (407), Marvinia
Neblett Benton (385) and Joe Laird (175).
The two who were eliminated from the council race were Hunt McCollum (160) and Dougas Daech (155).
Constable races were also involved in some districts. In the Third, Randy Berry defeated fellow Democrat Doris Gregory 352-258. In the Fourth, Lenord
Dye was victorious over Butch Inman 483-215 in a Democratic race.
Logan joined the rest of the state in nominating Rand Paul of Bowling Green as the Republican standardbearer for U.S. Senate. The husband of
Russellville High School graduate Kelly Ashby Paul, the doctor received 770 votes here, as compared to 190 for Secretary of State Trey Grayson.
On the Democrat side in the Senate race, Attorney General Jack Conway was the state winner but in Logan he trailed Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo 1,758 to
1,370.
A number of races will appear on the General Election ballot that were absent on this one, including for state representative, district judge,
Russellville mayor, and city government roles in Adairville, Auburn and Lewisburg.