General Election

Boyle County Clerk Denise Curtsinger normally schedules the absentee balloting process to begin around the first of October before a November general election. That was going to be the plan for the Nov. 7 general election this year. But Curtsinger last week decided to move up the absentee voting schedule for this year's election. She began allowing people to cast absentee ballots on the courthouse machine last Tuesday, and she also began accepting applications from voters wanting to vote absentee by mail.

Oct. 30, 1987 Concluding one controversy, but perhaps previewing another, the Winchester Board of Commissioners on Thursday formally accepted the resignation of Fire Chief Robert N. Monroe. In a 10-minute meeting called specifically to approve the resignation and withdraw all formal charges against the chief, the commisison also held the first of what will undoubtedly be a large number of discussions concerning the search for Monroe's successor. A moderate turnout of Clark County voters is expected at best for Tuesday's general election.

Aug. 29, 1986 Winchester is expecting to burst at the seams Saturday when the eighth annual Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival gets in full swing. The festival began Thursday and will continue through Sunday. Porter Wagoner will highlight festivities Sunday evening at Lykins Park. Also scheduled are balloon races today, Saturday and Sunday. Former Clark County school superintendent Willis Justice filed Thursday as a candidate for the Clark County Board of Education, subject to the November general election.

With the filing deadline for the November elections fast approaching, local party officials are still awaiting the governor's appointment of someone to fill the Boyle County Fiscal Court seat left vacant by the death of longtime Magistrate Mickey Harmon.  Judge-Executive Harold McKinney said state law dictates Gov. Steve Beshear must make the appointment, and the governor was notified about the vacancy shortly after Harmon died June 28. McKinney has not suggested who to appoint and had encouraged anyone interested to write a letter to the governor's office.

Six more candidates seeking office on the 2010 ballot filed papers with the Clark County Clerk's office last week. On the Republican ticket, Sheriff Berl Perdue Jr. filed for his second term in office. Perdue beat out Democrat candidate William Elkins and write-in candidate Larry Lanning in the 2006 general election. Republican Brad Wells also filed to run for 3rd District Constable. On the Democratic side, four candidates filed papers for re-election. Three current county magistrates filed for one of the three newly created county commissioner seats.

The first three local candidates, all Democrats, seeking office on the 2010 ballot filed papers with the Clark County Clerk's Office today, the first day of the filing period. Candidates will either appear on the May 18, 2010 primary or Nov. 2, 2010 general election ballots. Circuit Clerk Paula Joslin was first in line, filing to run in a special election for circuit clerk, to finish the term of David Hunt. In March, Joslin was appointed by Circuit Judge Jean Chenault Logue to serve as circuit clerk until a special election could be held after the death of Hunt.

With the general election less than five weeks away, the Jessamine County clerk’s office is urging voters who will not be in town on Nov. 2 to submit absentee ballots. “All they have to do is call us and request it,” County Clerk Eva McDaniel said. “We'll send them out a request form, and when we get that back, we'll send them out a ballot.” During election season, McDaniel said her office deals with about 1,000 absentee ballots, 500 of which are mailed in and 400-500 are from the voting machine located in the clerk’s office.

JUNCTION CITY - A petition is circulating at local gas stations that seeks to legalize alcohol sales in Junction City, taking advantage of the city's recent upgrade in classification. If the petition is certified by the county clerk and judge-executive, residents would vote later this year on whether to become fully wet, allowing for licenses including retail beer and package liquor. Employees at two gas stations in Junction City said they were unsure who or what group is behind the petition, which asks residents simply if they are in favor of the sale and consumption of alcohol in the city.

HARRODSBURG - Mercer County Fiscal Court's first meeting after the death of Judge-Executive Charlie McGinnis was a somber event Wednesday. McGinnis lost his 2 1/2 year battle with cancer Saturday evening, and the funeral was Tuesday. Magistrate Wayne Jackson presided at Wednesday's meeting, but before he got down to business, he called for a moment of silence and then gave a sort of eulogy of his own. He said when he was out jogging the day before, "I couldn't get Charlie off my mind, and the more I thought about him, the angrier I got. Why did we have to lose Charlie?

Fifty-five days from now the general election will be held. As we all know, elections are a vital part or our nation and community. To help the citizens of Jessamine County make an informed decision on Nov. 7, The Jessamine Journal is hosting two candidate forums at the West Jessamine High School Auditorium on Oct. 14 and 21. On Oct. 14, we've invited all of the Nicholasville City Commission and mayoral candidates to participate....