Candidates for the Ohio County Fiscal Court take questions from the audience at the Ohio County Health Coalition’s Health & Wellness Candidates Forum Monday night. (From l-to-r, Democratic incumbent 2nd District Magistrate Jason Bullock; Republican 2nd District candidate Dwight Raymond; Republican candidate for Third District Magistrate Marty Tichenor; Democratic incumbent Third District Magistrate Joe Barnes; Democratic Ohio County Judge-Executive candidate Brandon Thomas and Republican incumbent Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston)
By Lee Bratcher/OC Monitor
HARTFORD, Ky. — The Ohio County Health Coalition held a Health & Wellness Legislative Forum Monday night at the Ohio County Cornerstone Hall Senior Center. The forum featured candidates running for seats on the Ohio County Fiscal Court.
Both candidates for Ohio County Judge-Executive, Second District Magistrate and Third District Magistrate took part in the event. First District Magistrate Sam Small and Fourth District Magistrate Larry Keown were not present, but neither has a General Election opponent.
Incumbent Republican Fifth District Magistrate Larry Morphew, who is running for re-election, was at the event, but left before the forum began. His opponent, Democrat Jack Payton was not present for the forum.
The night began with light refreshments before the judge-executive candidates, Republican incumbent Judge-Executive David Johnston and Democrat Brandon Thomas started the forum. The judge-executive candidates were followed by both the Second and Third District Magistrate candidates, incumbent Democratic Second District Magistrate Jason Bullock and his Republican opponent Dwight Raymond and incumbent Democrat Third District Magistrate Joe Barnes and his Republican opponent Marty Tichenor.
Judson Hunter, who moderated the Beaver Dam Woman’s Club/Ohio County Chamber of Commerce Primary Election Candidates Forum, was the moderator Monday night.
All candidates were asked questions about how the Ohio County Fiscal Court could help promote health and wellness in the county. They were also asked about their feelings on a possible countywide comprehensive smoking ordinance.
After each of the candidates answered questions from the Ohio County Health Coalition, the crowd of around 50 people were allowed to ask questions by a lottery style drawing. Later in the evening, the candidates took questions from anyone who wanted to speak.
Ohio County Judge-Executive Candidates
Second and Third District Magistrate candidates
Final questions for all candidates
The complete video from Monday night’s forum