By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Based on available results at press time Carter County voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots for Donald Trump in this year’s federal election. Trump received 8,981 votes to Harris 2,305. Following behind the major party candidates, Jill Stein on the Kentucky Party ticket (Stein runs as a Green Party candidate in other states) received 22 votes, Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver received 24, while Independent candidates Robert Kennedy Jr. took 81 vote and Shiva Ayyadurai 4.
In non-partisan races Michael Sammons was elected to the Carter County School Board in the first district with 43 percent of the vote and 744 votes. Rachel Fankell received 692 votes and Melissa Carter 302 votes. In the third district the new board member will be Brooke Holley with 992 votes to opponent Michael Burnett’s 792. In the fourth district Patrick Ferry ran unopposed, receiving 1,129 votes.
In the race for Grayson City Council, new council members Tersa Griffith and Willis Johnson will join incumbents Jennifer McGlone, Bradley Cotten, Sudy Walker, and Dustin Burchett. Former interim council member Johnson received 434 votes. Incumbent council member Terry Stamper took 419 votes, McGlone 509, Cotten 590, Walker 450, Michael Harper 420 and Burchett 560. Newcomer Jason Davis took 366, and Griffith took 430.
Over in the Olive Hill Council race Chris Bledsoe took 361 votes, Shannon Leadingham 310, Kirk Wilburn 342, Eric Rayburn 326, and Shane Tackett 319. Write-in candidate Tony Williams received 131 votes, and will be joining the incumbents on council, while Harry Justice received 25 write-in votes.
On constitutional amendment one, which would prohibit non-citizens from voting in any election in the Commonwealth (non-citizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections), Carter County voted yes, 6,628 for to 3,637 against.
On constitutional amendment two, which would allow the general assembly to funnel public school funds to private schools, Carter County voters chose no, with 7,220 against and 3,570 for.
On the local question of whether Carter County would allow the sale of medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries, as well as the operation of other cannabis businesses in the county, voters said yes, voting 6,856 to 3,850 in favor of the measure.
In unopposed races Republican Thomas Massie received 1,271 votes in the fourth congressional district. Republican Hal Rogers took 7,929 votes in the fifth congressional district. Republican Patrick Flannery received 9,258 votes in the 96th representative district. Democrat Brandon Ison took 6,348 votes for Commonwealth’s Attorney in the 37th judicial circuit. Larry Thompson received 7,618 votes for circuit clerk.
Herbie Suttles, with 3,736 votes, John Buck with 4,569 votes, and Will Davis with 4,054 votes were elected as soil and water conservation district supervisors. They’ll be joined by write-in candidate Brandon LaVoie, with 9 votes.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
