Belcher’s death leaves 17 candidates in Glasgow City Council race
State election officials cited a Kentucky Supreme Court case in determining another candidate will not replace Belcher on the ballot.
GLASGOW, Ky. — Only 17 names will appear on some Barren County ballots in November as voters choose nine members of the Glasgow City Council following the recent death of a candidate.
Johnny Belcher, 71, died Aug. 7. He was one of 18 candidates who advanced to the general election after a crowded primary field was narrowed down.
Barren County Clerk Helena Birdwell said Belcher’s name will not appear on the November ballot following consultation with state election officials.
Birdwell said the Kentucky Secretary of State cited a 2018 Kentucky Supreme Court case, Kentucky State Board of Elections v. Faulkner, in providing guidance on how to proceed.
In that case, Karen Faulkner finished third in a primary for Jefferson District Court judge. One of the two candidates who finished ahead of her died after the primary but before the results were certified.
Faulkner argued she should move into the second-place position and appear on the general-election ballot.
The Kentucky Supreme Court disagreed, ruling that Kentucky law did not provide for the third-place finisher to move onto the general-election ballot when one of the top two candidates died after the primary but before certification.
Belcher finished eighth in May’s primary with 761 votes among 23 candidates seeking a seat on the council. Steven Carroll finished 19th with 235 votes and, along with five other candidates, did not advance to the general election.
Birdwell said Carroll will not move into Belcher’s position on the ballot. Instead, Belcher’s name will be removed, leaving 17 candidates competing for nine seats in November.
The 17 candidates remaining on the November ballot are:
Randy Wilkinson, Chasity Lowery, James “Happy” Neal, Terry L. Bunnell, Joe Trigg, Beau Jones, Marna Kirkpatrick, Tommy Burris, Melinda J. Overstreet, Jamie Read Fancher, Jeff Proffitt, Elizabeth Dale Shoemaker, Riley Boggs, Alexandria L. Hayes, Cathy Thomas, Kristen Nicole Roberts and Michael R. Rich.
Only residents within Glasgow’s city limits are eligible to vote in the Glasgow City Council election.
