2018 Candidates
The names of candidates have been taken from the sample ballot on the Kentucky State Board of Elections website. The pdf version can be found here.
WKMS - May 2018 Primary Results
NYT - Kentucky Primary Results
All Precincts - If you live in Calloway County, these candidates will be on your ballot
United States Representative in Congress - 1st Congressional District
Murray Ledger - Candidates Talk Health at Forum
✔️ James R. Comer (R) - Link to official site
- Murray Ledger - Comer Says He Represents Conservative Calloway Values in 1st District Race
- Incumbent Candidate
- He owns and runs Comer Family Farms in Central Kentucky
- He previously served as the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture and a Kentucky State Representative.
❌ Paul Walker (D) - Link to official site
- Murray Ledger - Walker Says He Will Be a Voice for Everyone in 1st District
- Murray’s Walker wins Democratic nomination for 1st Dist. US Rep.
- English Professor at Murray State University, where he has taught for the past 11 years.
- Former U.S. Forest Service Firefighter
- Committed to environmental justice and responsible stewardship of public lands
State Representative - 5th Representative District
WKMS - State Representative Candidate Forum
Murray Ledger - Elkins, Ramey Both Say They Fit the 5th
✔️ Larry Elkins (R) - Link to official site
- Former Calloway County Judge Executive
- Former Murray Police Chief
- WKMS - Calloway Co. Judge Executive Elkins Retiring from Position
- WKMS - KY Dem. Party Files Ethics Complaint Against Elkins
- KY Dems - Elkins Caught Using County Resources for Campaign Again
- WKMS - Calloway Courthouse Cameras Cause Commotion, Confusion, Concern
- WKMS - Western Shores Sues Calloway Officials And Developer Over Unfinished Roads
- Murray Ledger - Dispute Near the Lake; Lawsuit Alleges Mishanding of Western Shores Subdivison by County, Land Developer
- Murray Ledger - Elkins Responds to Records Showing Use of County Email for Campaign
❌ David Ramey (D) - Link to official site
- Owns and runs David Ramey Insurance Company
- Former sports journalist & Executive Director of the Racer Athletic Association
- Served on Murray City Council, Murray Planning Commission, and the Purchase Service Commission
- Forward KY - David Ramey Ready to Practice What He Preaches in Frankfort
- Murray Ledger - Ramey Will File as Candidate for Fifth House Thursday
Commonwealth's Attorney - 42nd Judicial Circuit
✔️ Dennis R. Foust (I) - Link to official page
- Former Circuit Judge in Marshall Co. from 1997-2015
- Supports the proposed constitutional amendment (aka Marsy's Law)
- Retired judge voting member on the Circuit Court Clerk's Conduct Commission
- Assistant Marshall County Attorney
- Murray Ledger - Foust Says Time Away From Bench Has Given Him New Perspective
❌ C. Mark Blankenship (I)
- Incumbent Candidate, appointed in 2008
- Practiced criminal law for 39 years, 19 of those as prosecutor
- Awarded Outstanding Commonwealth Attorney in 2016
- Murray Ledger - Blankenship Says He Wants To Keep the Job He's Always Coveted
County Judge/Executive
WKMS - Judge Executive Candidate Forum
Murray Ledger - Judge-Executive Candidates All Push Economic Development
✔️ Kenny Imes (R) - Link to official site - Link to Facebook Campaign Page
- KY State Rep from 2015-2018
- Interim Calloway County Judge Executive
- WKMS - Kenny Imes Appointed as Calloway County Judge/Executive
- Murray Ledger - Dispute Near the Lake; Lawsuit Alleges Mishanding of Western Shores Subdivison by County, Land Developer
❌ James C. Gallimore (D) - Link to official site - Link to Facebook Campaign Page
- Runs Gallimore Electric Contractors, LLC
- Volunteer of the Year for Murray Main Street 2017
❌ Vincent B. Costello (V) - Veterans Party of America
- Murray Ledger - Costello Enters Race for Veterans Party
- Army Veteran
- Former Business Owner
- Worked for the VA Healthcare System
- Taught at Murray State University
❌ William Earl Marcum (I) - Link to official site
- Murray Ledger - Marcum Files County Judge Campaign Paperwork
- Murray Ledger - Marcum: Giving Up Deputy JE Spot Helps Co. Government To Keep Going Smooth
- Current Deputy Judge Executive
- Served two terms as Calloway County Sheriff
Coroner
❌ Janus Vilardo (R)
✔️ Ricky Garland (D)
- Current Coroner
- Murray Ledger - Garland Takes Over as Calloway County Coroner
Constitutional Amendment
Are you in favor of providing constitutional rights to victims of crime, including the right to be treated fairly, with dignity, and respect, and the right to be informed and to have a voice in the judicial process?
