In Our View: Primary concerns

The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky.
·2 min read

The 2024 Kentucky primary election is in the books. As we predicted, both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump easily won their respective presidential primary in the Bluegrass and are headed for a rematch in November. This will be the last election for both men.

Both Congressmen Hal Rogers and Thomas Massie easily won their primaries and with no Democrat running in either the 4th or 5th Districts. They both have been re-elected to another term. Both had weak primary opponents, so we’re not surprised.

In Greenup County, where only 16% of eligible voters turned out, Rhese McKenzie won a three-person race for Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Lewis County. He’ll serve as prosecutor in both Greenup and Lewis Counties.

In the State Representative 98th District race, Tammie Womack defeated three other candidates. She’ll face Republican candidate Aaron Thompson in November. The district includes all of Greenup County and some of Boyd.

Flatwoods voters approved the sale of alcohol in their city. We think voters in Flatwoods figured residents could drive a mile to Russell to buy alcohol, so why not legalize the sale in Flatwoods.

In Boyd County, where voter turnout was an anemic 11.28%, voters in many precincts could only vote for President and a Republican Congressional candidate. In Ashland, there was a 13-person race for the city commissioner.

Only three incumbents were running as Josh Blanton is going against Chuck Charles for Mayor. The top eight vote-getters will now participate for the four commission seats in November.

We think the incumbents didn’t fare as well as usual with the exception of the longest-serving commissioner, Marty Gute. It may have been because of voter unrest over the construction of downtown roundabouts, the city manager’s salary increase and concerns over taking possession of the parking garage and expensive cost of upkeep.

We’re concerned about voter turnout. If only one in nine eligible voters go to the polls, that small number of voters has a powerful say in who wins.

We appreciate those who run for public service. It takes time away from the families and they can become fast food connoisseurs because they’re running from place to place.

We hope the political signs will be down before Memorial Day. We really hope for a larger turnout and informed voters in November.