FRANKFORT, KY. — When long time state senator Ray Jones decided to leave his post to run for and win election as Pike Co. Judge/Executive and was sworn in Jan. 1, it left the 31st district without representation in the state senate. The district includes Pike, Martin, Lawrence, Elliott, and Morgan counties.
Each political party’s local leaders selected a candidate to run in a special election to fill the seat which has been vacant during the current session.
On the Republican side 40 year old attorney Phillip Wheeler of Pikeville was chosen to run for the seat and the Democrats selected another Pikeville resident, businessman Darrell Pugh.
Wheeler has practiced law in Pike County since 2004, focusing on representing coal miners and other workers who are injured on the job, his press release says. Wheeler, and his wife, Crystal, and their son, Weston, reside in Pikeville. Wheeler is a graduate of Pikeville High School, Transylvania University, and the University of Kentucky College of Law. He is the current President of the Kentucky Workers Association, a statewide association of Workers Compensation legal professionals who are dedicated to defending the rights of injured workers in Kentucky. Wheeler previously served a term on the statewide Workers Compensation Nominating Committee, appointed by former Gov. Ernie Fletcher to help select Workers Compensation Administrative Law Judges in Kentucky.
“I will be a conservative fighter for East Kentucky in the State Senate—I’ll stand up for working families and for our mountain values in Frankfort,” Wheeler said. “I’m a Donald Trump Republican who puts people first,” he said.
For the Democrats Darrell Pugh, 56, was chosen by his party. He lives in Pikeville with his wife Paula, who is currently an Art Teacher at Pikeville Elementary School and formerly taught preschool at First Baptist Church. What Darrell values most is spending time with his sons Wesley, Daric, and Seth.
As a small business owner Darrell has owned and operated Castle’s Jewelry & Gifts, at the Pikeville location for the last 28 years. This family business was started in 1937 by his grandparents, Clarence and Cynthia Castle.
Of Darrell Pugh’s accomplishments, his role in raising his sons makes him the most proud. Darrell has always played an active role in their lives. Darrell coached flag football, basketball, soccer and baseball at the YMCA. He served on the YMCA Board of Directors and he coached Cal Ripken baseball for 15 years while serving as a member of the Cal Ripken Board of Directors.
During the past couple of weeks the campaigns have heated up with Pugh accusing Wheeler of getting extra help from GOP PACS in the form of money for TV ads on WYMT.
Since the district is still heavily Democratic in registration, Pugh would normally see an advantage but in the age of Trump, Wheeler could be the favorite at this point in the five county race. The state senate is currently 3-1 Republican.
Both candidates have visited Lawrence County with Wheeler attending the recent swearing-in ceremony of Lawrence County leaders and following up with a visit to the Fiscal Court where he spoke briefly.