- ✔️ Yes
- ❌ No
WPSD - Election Guide: Marsy's Law
Courier Journal - Kentucky Judge Blocks Results of Marsy's Law Vote
ACLU - ‘Victims’ Rights’ Proposals Like Marsy’s Law Undermine Due Process
Lexington Herald - Hollow Victim's-Rights Bill Would Muddy Criminal Justice System
WKMS - Court Rules Against Kentucky's Marsy's Law Ballot Language, Appeal Likely
WKMS - Advocates And Opponents of Marsy's Law In Ky. Trying To Sway Voters Before Tuesday's Vote
These additional candidates will be on the ballot if you vote in any of these places: Courthouse, CFSB Center, Elm Grove Baptist Church, Cain's Murray Auto Auction & Hope Harbor Church
Magistrate - 1st Magisterial District
✔️ Eddie Clyde Hale (I)
Constable - 1st Magisterial District
- Write-In
These additional candidates will be on the ballot if you vote in any of these places: First Baptist Church, New Concord Church of Christ, East Elementary School, Murray Elementary School, Good Sheppard Methodist Church, Poplar Spring Baptist Church & University Church of Christ
Magistrate - 2nd Magisterial District
❌ William "Bill" Duncan (R)
- 53 year resident of Calloway County
- Owner and operator of Center Ridge Water District for 18 years to present
- Owner and operator of Trucking and Excavating business for 30 years to present
- Volunteer Firefighter Calloway County Fire-Rescue for 5 1/2 years to present
✔️ Larry Crutcher (D)
- 47 years self-employed farmer
- 5 years M & H Construction
- 5 years Murray Paving
- 3 years Murray Division of Tappan
- 7 years at U.S. Tobacco (seasonal)
- 15 years on County Farm Service Agency Board
- Vice President of American Romagnola Cattle Association
- Treasurer of Calloway County Cattlemen Association
- A graduate of Calloway County High School
- Pledges to keep county taxes low
- Dedicated to the growth of new industries and supporting our hospital
- Willing to seek State and Federal grants available to our county
Constable - 2nd Magisterial District
- ✔️ Byran Paul Williams (D)
These additional candidates will be on the ballot if you vote in any of these places: Glendale Road Church of Christ, Southwest Elementary School, Hazel Baptist Church, Locust Grove Baptist Church, Murray High School, Calvary Temple Church & Westside Baptist Church
Magistrate - 3rd Magisterial District
- ✔️ Don Cherry (R)
Constable - 3rd Magisterial District
- ✔️ Tim Stone (D)
These additional candidates will be on the ballot if you vote in any of these places: West Fork Baptist Church, Calloway County High School, Kirksey Baptist Church & North Elementary School
Magistrate - 4th Magisterial District
Murray Ledger - Rogers, Rister Clain 4th District Magistrate Wins
- ✔️ Paul W. Rister (R)
- ❌ Ralph Rogers (D)
Constable - 4th Magisterial District
- ✔️ Timmy R. Manning (D)
These additional nonpartisan school candidates will be on the ballot if you vote in any of these places: Courthouse, First Baptist Church, Murray Elementary School; part of East Elementary School, University Church of Christ, Glendale Road Church of Christ, Murray High School & Calvary Temple Church
Member Board of Education - Murray Independent School District (Vote for 3)
❌ Mark Vinson
- Current member, has been on board 12 years
