RICHMOND — When Madison Countians go to the polls Nov. 2, there will be plenty of choices to make.

For Richmond voters, there is a race for mayor and four spots on the Richmond City Commission. The mayor’s race pits former commissioner Jim Barnes against incumbent Connie Lawson. Barnes left Lawson far behind in a three-way primary, but the mayor has campaigned aggressively in hopes of retaining the office.

The commission race includes three incumbents — Robert Blythe, Mike Brewer and Bill Strong — and one former commissioner — Kay Cosby Jones, as well as four other challengers, Richard Thomas, Donna Baird, Bobby Johns and Jason Morgan.

Berea voters will choose a mayor and four city council members. Mayoral incumbent Steve Connelly faces Mary Sue Isaacs Eipert. The council race is huge this year, with 19 candidates, including current office-holders Violet Farmer, Virgil Burnside, Jerry Little, Billy Wagers, Ronnie Terrill and Troy VanWinkle.

Also vying for a seat on the council are Howard G. Baker, Richard Bellando, Hubert Chasteen, Elizabeth Crowe, Truman “Harry” Fields, Chad Hembree, Charles F. Hoffman, Robert “Peanut” Johnson, Diane Kerby, Charles Land, Brandon Rutherford, David Saladino and Adam Walker. Baker, Bellando and Fields previously have served on the council.

Races for available county offices include sheriff, judge/executive, jailer, magistrates and constables.

There are four state legislative races, a family court judge race and a race for Congress and U.S. Senate, which has received quite a bit of play in the state and national media.

Also this year, two Madison County residents have filed to run as write-in candidates in this fall’s General Election. One is Nelson O’Donnell, who narrowly was defeated in the Democratic primary by Jerry Combs, and the other is Andre Patterson, a political newcomer who is running for jailer.

(Three others have filed to run as write-in candidates in national races. See page 3 for a list of candidates.)

Residents have until 4 p.m. Oct. 22 to file their intent to run as a write-in candidate, so others could throw their hats into the ring.

Write-in votes will only be counted for candidates who have filed a declaration of intent, according to state law.

A person is not eligible to run for more than one office as a write-in candidate in the same election.

If a voter wants to cast a vote for a write-in candidate, “Two (2) election officers of opposing parties shall upon the request of any voter instruct the voter on how to cast a write-in vote,” reads Kentucky Revised Statues 117.265.

State races

A Berea man has filed to run for the 34th Senate District seat under the Christian Conservative Party banner.

Donald Paul Van Winkle, 1808 Red Lick Road, also was a candidate in 2006 using the same party label, winning 996 votes.

Van Winkle will face Democrat Lee Murphy of Richmond and Republican Jared Carpenter of Berea. The district includes Madison, Lincoln and Rockcastle counties.

Up for election

State races

• State Senate District 34: Democrat: Lee Murphy. Republican: Jared Carpenter. Christian Conservative Party: Donald VanWinkle.

• State Representative District 81: Democrat: Rita Smart. Republican: Tiffany Nash.

• State Representative District 36: Democrat: Jerome Isaacs. Republican: Lonnie Napier.

• State Representative District 73: Democrat: Don Pasley. Republican: Donna Mayfield.



U.S. races

• U.S. Senator: Democrat: Jack Conway. Republican: Rand Paul. Write-in: Billy Ray Wilson.

• U.S. Representative District 6: Democrat: Ben Chandler. Republican: Andy Barr. Write-ins: C. Wes Collins, Randolph Vance.



Judges (non-partisan)

• Family Court Judge, 25th Circuit, Division 3: Ira Newman, Nora J. Shepherd.



County races

• County clerk: Democrat: Lisa A. Davis. Republican: Kenny Barger.

• County judge/executive: Democrat: Kent Clark. Republican: Daniel M. Quick.

• Jailer: Democrat: Doug Thomas. Republican: Charlie King. Write-in: Andre Patterson.

• Magistrate, 1st District: Democrat: Larry L. Combs; Republican: Greg Lakes.

• Magistrate, 2nd District: Democrat: Wayne S. Long. Republican: Roger D. Barger

• Magistrate, 3rd District: Democrats:  John C. Tudor. Republican: Billy Ray Hughes

• Magistrate, 4th District: Democrat: Robert "Bobby" John Harris. Republican: Greg King.

• Sheriff: Democrat: Jerry Combs. Republican: Irving Whicker. Write-in: Nelson O'Donnell

• Constable, 2nd District: Democrat: David Kelley. Republican: Steven Kelly.

• Constable, 3rd District: Democrats: Bruce Thomas. Republican: Raymond VanWinkle.

• Constable, 4th District: Democrat: Billy Mitchell Sparks. Republican: Robert J. Anderson

• Madison County School Board: Mona Isaacs is unopposed to fill an unexpired term on the Madison County School Board, while Doug Whitlock is unopposed for re-election to the board.



Richmond races

• Richmond Mayor (Non-partisan, in alphabetical order): Jim Barnes, Connie Lawson.

• Richmond City Commissioner (Non-partisan, in alphabetical order): Donna Baird, Robert Blythe, Mike Brewer, Bobby Johns, Kay Cosby Jones, Jason Morgan, Bill Strong, Richard Thomas.



Berea races

• Berea Mayor (Non-partisan): Steve Connelly, Mary Sue Isaacs Eipert

• Berea City Council (Non-partisan, in alphabetical order):  Howard G. Baker, Richard Bellando, Virgil Burnside, Hubert Chasteen, Elizabeth Crowe, Violet “Vi” Farmer, Truman “Harry” Fields, Chad Hembree, Charles F. Hoffman,  Robert “Peanut” Johnson, Diane Kerby, Charles Land,  Jerry Little, Brandon Rutherford, David Saladino, Ronnie Terrill, Troy VanWinkle, Bill Wagers, Adam Walker.

• Berea Independent School Board:  Jacqueline Burnside, Kim Gardner, Linda Wagers. (Will Bondurant is unopposed to fill an unexpired term on the board.)