Pol Watchers

Candidate withdraws from District 3 council race

One of the candidates vying for the District 3 Urban County Council seat has withdrawn from the race.

Daniel R. Burton, a University of Kentucky student, withdrew last month because he did not have enough valid signatures, said Kitty Ware, Fayette County election coordinator.

Burton submitted a petition with 108 signatures, but several of the signatures were of people who do not live in District 3, Ware said.

A minimum of 100 signatures from registered voters within the district are required to run.

Burton’s withdrawal leaves five candidates in the race: Diane Lawless, Don Pratt, Jonathan Rodgers, Eric Thomason and Garry Weston. Incumbent Dick DeCamp cannot run because of term limits.

In the race for the District 2 seat, incumbent Tom Blues faces a challenge from write-in candidate Randy Tobia, who filed on Monday.

- Michelle Ku

Moloney resigns; Newberry names replacement

By Michelle Ku
MKU@HERALD-LEADER.COM    

Urban County Councilman Richard Moloney resigned Tuesday from the council to take a post with the state.

Moloney, whose resignation was effective at noon, was serving his seventh term as the District 11 councilman.

He is leaving the council to be executive director of the Kentucky Office of Housing, Buildings and Construction, a post to which he was appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear. His first day on the job will be Wednesday.

In order to take the state job, Moloney had to resign from the council.

"I want to thank all the residents of the 11th District who I have had the honor to serve for seven terms," Moloney said in a statement. "I have great friends and neighbors that I will miss working closely with, and I will always be grateful for their support over the years."

…

Newberry announced he will appoint Peggy Henson, the current vice president and former president of the Cardinal Valley Neighborhood Association, to finish the final year of Moloney's unexpired term. Henson has also served for 20 years on the Valley Park Board.

"Peggy is committed to the citizens of the 11th District and to addressing their concerns," Newberry said. "She will be a valuable addition to the council."

CONTINUE READING STORY

READ MOLONEY'S RESIGNATION LETTER

MOLONEY'S RESIGNATION STATEMENT

Weston files for District 3 seat

Garry Weston became the first person to file for the vacant District 3 Urban County Council seat Friday.

Incumbent Dick DeCamp is serving his sixth consecutive term and cannot run again because of term limits.

Weston said his campaign will be focused on: Smart, sustainable growth; safe, strong neighborhoods; and a continued emphasis on public safety.

Weston, whose campaign web site is up and running, manages physician outreach, relations and services for Central Baptist Hospital.

If the other announced District 3 candidates — Daniel Burton, Diane Lawless and Eric Thomason — file to run for the seat, a primary will be held May 20.

Besides Weston, the only other candidates who have filed to run are all incumbents: District 2 Councilman Tom Blues, District 6 Councilman Kevin Stinnett and District 7 Councilwoman K.C. Crosbie.

Lexington’s 12 district council members serve two-year terms and every seat will be up for election this year.

The deadline to file to run for a council seat is Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.

Candidates must collect a minimum of 100 signatures from registered voters within their district. They must also have lived in the district for at least six months, and within Fayette County for one year. The filing fee is $50.

- Michelle Ku

Stevens says he won't run for District 5 re-election

By Michelle Ku
mku@herald-leader.com

David Stevens, one of Lexington's longest serving Urban County Council members, announced yesterday he will not seek re-election next year.

"It's a sad day for me because I enjoyed being on the council," Stevens said. "But time marches on, and you have to run down the curtain on it eventually."

When Stevens' term ends next December, he will have served 16 consecutive years on the council. He was an at-large councilman for three terms before winning the District 5 seat in 2006.

Stevens, 78, said he was not seeking re-election "for personal reasons and because of a slight case of civic fatigue." He made the announcement in December so that others could consider getting into the District 5 race.

One possible candidate is Bill Farmer Jr., the former five-term District 5 councilman. Instead of running for re-election in 2006, Farmer ran for mayor but did not make it out of the primary.

Farmer said he hadn't planned on running for the District 5 seat. But after Stevens' announcement, he said, he fielded many calls from people asking him to run.

"I'm going to consider it at this time," Farmer said. "I have been complimented by the number of calls I've received. ... It's pretty humbling."

The filing deadline for a council seat is 4 p.m. Jan. 29.

CONTINUE READING STORY

Stevens will not seek re-election

David Stevens, one of Lexington’s longest serving Urban County Council members, does not plan to seek re-election next year.

Stevens, who is serving his first two-year term as the District 5 councilman, previously served three consecutive terms as an at-large councilman.

“On Dec. 31, 2008, I will have completed 15 years  of continuous service on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council,” Stevens said in a statement. “I have enjoyed these years, and in my judgment my fellow elected officials are dedicated servants and will continue to provide Lexington with a responsible, representative government.”

Stevens has served under three mayors, Pam Miller, Teresa Isaac and Jim Newberry.

Stevens said he was not seeking re-election “for personal reasons and because of a slight case of civic fatigue.”

“It has been a pleasure to represent the 5th District and though I will no longer be able to vote as a council member, I hope to continue to be involved in various activities in our special town. I look forward to the busy next year as I complete my term.”