- Stated MISD board members donate any compensation they are given back to the schools
✔️ Gina Shiplet Winchester
- Background in higher education
- Served as Adjunct Professor of Youth and Nonprofit
- Executive Director of Regional Outreach at MSU
✔️ Shawn Smee
- Currently Director of Recruitment at MSU
- Currently on Site Based Decision Making Committee for Murray Elementary School
- 3/4 of his children are current students in MISD
- Link to Facebook Campaign Page
❌ Martin Milkman
- Retired MSU Economics Professor
- Has done extensive research on undergraduate/graduate economics programs
✔️ Miranda Terry
- Recently awarded Rotarian of the Year by Murray Rotary Club
- MSU Professor in Department of Applied Health Sciences
- Public and Community Health Program Director
- Research centers around the rights of people with disabilities and policy research
- Has been endorsed by Kentucky National Organization for Women
- Link to Facebook Campaign Page
These additional candidates will be on the nonpartisan city ballot if you vote in any of these places: part of Hazel Baptist Church
Mayor - City of Hazel
Murray Ledger - Hazel Raising Money to Help Family That Lost House to Fire
✔️ John "Scooter" Paschall
- Four-term city council member, with a strong relationship with current city council
- Small business owner
- Wants more beautification of Hazel
❌ Alli Hillard Robertson
- Hazel Day Committee Chair
- If elected, will apply for grants to build new sidewalks, fix drainage problems
- Murray Ledger - Former Hazel Firefighters Invited to attend Hazel Day Festivities
These additional nonpartisan candidates will be on the ballot if you vote in any of these places: Courthouse, First Baptist Church, Murray Elementary School, University Church of Christ, Glendale Road Church of Christ; part of CFSB Center, Murray High School, Westside Baptist Church, Calloway County High School & North Elementary School
Mayor - City of Murray
Murray Ledger - 2018 Election Guide
Murray Ledger - Murray Mayoral Candidates Have Inclusive Philosophies
WKMS - Sidewalks, Parks, and Payroll Tax - Murray Mayor Candidates Outline Top Priorities
Murray Ledger - Murray Mayoral Candidates Speak During Crime Stoppers Meeting
WKMS - Payroll Tax Tops Discussion in Murray Mayoral Candidate Forum
✔️ Bob Rogers - Link to Facebook Campaign Site
- Recently retired Superintendent for MISD
- Would like to see the city, county, and MSU work together
- Wants revitalization & beautification of the city
- Wants more sidewalks
- Has not stated approval or disapproval of payroll tax
- Murray Ledger - Rogers Joins Murray Mayoral Race
- Rogers served as superintendent when an MHS student accused a teacher of inappropriate conduct with students and predatory sexual grooming - WKMS Article - Murray Ledger Article
- WKMS - Former Murray Superintendent “Skimmed” Alumna’s Documents About Teacher’s Behavior
❌ Ed Davis - Link to former site - Link to official site
- Has served on Gentry House board
- Has served on Parks Department board
- Does not support payroll tax, will ask for a community vote in order to appeal it
- Insisted that if we have such a high tax rate for MISD, we should hire teachers who have "good moral character, and will protect our children physically and mentally."
