Meet the candidates running for Magistrate

By MELODIE PHELPS

News Editor

In the next several weeks, The Outlook will be featuring candidates in several of the local races that will appear on the November 5 ballot. This week, candidates in all four magisterial districts will be featured.

Information was provided by candidates.

District One

Jerry R. Sloan

Jerry R. Sloan, 44, Rt. 3, Monticello is the current Magistrate in District One. He is a republican.

Sloan is in his first term on the fiscal court and he is a self-employed farmer. He earned certification as a county official in September 2001.

Sloan attends Mt. Zion Baptist Church and is a member of the Masonic Lodge 431.

He is married to Cindy Richardson Sloan and has three sons, Chris, 26, Benton, 18, and James Barton, 14.

He is the son of Billy and Elsie Sloan of Parnell Road.

Sloan feels it is important to maintain a good working relationship with other elected officials.

He pledges to work hard for the people of Wayne County "to keep taxes as low as possible yet provide adequate services to the taxpayers."

Tom Craig

Tom Craig, 67, of Cherry Street, is a democratic candidate for Magistrate District One. Craig is retired and he feels this will allow him more time to travel around the district and see what the people’s needs are.

He is married and has one daughter and two sons. He is a member of the First Baptist Church.

Craig feels that it is important to represent and treat all of the people of District One fairly. He pledges, if elected, to work to upgrade roads, water and other needs in District One. He noted that he has 30 years experience building roads and bridges.

"I will work with the County Judge and other magistrates to get the district a fair share of our tax money and have a better place for our children to live in," said Craig.

District Two

Jess Jones

Jess Jones, 58, of Alpha, is a republican candidate for Magistrate District Two. He is a farmer and previously served five years as magistrate.

He also served eight years as a member of the Wayne County School Board.

He and his wife, Linda Sue Neal Jones, have two children, David and Lisa, and three grandchildren, Joshua, Jessica, and Jesslen.

Important issues in this race are road improvements, more industry and lower taxes, according to Jones.

There are two write-in candidates in District Two, whose names will not be on the ballot. Voters who wish to vote for either of these candidates must receive instruction on doing so from election workers at the poll on Election Day.

Darrell Dishman

Darrell Dishman, 52, Rt. 4, is a write-in candidate in District Two. He is a democrat.

Dishman is the owner and operator of Somerset Oil and Muffler Shop. He has run for magistrate on two previous occasions.

He and his wife have three children and six grandchildren.

He feels the important issues in his race are county fire protection, roads and water service.

"It is very important for the magistrate to travel each county road at least once a month and stay in touch with the people," said Dishman.

Danny Lee Ferrell

Danny Lee Ferrell, 40, Rt. 2, is a write-in candidate in District Two. He is a democrat.

Ferrell, who lives on Cooper Road, is employed in the hardware and lumber business. This is his first time to run for public office. "I have always tried to vote and have been interested in candidates that have run for election," said Ferrell.

Ferrell is married to Kathy Bertram Ferrell. They have two children, Ashley Jo and Danielle Janae. Ferrell is the son of Dennis and Doris Ferrell of Rolling Acres Subdivision.

"I have served the public daily for the past 18 years at Home Builder’s Do-It Center, helping people solve problems in electrical, plumbing, framing houses, building decks, porches and many other home improvements," said Ferrell.

He noted that he and his family assisted Wal-Mart and other local citizens in fund raisers for the purchase of a thermal imaging camera for the local fire department.

"We thought if one life may be saved, it is worth more than all monies ever made," said Ferrell.

Ferrell and his family have been involved in clean-ups around Lake Cumberland.

Ferrell has spent many hours in public service, volunteering at Oakwood.

He has also received military training in BTRY C, 1st Bn 623rd Field Artillery in Monticello, Ky., during which time he was awarded the "First Oak Leaf Cluster to the Kentucky Commendation Ribbon" for the reason of meritorious service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Army National Guard.

Ferrell supports the continued growth of the county, and believes that better roads, continued water expansions and better jobs are important issues in this race.

"I will do my best and I will stand firm in trying to make sure that monies allocated for specific jobs will be used for that purpose," said Ferrell. "I will be accessible and will be out looking to see what I can do to better the communities that I serve."

One of the issues that Ferrell feels is important is the Susie Fire Department. He stated that the Susie Fire Department is in dire need of funding, which is needed to equip their personnel.

Ferrell noted that the Susie Fire Department will play an important role in serving the citizens of that area. Through his 25 years of experience, Ferrell understands that a volunteer firefighter has many important duties, and needs the proper equipment to do his job.

