The filing deadline for partisan office has come and gone as of Friday afternoon, and there was a flurry of filings in the last week leading up to that deadline.
In the way of partisans races, eyes are on Hopkinsville City Council, where Ward 1 incumbent Republican Natasha Francis will face off against Republican challenger Vance Smith in the May primary—the winner of that election will go on to face Democrat Markeeta Oldham Wilkerson in November.
In Ward 2, Republican Brandi Stallons is unopposed on the ballot, having filed earlier Friday. That ward is currently represented by Bruce Smiley. Councilman Don Marsh is also unopposed in Ward 3, Councilman Travis Martin is unopposed in Ward 6 and Ward 11 Councilman Jason Bell is also unopposed, meaning they will all serve as the representatives for those wards when the new terms begin. The same goes for Seth Adam Meek who filed as a Rebulican in Ward 8.
In Ward 4, incumbent Republican Chuck Crabtree will square off against Republican challenger Faye Hendricks, who filed her paperwork earlier this week. Ward 5 will see a match up between Republican Shannon Trogden and incumbent Republican Amy Craig. Ward 7 has a match up between Republican Clayton Sumner and Republican Mark Graham. Neither incumbent Doug Wilcox or Terry Meek filed to seek re-election.
The field gets crowded in Ward 9, with incumbent Republican Jamie Lienberger set to face off against Republican challenger Brittanie Bogard—there are also several Democrat candidates in Angelique Victor, Monike Love and Ardell Owens, along with Independent Duane Shepherd.
Ward 10 has several candidates seeking that seat, including incumbent Republican Steve Keel and Republican challenger Mike Velez Sr. and then Democrats Angelita Atkins and Andra Gold, who filed on Friday. In Ward 12, incumbent Republican Matthew Handy filed to seek re-election, with challengers Elizabeth Draude filing as a Republican and Samual Goodman filing as a Democrat to seek that seat.
In other filings this week, David Webster filed to run for Christian County School Board in District 1, the seat currently held by incumbent Jeff Moore. Those running for non-partisan office, such as school board, have until June to file.
On Friday, Twyla Dillard filed as a Democrat to run for state representative in District 9, which includes a portion of Christian County and is currently represented by Republican Myron Dossett, who has filed to seek re-election. Representative Walker Thomas is unopposed in District 8, as is Representative Jason Petrie in District16. Craig Richardson, who filed as a Republican to seek the senate seat in District 3—the seat currently held by Senator Whitney Westerfield, who will not seek re-election—was the only person to file to seek that office.
Both Circuit Court Clerk Paige Parker and Commonwealth’s Attorney Maureen Leamy filed to seek re-election, with no opposition on their ballots.