- Murray Ledger - Davis Enters Race for Murray Mayor
- WKMS - Ed Davis Vows to Repeal Murray Payroll Tax if Elected Mayor
City Council - City of Murray (Vote for up to 12)
Murray Ledger - 2018 Election Guide
Candidate Survey Conducted by murrayelection.info
Calloway County Republicans Candidate Response on Tax Repeal
✔️ Dan M. Miller
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Served on city council 1994-1998, and 2001-present
- Voted in favor of payroll tax
- Supports helping Murray grow by attracting new businesses
- Murray Ledger - Miller: Payroll Tax Has Presented New Opportunities
❌ Sue Hood
- Against payroll tax
- Has a record of "fighting" for the citizens of Murray with regard to city ordinances, and residential zoning changes
- Will pledge to repeal the payroll tax if elected
- Link to campaign Facebook page
- Murray Ledger - Hood Enters Race for City Council
✔️ Alice J. Rouse
- Former editor of Murray Ledger and Times
- Called for the promotion and recruitment of new businesses to move to Murray
- Will work to reduce the payroll tax
- Murray Ledger - Rouse Takes Run at Murray City Council
✔️ Monty McCuiston
- Small business owner
- Against payroll tax
- Has attended 21 out of 23 city council meetings
- Wants more transparency with city government
- Link to campaign Facebook page
- Murray Ledger - New Blood Enters City Council Race
❌ Barbara Cobb
- Started the "No Hate" signs around Murray
- Against current payroll tax due to the burden it places on low-income workers
- Will pledge to repeal the payroll tax and to seek fair and equitable revenue streams if elected
- Wants more transparency
- Will work for equality and justice for all citizens
- Link to campaign Facebook page
- Murray Ledger - Murray State Professor Running for City Council
✔️ Danny O. Hudspeth
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Served on city council from 1988-2009, 2011-present
- Served as Mayor Pro Tem October 2009- December 2010 after Mayor Tom Rushing passed away in September 2009
- Voted against payroll tax because of the burden it places on low-income workers
- One of two minorities running for city council
- Has served on many boards, including the Parks Department board
- Recommends the park reintroduce another park tax referendum, much like the one proposed in 2014
- WKMS - Murray Calloway County Park Tax Referendum
- Murray Ledger - Hudspeth Looks to Bring Nearly Three Decades of City Council Experience
✔️ John Mark Roberts
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Has served on city council from 2017-present
- Voted against payroll tax
- Will vote to reduce or repeal the payroll tax
- Murray Ledger - Roberts: I'll Fight for Low Taxes If Re-Elected
✔️ Patricia "Pat" W. Sieber
- Retired education who also worked for MSU's Department of Education.
- Current president of Murray Woman's Club
- Has called for more common sense and communication with city government
- “I have experience writing and managing grants as well as working with schools and school districts throughout the state to identify strengths and areas for improvement, developing policies to enhance success, plus developing and managing budgets to support success in those schools and districts. This experience will translate well to working with our city to identify needs and develop sources to meet those needs.”
❌ Pat Scott
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Has served on city council from 2005-present
- Wasn't present for payroll tax vote, but is not in favor of it
- Said payroll tax benefits business owners and rental property owners
- He would like to see the city sticker used again. "It's more fair because everyone drives" (both of which are not true, by the way)
- Will vote "yes" to repeal the payroll tax if re-elected
- Murray Ledger - Scott Wants to See More Improvement with Public Safety
❌ Jessica Evans
- Against current payroll tax due to the burden it places on low-income workers
- Works at MSU
- Works with Amnesty International
- Is one of two minorities running for city council
- "No one in our community should experience discrimination of any kind. As a past co-chair of the City of Murray Human Rights Commission, I encourage diversity and acceptance in our community."
