Candidates from across the spectrum of city, county and judicial races contested in November presented themselves to a crowd of about 85 at a political forum at Caldwell County High School Thursday night.
Twenty-one candidates in the Nov. 7 election, some of whom are running without opposition, spoke for themselves Thursday. Seven who did not attend sent prepared statements or had representatives speak on their behalf, for a total of 28 candidates’ representation.
The forum was sponsored by the political science classes at CCHS and held in the school’s Fine Arts Theater.
It provided many candidates with their first opportunity to speak publicly about the upcoming election.
Danny Beavers and Gale Cherry, candidates for Princeton mayor, outlined their ideas about the city and its future.
“We have a responsibility to take care of our community and make it better,” said Cherry, the first mayoral candidate to speak.
The mayor, she added, should lead the way in a process where all the ideas and talents in the community can be combined for its benefit.
She pointed to the downtown revitalization project as a means to bring Princeton recognition across the state.
“Your town has to be unique in order to be recognized,” she said. “When our name, Princeton, is mentioned … it’s mentioned in a positive way.”
The downtown “is beautiful,” she added. “It will make a difference.”
If elected, she said, “there will be no favoritism shown. I have no debts to anybody.”
Beavers pointed out city growth and improvement during his tenure as mayor, from 1999 to 2002, as evidence of his ability.
“During that time, I felt like the city made progress for everyone,” he said.
He pointed out the widening of Main Street and U.S. 62 and the installation of traffic lights at Druther’s corner and U.S. 62 as examples of those improvements.
He also pointed out his role in helping recruit Bremner, AFCO and the Fontaine Trailer Company to locate here.
Beavers said it was also important to restore the respect and cooperation between city and county governments, and gain respect back with the Pennyrile Area Development District and the state highway department.
With a lengthy city council career before his stint as mayor, Beavers said he had “the experience and understanding of the way a community government functions in a small town.”
If elected, he said, he would look for a way to fund Youth Inc., the City-County Park and Dotson Park, as well as other youth-oriented activities.
He said he would also look for a way to collect leaves and storm-damaged limbs again.
The third candidate for mayor, Princeton City Council member Ed Schmidt, was at a Kentucky League of Cities convention in Lexington and did not attend the forum.
In addition to the mayoral candidates, the audience at the two-hour forum also got an opportunity to hear from several candidates running for the city council.
From incumbent candidates like Jim Joiner, who praised recent airport growth and the Princeton Electric Plant Board’s decision to seek lower power rates, to challengers like Richard Blackburn, who said he wanted “to see some sensibility and some responsibility put back into all departments of city government,” seven council candidates offered remarks.
Candidates speaking included Blackburn, Sammy Thompson, William McClelland, Joiner, Bonnie Claypoole Holloway, Pat George and Iris Brantley.
Council members Carroll Boyd and Henry Smith did not attend but sent prepared statements, which were read by master of ceremonies Michael Mason, a CCHS senior.
Candidate Joe Storms was also absent.
Candidates for magistrate, both opposed and unopposed, also spoke.
Unopposed magistrates Elbert Bennett and Shirley Gray, as well as Magistrate-elect Bobby Lewis, were the first speakers at the forum, followed by two candidates vying for the fourth district magistrate’s seat — incumbent George Kilgore and challenger Mike Phelps.
A prepared statement from state Sen. Dorsey Ridley was read, and state Rep. Mike Cherry’s wife, Gale, spoke briefly on the absent representative’s behalf.
Following those remarks, the stage was cleared for candidates in a variety of area judicial races, as well as a race for U.S. representative.
Local attorney Jill Giordano spoke on behalf of Circuit Judge Bill Cunningham, running for Kentucky Supreme Court. His opponent, Court of Appeals Judge Rick Johnson, arrived late but spoke in support of his candidacy.
Logan Askew and Shea Nickell, candidates for the Kentucky Court of Appeals, first district, first division, addressed the crowd, as did Shawn Simpson, a representative for Mark Blankenship, a candidate for Kentucky Court of Appeals, first district, second division.
His opponent, Donna Dixon, was absent.
Woody Woodall, running unopposed for circuit judge in the 56th Judicial Circuit, introduced himself to the crowd, which then heard from James R. Redd III and Richard Peek Jr., candidates for local district judge.
The forum concluded with remarks from Tom Barlow, Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, and Whitfield’s district director, Michael Pape.
