April 3, 2018
Grayson attorney drops out of State Rep. race because of ‘conflict of interest’
Move leaves Lawrence County candidate Hinkle with free ride in Primary; Principal, coach opposing York
State Representative has been an election of interest for the past 30 years in Lawrence County mostly because of the work of now 99th District State Rep. Rocky Adkins who represented Lawrence Co. for 30 some years in the General Assembly.
But since the re-districting four years ago, Rocky is gone and Republican Jill York, a Grayson businesswoman is in her second term in the 96th district which includes all of Carter and Lawrence Counties.
Opposing York this time is Grayson school principal Charles “Chuck” Clark, 39, who is currently assistant principal and coach at West Carter Middle school and coaches golf at West Carter High school.
He recently introduced himself to Lawrence and Carter Countians:
“…Hello, my name is Charles “Chuck” Clark, I’m a lifelong educator with experience as a teacher and administrator. I currently live in Grayson, Kentucky with my son. I enjoy being outdoors, reading, and traveling.”
Clark says he has nothing against Ms. York, he just thinks the people of the 96th need better leadership and a stronger voice.
“I have absolutely nothing poor to say of the incumbent in the position I’m hoping to fill, I simply think that our educators, public service men and women, and working class need a louder voice for our area,” Clark said. “I’m not interested in taking only my voice to Frankfort, I want to take “OUR” voice. I look forward to seeing you all very soon and discussing what changes we can make to make our area better.”
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The 96th is heavily Democrat in registration but has gone for the Republican York the last two elections. She won easily two years ago against Lawrence County Democrat Barry Webb.
There are 11,301 registered Democrats in Carter County and 6,317 in Lawrence for a total of 17,618. Republican registration is 6,317 in Carter and 5,234 in Lawrence for a total of 12,313. The “other” parties do not count in this Primary election since Kentucky has closed primaries, but if an Independent of some other party candidate files before the April deadline, they will be on the ballot, too.
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Did York get GOP ‘pass’ on pension issue?
Some political gurus believe the GOP gave York an “easy path” through the pension/budget legislative fight.
Although she followed party lines and voted to allow the bill to go out of committee to the House floor, she could have voted ‘no’ and come pretty close to stopping the bill. The GOP has a 2-1 edge in the full House so her vote was not needed. York was then “allowed” by Republican party officials in the Legislature to cast a “no” vote on the passage of the pension reform/budget bill which is extremely unpopular this year in the 96th district, the pundits surmise.
But York has steadfastly maintained that she would not vote for the pension bill as it was written. She has also issued written statements that she stands with the educators and state workers despite the direction of her party.
Hinkle is new but not really…
Democrat Kathy Hinkle is new to being a candidate but certainly not new to politics having been married to the Lawrence County Democrat Chairman for over 40 years. She is also an official of the Louisa Democrat Womens Club.
Hinkle has taken the side of the teachers and state workers in her comments so far but there has been no written messages from her about the pension subject until today.
“Our active and retired public employees — especially our public educators — and all working people of our communities deserve to know where their representative stands on the issues that matter to them,” Hinkle said. “As State Representative, I will always support our public schools and fight to protect the hard – earned pensions of all those who work to make this the best country in the world.”
Music has ‘conflict of interest’
Here is the statement received today by thelevisalazer.com from Brandon Music:
“…I have withdrawn as a candidate due to a conflict of interest that has arisen.
I represent non-profits who regularly appear in front of Executive Branch agencies, and I would be prohibited from serving these non-profits and being a legislator at the same time.
I had to keep my word to my clients, so I reluctantly had to withdraw as a candidate in March 2018 upon discovering the conflict.”
Music wasted no time in endorsing Hinkle.
“We have another wonderful candidate running in Kathy Hinkle. She has been very involved in Carter and Lawrence county now for decades helping working men and women of all stripes. She has my full support and my enthusiastic endorsement! In a time where teachers, law enforcement and the working men and women in kentucky are worried about their future, Kathy is a champion for them, and has been all her life.
I have no doubt she will make an amazing state representative.
–Brandon Music
Hinkle thanks Music for his support and endorsement
“…Iʼve been in close contact with Brandon and I’m proud to have his full support as I seek to give the people of Lawrence and Carter Counties the voice they deserve in Frankfort,” Hinkle said today.
