Floyd tops Heaton; Kelley wins judge; city incumbents fare well
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
REP. DAVID FLOYD
Nov. 6, 2012, 10:45 p.m. — State Rep. David Floyd watched election returns and greeted well-wishers at B.J.’s Steak House Tuesday evening after winning the race to keep his seat in the state House.
Though Floyd’s Democratic challenger, former Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton, won 11 of the county’s 26 precincts that had reported, Floyd won a number of key precincts that helped him build a lead after the race started out very close. Floyd also won the three precincts he represents in Bullitt County and the single precinct in Spencer County.
Election night pundits told this writer they believed the negative attack ads that targeted Floyd — particularly the “pill mills” TV ad — hurt Heaton’s campaign.
Floyd was jubilant in the wake of his hard-fought election victory, shaking hands and hugging supporters.
JOHN “JACK” KELLEY V
DISTRICT JUDGE. In a three-way race that featured an experienced Commonwealths’ Attorney and a former district judge, assistant county attorney John “Jack” Kelley won by more than 700 votes, with 6,625. The second vote-getter was Chip McKay (5,903), followed by former District Judge Tom Dawson (3,539).
The three men were running to fill the unexpired term of District Judge Bob Heaton, who died unexpectedly earlier this year.
BARDSTOWN CITY COUNCIL. The five incumbents on the Bardstown City Council will be joined by former councilman John Royalty.
Roland Williams was the top vote-getter with 2,730 votes, followed by: Tommy Reed (2,574); Bobby Simpson (2,510); Joe Buckman (2,508); and Francis Lydian (2,466). John Royalty took the sixth-place spot with 1,786 votes. The next-highest vote-getters were Peter Trzop and Mark Ballard, who were only separated by a single vote, 1661 to 1660 respectively.
NEW HAVEN CITY COMMISSION. Chris Cecil will join the three incumbents — Donald Wayne Cecil, Fred DeWitt and Jeff Rogers — on the New Haven City Commission in January.
FAIRFIELD, BLOOMFIELD. Both Bloomfield and Fairfield had more open seats than candidates. In Bloomfield, Walt Pozgay, Denny Howard, Trayce Cheek, Mark Mays and Tammy Wimpsett will fill five of the six city council seats, leaving one that will be appointed.
While only two candidates were on the ballot yesterday for the four seats on the Fairfield City Commission, write-in candidates provided two additional commissioners to fill all four seats.
Faye Clayton and Don Hardin were the only two candidates on the ballot; however three additional candidates had announced their intent to run as write-ins. According to the Nelson County Clerk’s office, Shirley Mattingly and Angela Ford won seats on the commission, receiving 8 votes and 7 votes respectively. The third write-in candidate was Jane Yeast, who received 5 votes.
OTHER RACES. In the Bardstown Independent Schools, Andy Stone and Franklin Hibbs III were the top vote-getters, 2,4367 and 2,188 respectively. Dr. Daniel J. Finn received 1,706 votes.
U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie handily dispatched his opposition to win another two-year term representing Kentucky’s Second Congressional District. Guthrie received 10,635 votes to Democratic candidate David L. Williams’ 6,249 votes, Libertarian Craig Astor’s 303 votes, and independent candidate Andrew R. Beacham’s 397 votes.
UNOPPOSED. Damon Jackey, Larry Pate and Diane F. Berry were elected to the Nelson County Schools board without opposition. Commonwealth’s Attorney Terry Geoghegan and Circuit Clerk Diane Thompson were also both unopposed.
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