By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
If you’re interested in running for one of the open offices in Carter County, you have until Friday, January 7, at 4 p.m. to file with the county clerk’s office. After that, and you’ll have to wait for the next election.
But what exactly do the jobs entail, and what are the benefits – other than service to your community?
In general – and in simplest terms – city council members and county magistrates serve in similar roles to our elected congressional representatives at the state and national level. They bring forward and vote on resolutions and ordinances which govern the county or municipalities. The executives for each city and the county, the mayors and the judge executive, are then responsible for implementing those measures.
This is not to say that mayors and judge executive don’t help shape legislation within the city and county. They can – and do – make suggestions to their councils and magistrates, respectively. But a magistrate or council member must make the motion, and the council must approve it as a body. Mayors or judge executives typically only vote in instances where a tie needs broken or when they strongly support a project or motion and wish to convey that support in the public record.
That is, of course, a very simplified explanation and the exact roles are clearly defined in the Kentucky Revised Statutes.
So, what do they receive in exchange for this important work? While there are some perks, no one is going to get rich running for political office in Carter County. The salaries for city council members and mayors are fairly modest.
In Olive Hill city council members are compensated around $100 per month, and also qualify for the city’s insurance plans. Over in Grayson they’re paid a bit more, at $400 a month, plus $100 in flex spending for insurance, but still not a wage that allows you to quit your day job for city council duties.
The mayor in Olive Hill receives compensation of $640 a month for his time, plus the option of participating in the city’s insurance program.
In Grayson the mayor takes home $1,000 a month, plus $400 in flex spending.
Other roles up for election this year include the county jailer position, judge executive, and county magistrates, all of which are paid at a rate established at the state level – based on the county’s size and tax base.
For a county with Carter County’s population, that range for the judge, jailer, clerk and sheriff positions start at around $85,000 and goes up to nearly $95,000, after completing all necessary professional development, according to the most recently available public figures from kaco.org.
Who’s running?
So who has filed to run for which office so far?
Longtime Property Evaluation Administrator Leslie Kiser-Roseberry is running unopposed so far. So is county attorney Brian Bayes, county clerk Mike Johnston, sheriff Jeff May, district two magistrate Morris Shearer, district three magistrate Jack Steele, and constables Carl Bocook – district one, Danny Davis – district two, Johnny Gifford – district three, and Phillip Blevins – district five.
In the judge executive race Dustin Howard and Bobby Hall have filed to run on the Democratic ticket, while Vic Adams and Brad Brammell will seek the Republican vote.
Four people – all Republicans – have filed to run for the jailer position. Incumbent jailer R.W. Boggs will face off against William “Buddy” Grayson, Wade K. Thompson, and Bob Bowling for his party’s nod.
In district four, incumbent magistrate Donnie Oppenheimer – a Democrat – will face off against primary opponent Clifford “Sodbuster” Roe. District five will also feature a primary battle with Republicans Robert “Sleepy” Porter and William Elwood Stevens both looking to fill the job.
District four also sees two democrats vying for the role of constable, with Jhan Jarrell and Billy Dan Dailey both seeking the nomination.
So far no one from either party has filed to run for the county coroner, or for the district one magistrate seat – though, as noted, potential candidates have another week to file.
At least two other candidates have indicated their desire to fill the position of Grayson mayor as well, including councilman Troy Combs who has shared his candidacy through social media, but none were listed on the county clerk’s list of candidates for the May 2022 primary.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