Ferrell noted that he would make acquiring funding for the Susie Fire Department a top priority if elected.

District Three

Ricky D. Worley

Ricky D. Worley, 40, of HC 74, Monticello, is currently the District Three Magistrate. He is a republican. He is also a part-time logger.

Worley noted that during his term as magistrate he has worked with state, county, and city governments for the improvement of the district and the county.

Worley is a member of the Wayne County Health Board and serves on the county’s personnel committee. He is a member of the Concord Baptist Church. He is an active member of the Wayne County Horseman’s Association and the Wayne County Saddle Club.

Worley is the son of the late Hubert G. Worley and Mary Etta New Worley. He is married to Lisa Reynolds Worley. They have two sons, Derrick and Bradley.

Worley said there are many important issues in his race, including road improvement, bridges, bringing new industry to provide new and lasting jobs for our citizens, water projects, and countywide fire protection. He also noted that the job of magistrate means managing all county properties and making sound governmental decisions.

"You must save taxpayer money by spending their tax dollars effectively and efficiently," said Worley. "You must work with the other members of government in order to get things done."

Worley believes he has made strides during his term toward several of the goals he has outlined. He said that residents of the district have witnessed a lot of progress being made on roads during this term.

"I have received the funding for several miles of blacktop," he said. "I have made sure that each different community has received their portion. I did not put it all in one place."

Funding has been received for three new bridges in the district during Worley’s term. He noted that getting clean drinking water to the residents is another concern.

"I have learned the hard way that you do not get city water overnight," he said. "I have worked with officials to try and get water to the places without it in our district."

Carter Burnett

Carter Burnett, 37, of Monticello, is a democratic candidate for Magistrate District Three. He is employed at Warner Fertilizer.

He is married to Teresa Slagle Burnett and they have one son, Kyle Burnett.

He feels the most important issues in this race are better roads, more fire protection and the opportunity for every residence to receive city water.

Burnett said he would work with other county officials in all situations.

"If an issue needs discussed, we will bring it to the table," said Burnett. "I will be fair to everyone."

District Four

Wade Upchurch

Wade Upchurch, 52, Rt. 5, a democrat, is currently the Magistrate in District Four, having served that area for the past four years.

He is married to Jeanie Daffron Upchurch and they have three children—Stesha Shelton, Haley Novotny, and Trevis Upchurch, and three grandchildren. He is the son of Montie Upchurch and the late Roscoe Upchurch.

Upchurch is a graduate of Monticello High School and Eastern Kentucky University, and he received his Masters Degree and Rank One in Education Administration. He has served as a public school teacher and coach, retiring after 28 years of service. He is a free lance photographer.

According to Upchurch, "the key issue in any election revolves around leadership. Quality leadership on a local level is the only pathway to a better future and quality of life for our county. If we want things to be different, then we must begin doing things differently."

Upchurch thinks that leadership is about creating a vision that will allow greater opportunity for the younger generations to stay at home and make a decent living and have a good quality of life.

Since his term as magistrate, Upchurch said that he has worked to enhance the level of public trust for those he has served. He stated that he has accomplished this by being interactive and discussing issues with his constituents.

He has held public meetings on a regular basis to give residents in his district the chance to talk with him about their concerns.

Upchurch also feels that an important element of quality leadership is vision: "Striving to develop a vision of greatness for our county and to inspire those involved to become a participant in that vision are what draws me to public service."

Upchurch also noted that "decisions made by local government will effect the lives of our people for generations to come. That is why leadership in local government is so important."

David Koontz

David Koontz, 44, Rt. 2, is the republican candidate for Magistrate in District Four. He is currently a Deputy Sheriff in Wayne County and was a constable in 1985.

He is married to Donna Koontz and is the son of David H. and Avalene Koontz. Koontz is the youth director at the Spann Hill Baptist Church and has been singing with the gospel group New Beginnings for three years.

Koontz values the voice of the people of Wayne County, and will use that to guide him if elected to the office of magistrate. He pledges to work with the County Judge-Executive and other magistrates to help Wayne County grow.

"I have worked with the public for 17 years as a Deputy Sheriff," stated Koontz. "I would like to become a Magistrate of District Four and continue working with the public to make Wayne County grow and be a bigger and better county. I will be a 24 hour magistrate. This will be my only job."

© The Wayne County Outlook

Questions or comments regarding this site and its content should be directed to the WebMaster.