Read David Stevens' full statement

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY READ THURSDAY'S HERALD-LEADER

- Michelle Ku

UK student to run for District 3 council seat

A University of Kentucky student plans to join the growing field for the vacant District 3 Urban County Council seat.

Daniel Burton, a UK sophomore majoring in education, is in the process of gathering signatures for his candidacy petition.

“I’ve always been interested in government and politics and the way our tax dollars are spent,” Burton said. “Sometimes they are allocated in the wrong direction … With the 2010 games coming up, it’s important that we put an emphasis on letting Lexington lead and not just merely lagging behind as we have in past generations.”

Burton’s entrance into the race means a primary will be held May 20. The other two announced candidates are Diane Lawless and Eric Thomason. None of the announced candidates have filed their candidacy petitions yet.

Incumbent Dick Decamp is in the middle of serving his sixth consecutive term and cannot run again due to term limits.

Burton is a native Lexingtonian. He plans to teach high school social studies after he graduates from UK.

This will be Burton’s first run for elected office.

District 3 is his favorite part of town, Burton said. “It’s so pedestrian-friendly. You have businesses within a close range of homes and also working places and that cuts down on traffic congestion.”

Burton’s top issue is preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

- Michelle Ku

Thomason for Urban County Council District 3 seat

At least two people will run for Dick DeCamp’s open District 3 Urban County Council seat next year.

Eric Thomason, an employee of Cultural Resource Analyst, Inc., an archaeology and historic preservation consulting company, plans to file for DeCamp’s seat.

“I love Lexington and I consider Lexington to be home now,” he said. “I think a lot of great things are happening and I’d love to see that those things are carried out and stay on this positive trajectory.”

Thomason, whose campaign Web site is up and running, said he plans make a formal announcement soon.

DeCamp, who is in the middle of serving his sixth consecutive term, cannot run again due to term limits.

The other declared candidate for DeCamp’s seat is Diane Lawless, the former executive director of the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center.

Thomason, 26, was born and raised in Bowling Green. He moved to Lexington eight years ago to attend Transylvania University.

This will be Thomason’s first run for elected office.

Thomason’s main interest is seeing downtown revitalized so that it is a place where young folks and people of all ages can live, work and have a great time.

He is also a strong advocate of historic preservation, Thomason said. “That’s really  our trademark, I think. Historic buildings downtown and the rural landscape in the periphery.”

- Michelle Ku

Lawless to seek Urban County Council District 3 seat

Diane Lawless, the former executive director of the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, plans to run for Dick DeCamp’s open District 3 Urban County Council seat next year.

“I am in the process of meeting with people,” Lawless said. “I have my petition to get signed. I have not filed at this point, but that is my intention.”

DeCamp, who is in the middle of serving his sixth consecutive term, cannot run again due to term limits.

Lawless, Vice Mayor Jim Gray’s campaign manager in 2006, was born and raised Owensboro. She moved to Lexington in 1969 to attend the University of Kentucky.

This will be Lawless’ first run for elected office.

“I truly love Lexington and I think it is a great community and a great city and has the potential to be even more,” Lawless said. “I’m very interested in doing what I can to help it be a wonderful community for everybody that lives here.”

District 3 is a  diverse area with the University of Kentucky, businesses, historic districts, student neighborhoods and residential areas, Lawless said. The area also has infrastructure issues with sidewalks, sewers and basements that flood every time it rains, she said.

- Michelle Ku

Beard to seek re-election

With one month left to go in his first year in office, Urban County Councilman Julian Beard has announced he will run for a second term next year.

Beard, the District 4 councilman, was elected in November 2006.

“I’ve had a productive first term on the council, but many of those projects I’ve helped start now need to be finished,” Beard said in a written statement. “My business experience taught me the value of building consensus and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ll continue my attention to basic services while also using my experience as a 22-year resident of the Fourth District, a businessman and an active supporter of youth and arts issues.”

Beard is chairman of the Meadowbrook Golf Course Task Force and serves on the Farmers Market Task Force. He is a member of three of the council’s four standing committees. Beard also serves on the sanitary sewer, storm water and outside agencies oversight committees.

Lexington’s 12 district council members serve two-year terms and every seat will be up for election next year.

Voters will elect at least one new council member next year because District 3 Councilman Dick DeCamp can’t run again due to term limits. DeCamp is in the middle of serving his sixth consecutive term.

So far, no one has filed to run for a council seat, but five or six people have picked up information packets, said Kitty Ware, Fayette County election coordinator. “District 3 is the one we’ve had the most inquiries.”

The deadline to file to run for a council seat is Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.

Candidates must collect a minimum of 100 signatures from registered voters within their district. They must also have lived in the district for at least six months and one year within Fayette County. The filing fee is $50.

Although the Urban County Charter requires 100 signatures from registered voters, the Fayette County Clerk’s office recommends that candidates collect a minimum of 150 signatures, Ware said.

Some people think they are registered, but they aren’t or they aren’t sure which district they live in, she said. Also, if people sign more than one petition for a specific district race, the signature doesn’t count on either petition.

If more than two candidates file in the same district, a primary will be held on May 20.

- Michelle Ku