- Link to campaign Facebook page
- Murray Ledger - MSU Staffer Joins City Council Race
❌ Ron "R.G." Gladden
- Owns The Big Apple
- Against the payroll tax
- Against the smoking ban
- Claims the city government shouldn't control how he conducts his business
- Murray Ledger - Gladden Aims to Bring Business Experience to Council
❌ Rickie D. Spann
- Owns a property management company
- Firmly against the payroll tax, will work to find a better solution
- Wants to see Murray become more friendly towards businesses
- Murray Ledger - New Blood Enters City Council Race
❌ Jane Brandon
- Has been on the city council in the past
- Is in favor of sidewalks
- Pledges to repeal the payroll tax
- Murray Ledger - Former City Councilwoman Running for Same Seat
❌ Donnie Winchester
- Served on MISD school board for 16 years
- Against the payroll tax
- If elected, will pledge to vote yes to repeal the payroll tax only if it does not risk bankrupting the city
- Murray Ledger - MISD Board of Education Member Joins Crowded City Council Race
✔️ Wesley Bolin
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Served on city council from 2016-present
- Voted in favor of payroll tax
- Former MSU Pogue Librarian
- Current history teacher at MHS
- Is the youngest member on city council (under 30 years old)
- Wants to revamp the city's food-truck ordinance
- "It takes experience to find that path forward, a path that involves investing in infrastructure, in high-speed broadband, in new sidewalks, and in better-maintained streets. But it also takes youth to imagine a different path, to come up with new ideas and solutions, and to see long term plans come to fruition."
❌ Johnny Bohannon
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Has served on city council from 2015-present
- Voted in favor of payroll tax because of the pay increase it provided for city police, firefighters, and city workers
- Would like to have a bypass around Murray connected to Highway 80
- Retired teacher
- Murray Ledger - Bohannon Wants to Keep Murray on the Path Forward
❌ Jane Shoemaker
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Has served on city council from 2013-present
- Voted in favor of payroll tax
- Will not vote to revote payroll tax if re-elected
- Would like to see more city and county government work together
- Murray Ledger - Shoemaker's Family History Drives Her City Council Tenure
✔️ Rose Ross Elder
- Retired Calloway County High School math teacher, taught 31 years
- Explained the payroll tax is a math problem that could easily be solved by working together to better understand it
- Daily Yonder - Rose Ross Elder, City Council, Calloway County, Western Kentucky: VALUES
❌ Deana Wright
- Promises to review all taxes for Murray and look for options to fund the city
- Current Executive Director of Murray Main Street
- Wants to see Downtown Murray revitalized
- Wants to review current comprehensive land use plan & compare it with current zoning ordinances, address outdated zoning ordinances that are not applicable to current growth, sewer/drainage system long/short term plans
- "Murray is primed to grow exponentially in the next 10 years. We must be able to grow with it in our policies and our practices. Change is not bad, it is necessary."
- Murray Ledger - Wright Says MMS Has Given Her Political Experience
✔️ Jeremy Bell
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Has served on city council from 2007-present
- Voted against payroll tax
- Will pledge to vote to repeal the payroll tax once a replacement source of income is found if re-elected
- Would like for the park to be better funded in order for Bee Creek to have lights installed, update lights in Central Park
- Wants more signage in Murray to help everyone navigate the city with more ease
- Murray Ledger - Bell Says His Council Priorities Haven't Changed
✔️ Linda Cherry
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Has served on city council from 2007-present
- Voted against payroll tax
- Will pledge to vote to repeal the payroll tax if reelected
- Wife of Don Cherry (current county magistrate)
- Is an advocate for the "hopeless"
- Retired school teacher
- Murray Ledger - Cherry Reflects on Service in Renewed City Council Bid
✔️ Terry Strieter
- Against the payroll tax due to the burden it places on low-income workers
- Will work to reduce the payroll tax
- Retired MSU professor
- Small business owner (Future Grounds)
- Current member of the Sierra Club
- Would like to see more green spaces in Murray
- Would like to see the use of solar panels
- Link to campaign Facebook page
- Murray Ledger - Retired History Professor Running for City Council
✔️ Burton Young
- Current council member, running for reelection
- Has served on city council since 2015
- Wasn't present for payroll tax vote, but is not in favor of it
- Will pledge to repeal the payroll tax currently in place
- Murray Ledger - Young Says He Wants Payroll Tax Gone
Additional Links
WKMS Voters' Guide To 2018 Midterm Elections