Candidate forum for District Judge

All seven candidates for district judge participated in the May 7 forum, including Thomas J. Smith III, Jud Patterson, and Elizabeth Elkins Bond.

A District Judge Primary candidate forum was held Monday, May 7 at Richmond City Hall featuring the seven candidates for district judge. Kentucky has a new judicial district for Clark and Madison County, in order to address an increasing case load. Voters will vote for one of the seven candidates during the May 22 primary election. The top two vote-getters will run again in the November 2007 election for the position.

If you missed the live forum, watch the replays on Richmond Cable Channel 12 at 2 p.m. and at 8 p.m.on these dates:
Friday May 11, Saturday May 12, Sunday May 13
Friday May 18, Saturday May 19, Sunday May 20

The forum will be replayed on these dates on Berea Cable Channel 12 at 5 p.m.
Wednesday May 9, Friday May 11, Monday May 14
Wednesday May 16, Monday May 21

The forum was organized by the LWV of Berea and Madison County and co-sponsored with EKU's Center for Kentucky History and Politics. Guest panelists for this forum were Professor William Fortune, of the UK College of Law and a member of the Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee, and Professor Lynnette Noblitt, director of EKU's paralegal studies program. 

Candidates participating in the forum were  Thomas J. Smith III, Jud Patterson, Elizabeth E. Bond, John F. Lackey, Wes Browne, David G. Perdue and Earl Ray Neal.


Professors William Fortune of UK School of Law and Lynette Noblitt of EKU's paralegal studies program presented the seven candidates with questions about being a district judge. Candidates Wes Browne, David Perdue and Earl Ray Neal are in the background.

Leaving town before May 22 election?

Voters who will be out of town on election day can go to the Madison County Courthouse and use the voting machine set up in the county clerk's offce. The machine is now available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day and on Thursdays from 8 until 6:30.

Bring a photo identification with you when you go to vote. If you have a question, call the Madison County Clerk's office at 624-4703.

Besides the Republican and Democratic primary elections, voters will also cast their ballot for one of the seven candidates for the 25th District Judge position for Clark and Madison counties.

For more information about voting in Madison County, visit League of Women Voters of Berea and Madison County.

Precinct Poll Workers Needed

Madison County needs precinct workers for the May 22 primary election. Call County Clerk's office if you are interested: 624-4703 and sign up at the County Clerk's office. To serve as a precinct election officer, you must be a qualified voter, have not changed your party affiliation one year prior to the appointment, and not be a candidate or the spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child of a candidate who is to be voted for in this election. Voters who will be 18 on or before November 6, 2007 are eligible to serve in the upcoming primary election.

There is a required training session to be a poll worker. Those are scheduled for Wednesday, May 16 at three different times: 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the County Extension Center on Duncannon Lane. If you can't make one of those sessions, there may be a makeup on Monday night at the court house.

Each precinct in the state is required to have four precinct officers serving on the day of the election. Each election officer is paid a minimum of sixty dollars per election, as well as additional payment for mileage and mandatory training.