Voters in Madison County will choose between competing candidates in all state races this year except district judges.

District Judge Charles “Chuck” Hardin, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the election of Judge William G. Clouse Jr. to the circuit court bench, is unopposed in the election for the unexpired term. District judges Brandy O. Brown and Earl-Ray Neal also are unopposed.



State senate



Barry Metcalf

Former state senator Barry Metcalf of Richmond, a Republican, filed Tuesday to enter the race for state senator in the 34th district that includes Madison, Lincoln and Rockcastle counties.

Metcalf, 50, works as a property manager.

Metcalf said he believes that “the hard work I put into past races will come to fruition this year.”

In 2006, he lost a race to incumbent Sen. Ed Worley, D-Richmond, who is not seeking re-election.

Metcalf said he remains adamantly opposed to expanded gambling as a way to increase state revenues and believes that state government should “tighten its belt when tough times hit, just as families and businesses must do when their income goes down.”

“If you look at what casinos have done to other states, such as Connecticut, you know that introducing casino gambling into Kentucky will cost our state more than any revenue they could produce,” Metcalf said. “Casino owners get 65 percent of their take, while the states get only 35 percent. In addition, for every dollar a casino puts into a state’s treasury, the social ills that gambling creates cost a state three dollars.”

Metcalf said he also is opposed to borrowing from the teachers’ retirement fund. Last year, $96 million dollars was taken from teachers’ retirement, he said.



Landra Lewis

Landra Lewis of Berea, a Democrat, also filed for the 34th district senate race Tuesday. Artist Pat Banks and bank president Bill Walters signed Lewis’ filing petition.

Walters said Lewis’ “understanding of issues, especially the economy, and her unique qualities make her a solid choice to lead the district.”

Lewis, 56, said she has been involved in business and community activism for most of her life. She earned a political science degree from the University of Kentucky and is certified as a mediator by Duke University. She also studied at Presbyterian Seminary before serving as chief executive of McNay Settlement Group in Richmond, for which she now serves as a consultant.



Other candidates

Other candidates in the state senate race are Democrats Michael S. Cope and Lee Murphy, both of Richmond, and Republicans Jared K. Carpenter of Berea and Kent J. Kessler of Richmond.



State representative

81st District



Tiffany Nash

Tiffany Nash, 35, a Richmond accountant, filed to run Tuesday. She is a past secretary of the Madison County Republican Party who previously has worked as an internal auditor for Ashland Inc. and as an executive recruiter for Clark Enterprises of Richmond.

“It is vital that we attract new businesses and new jobs to Kentucky,” she said. “Over 10 percent of our citizens are unemployed. Our state has an outdated tax system, and reforming the tax code will bring new businesses to Kentucky. That also will energize existing businesses to add to their payrolls.”

With a $1.5 billion state budget shortfall, “This is a crucial time for state government,” she said. “Not only does our tax system put Kentuckians and Kentucky businesses at a disadvantage compared to neighboring states, our teachers are paying into the retirement system which will run out of money as soon as 2017. It is time for Frankfort to solve these economic issues the way Main Street does, by practicing fiscal responsibility.”

“Improving education is vital to our state’s future success,” Nash said. “Eastern Kentucky University is a tremendous asset to this district, and I will work to make sure education remains a top priority.”

In the November general election, she will face one of two Democrats, Richmond City Commissioner Rita Smart or Richmond attorney Jimmy Dale Williams, whoever wins the May 18 primary.



Jimmy Dale Williams

Williams, 62, also filed to run for state representative Tuesday.

A Richmond native and graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Williams earned a degree from the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., and has practiced law here for the past 30 years.

He said serving in the legislature would give him “an opportunity to do some public service that I’ve been too busy to do in the past. I think I can be an effective representative for Madison County.”

Williams said he had no illusions “about leading the state out of its present malaise on my own, but I believe I can be part of the team that, hopefully, will do that. I am accustomed to rolling heavy rocks up hill.”

Williams said he has been involved in politics since 1970 when he was the EKU chair for Wendell Ford’s U.S. Senate campaign.

“I also was a campaign worker for my good friend the late Wallace G. Maffett in 1970 when he was elected Richmond’s first mayor under the commission form of government."

“My experience with Mayor Maffett led me to switch my college major from chemistry/biology major to political science and then go to law school,” Williams said.



36th District

Incumbent Lonnie Napier, R-Lancaster, will face Democrat Roger Milton Ayers in the general election for 36th district state representative.

The district covers all of Garrard County as well as eastern, western and southern Madison County.



73rd District

Incumbent Don Pasley, D-Winchester, will face Republican Donna Mayfield, also of Winchester, in the general election for 73rd District state representative.

The district covers north central Madison County, including the area running from along Boonesboro Road to Interstate 75 north of Richmond.



FAMILY COURT JUDGE



Elizabeth Bond

Elizabeth Elkins Bond, 34, a Winchester attorney, filed Tuesday for family court judge in the 25th Circuit that includes Madison and Clark counties.

“I have vast experience in family court, in which I have represented thousands of children,” she said. “I believe I can put my experience to work to benefit our communities.”

Bond is an EKU graduate who earned a law degree from the University of Kentucky. She was an unsuccessful candidate for district judge in 2007.

Other candidates already in the non-partisan race include Ira Newman of Berea, who is serving an interim appointment, plus Jubal L. Miller and Nora J. Shepherd, both of Richmond, who had previously filed.



Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.