Ronica Shannon
Madison County Judge/ Executive Kent Clark will face opposition for the first time in seven years, and filed Monday to run for his last term in office.
“I’m going to run one more time, then it’s probably time for someone else,” Clark said.
Clark is opposed in the May 2010 primary election by Benny Biggs, a long-time Madison County resident who has been an employee of EnerSys (formerly known as Exide) for the past 23 years.
“I decided to run because I’d like to make the county a better place,” Biggs said. “There are some issues that I don’t go along with, and I want to give the county back to the people.”
One particular area Biggs said he would focus on if elected is making better use of the county’s jail inmates, especially in the case of senior citizens who need help maintaining their property.
Clark, who first was elected in 1994, faced opposition in 2002 by J.T. Broaddus in the primary election and Karen Botner in the general election.
Initiating planning and zoning in Madison County, ensuring that all county residents have safe drinking water and a sanitary regional sewer were a few things Clark said he is most proud of during his time as judge/executive.
Clark also said he is fortunate that the 12 departments within the county work together as one unit.
“It seems like they work together as a family,” Clark said. “It’s exciting for me to continue working with these department heads while continuing to upgrade services and working to keep a good quality of life for generations to come.”
Clark filed Monday alongside Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelison, who faces no opposition at this time.
Cornelison has served as county coroner since 1999, when he defeated his long-time boss, the late Embry Curry.
Curry served as county coroner for 27 years, and Cornelison worked under him as a deputy coroner for approximately 15 years.
“I learned a great deal under him and he exposed me to a lot of things and taught me as we went along,” said Cornelison, who also has served as a paramedic for the past 32 years.
Working as a coroner may not sound like a glamorous job and a lot of people are not interested in the work, but it is something that remains a need in the community, he said.
“It’s something that has to be done,” Cornelison said. “I don’t like getting up at 3 a.m. and knocking on somebody’s door or going out and taking pictures of a car wreck scene, but by law, it says it will be done. I feel like I’m qualified for that position.”
The following is a list of 2010 election candidates according to Monday’s roster from the Madison County Clerk’s Office:
• County attorney: T. Marcum “Marc” Robbins
• County clerk: Francette Durbin, Lisa A. Davis
• Jailer: Doug Thomas, Patrick Allan Begley
• Magistrate, 1st District: Larry L. Combs, Greg Lakes
• Magistrate, 2nd District: Wayne S. Long, Roger D. Barger
• Magistrate, 3rd District: Robert E. Murphy, John C. Tudor
• Magistrate, 4th District: Bruce B. Begley, Jack Marcum, Mike Isaacs
• Property Valuation Administrator: Billy Ackerman
• Sheriff: Nelson E. O’Donnell
• Constable, 2nd District: James E. House, David Kelley
• Constable, 3rd District: Bruce Thomas
• Constable, 4th District: John Wright, Billy Mitchell Sparks
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
