Primary 2026: District 2 debate pits incumbent magistrate against former D2 magistrate

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 — The Republican candidates for District 2 magistrate met Monday, March 30, 2026 at Thomas Nelson High School to debate the issues before the media and supporters.

Incumbent Adam Wheatley and former magistrate Gary Coulter each answered questions posed by retired Brig. Gen Roger Deon about issues facing county government.

OPENING REMARKS. Coulter said his main concern in District 2 is low water pressure in the subdivision where he lives, Wooldawn Springs subdivision. He also said he supports keeping farm land limited to agricultureal uses, and opposed the use of farm land for wind farms, solar farms or data centers.

Wheatley highlighted his years of service to the ag community, his work at Heaven Hill Distillery and at Farm Bureau Insurance.

HOUSING CRISIS? Coulter said a housing crisis may exist in Nelson County, but in District 2 there’s no shortage of housing. “We have plenty of housing and most of the industrial firms.”

Wheatley agreed that there is not housing crisis in District 2. Because of the population density in the district, it is the smallest of the five magisterial districts in Nelson County.

He agreed that a housing crisis exists in other parts of the county and on the state and federal level, but pointed to federal programs that created the federal regulations that helped create the current housing issues.

“If we want to fix the housing problem, it needs to start at the top and work its way down,” he said.

BIGGEST NEED IN D2? Wheatley said one of the biggest needs countywide are for good roads. While the district has the fewest miles of county roads, there are needs for road repairs from last year’s flooding events. The county is seeking federal funds from FEMA to assist with the needed repairs on parts of Woodlawn Road and Tom Greer Road.

“The proper fix for those problems is a lot of money that we don’t have.”

Another need is to help encourage business and industry to locate in Nelson County, he said.

Coulter said water pressure in Woodlawn Springs remains an issue, and the problem has gotten worse as more housing has been built in the area.

He said the county needs to recruit smaller manufacturing firms. “We don’t need a Blue Oval” he said, referring to the massive Ford facility recently built in the Glendale area.

We need to diversify our business and industry, he said.

PLAN TO REPLACE BARREL TAX MONEY? The Kentucky General Assembly voted to phase out the existing bourbon barrel tax assessed on stored bourbon in 2022.

Coulter said the loss of the barrel tax money represented a total loss of $8 million. “Where are you going to come up with money to offset that? I don’t think anyone has an idea.”

The barrel tax revenue is being phased out over 20 years, and Wheatley said the county is working on possible solutions for bringing in revenue. So far there’s nothing definite, but the county is working on it, he said.

DETAIL YOUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. Wheatley said he’s been active in many civic and ag organizations, working with young FFA students and volunteering in local schools as well as his church.

Coulter noted he was former owner of a business that began in 1964. He spent four years as district 2 magistrate. Currently he serves a deputy county coroner and previously served as an EMT and stays busy with his church.

CLOSING REMARKS. In closing, Coulter said Nelson County has always been his home, and he seeks to continue his service to the county and to his constituents in District 2.

Wheatley said he prides himself in his service to the entire county as a magistrate, and that he is responsive to calls he receives regarding county issues. He and current fiscal court have lowered taxes 14 percent, as well as made changes to save taxpayers expenses in county operates and launched the inmate work program. With the help of state Rep. Candy Massaroni and state Sen Jimmy Higdon, the state located a drivers license branch in Nelson County.

He said in his campaign is not spending money on newspaper ads, putting campaign flyers in your mailbox or creating radio campaign ads.

“I want to earn your vote the old-fashioned way — with hard work and trust.”

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