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Football coach in race for Judge- Exec |
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Written by Andrew Powell
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Friday, 08 January 2010 |
A high school coach who recently stepped away from the football field is looking to coach a new team: the McCreary County Fiscal Court.
Clinton Gay filed paperwork Monday embarking on a bid to become Judge-Executive. Gay, a lifelong educator, recently retired from the head coaching position at McCreary Central after leading his team to three consecutive playoff bids and a 7-4 2009 season record.
Gay said he has always been interested in politics and interested in serving the county as its chief administrator, he told The Voice in a brief conversation Tuesday.
“I can’t sit still and this is something I have always wanted to do,” he said.
Gay, 61, has worked in the education field for more than 30 years. His announcement of candidacy comes just two weeks after incumbent Judge-Executive Blaine Phillips announced he would not seek re-election.
Gay is the fifth Republican to enter the race and is making his first run at a position in local government. He joins a Republican slate of candidates that includes Scottie Morrow, Doug Stephens, Scott Duncan and Vicki Kidd. Stephens is the only candidate to have previously sought the post, losing a close Primary bid for election to Judge Phillips in 2006.
Democrats Tony Kidd and Gabriel Jones are also in the race seeking the spring nomination of their party for the post.
Gay was the only local resident to throw his name into the hat this week in anticipation of the May 18 Primary Election.
In other election battles shaping up this year, Rand Paul, of Bowling Green joins Republicans Gurley Martin of Owensboro and Bill Johnson of Elkton in a Primary bid for U.S. Senate to replace a retiring Jim Bunning. Paul has led a strong grass roots effort so far in his campaign for the position, following a blueprint established by his father, Ron Paul, a U.S. Congressman who turned many heads in a run for President last year.
Local Democrat Darlene Fitzgerald Price is also in that race as is James Buckmaster of Henderson.
In the race for U.S. Representative from the 5th Congressional District, Somerset’s Hal Rogers (R), who has held the position for more than 20 years, watched as Democrat David Prince of Louisa entered the race. To date, both candidates stand alone on the ballot for their party’s nomination in May.
To learn more about election filings, visit www.sos.ky.gov or www.mccrearycountyclerk.com.
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