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Post by Local News on May 16, 2006 20:00:50 GMT -5
Unoffical Election Results Clay County 2006 Primary
As reported on Radio Station Rock 105 WTBK by Ollie Hall, Earl Owens and Ray HensonCircuit ClerkJames Phillips (5566) Margaret Woods (1842) Property Valuation AdministratorPhillip Mobley (4250) Urshell Smith (2643) County Judge-ExecutiveCarl "Crawdad" Sizemore (3332) Johnny "Poss" Gregory (1755) James Garrison (1663) SheriffKevin Johnson (2921) Ed Jordan (2346) JailerKenny Price (2876) Danny Reid (1726) Blaine Smith IV (1501) CoronerJim Trosper (4388) William Hudson (2134)
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Post by Local News on May 16, 2006 21:05:40 GMT -5
State election fraud hotlineBy Mark Pitsch, The Courier-JournalThe state election fraud hotline received more than 327 complaints as of late Tuesday afternoon, Vicki Glass, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Greg Stumbo said. Of those, 155 were received Tuesday and the rest were received prior to the election, she said. That compares to 31 complaints received during and prior to the 2004 primary. Glass said there are more local races this year, leading to more complaints. "Our agents out in the field are looking into the complaints that we have received, and I’ll be able to tell you at a later date what’s been substantiated and what hasn’t," she said. The complaints related to vote buying, illegal electioneering, voting machines, and election officials and procedures, she said. Les Fugate, a spokesman for Secretary of State Trey Grayson said Grayson’s office received complaints that precinct workers in Clay County allegedly told voters that precinct workers were responsible for casting ballots after voters had made their choices. Glass wouldn’t say whether Stumbo’s office had received that complaint. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local News on May 16, 2006 21:10:20 GMT -5
Clay County voters allege vote tamperingAbout a dozen Clay County voters alleged their votes were changed on new electronic voting machines after they left the booth Tuesday, state and local officials said. The voters in the eastern Kentucky county said they didn't know how to properly cast their ballots and were misled by poll workers, said Les Fugate, spokesman for Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Fugate said the voters allegedly were told by poll workers that they wouldn't have to confirm their votes during the final step of the voting process - leaving room for someone to change their selections when they left. Clay County Clerk Freddy Thompson said he also received complaints about the new machines but had no proof whether vote tampering was occurring. He said county election officials monitored voting at Garrard and Horse Creek - the two precincts named in the initial complaints - and found no problems. "Allegedly a poll worker or two was doing the trick," Thompson said. "I couldn't say for sure who it is. I've done all that I can do here today, but we can't find out what's going on." Clay County officials have had suspicions of vote fraud in the past. In 2002, Sheriff Ed Jordan shuttered voting machines for the primary when some 300 people lined up at the courthouse to cast absentee ballots. Jordan said he shut down the machines because the crowd had grown unruly, and even though he couldn't prove it, he suspected vote-buying. Jordan has said he expected a clean election this year. Fugate said other counties were being investigated for vote-buying and other types of election fraud but would not disclose those areas. Officials at the attorney general's office and the U.S. attorney's office in eastern Kentucky declined to confirm any investigations into election fraud. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local News on May 16, 2006 21:10:56 GMT -5
Gregory Re-elected41st Circuit - Commonwealth's Attorney (100 % of precincts reporting) Gary Gregory (9,713) 63.2% Kenneth Witt (5,666) 36.8% Read the entire story at....
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Post by Local News on May 17, 2006 5:17:08 GMT -5
Secretary of State to investigate fraud allegations in Clay CountyBy Art Jester, Jennifer Hewlett And Jim Warren, HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERSState and federal officials will investigate an alleged vote-fraud scheme yesterday in six of Clay County's 20 precincts, Secretary of State Trey Grayson said last night. "This will be high priority for the (state) attorney general's office and the U.S. attorney to pursue," Grayson said. "That one sounds like something happened." Grayson said his office received about 15 phone calls regarding possible fraud in Clay County. The alleged fraud involved deliberate misinformation about the voting process, he said. Poll workers allegedly told voters that they had already cast their vote, even though voters were still looking at a screen that only summarized their selections. The "voter would leave without the ballot being cast," he said. Someone would then delete or alter what a voter had put on the ballot, he said. Clay County has been plagued for decades by allegations of election fraud and vote-buying, but some county leaders had thought a recent federal drug-and-corruption case might make this year different. "We've got some hope for a clean election," the Rev. Doug Abner, pastor of the Manchester Community Church, said last month. "We ain't had one in 150 years -- probably ain't never had one." Vicki Glass, spokeswoman for state Attorney General Greg Stumbo, declined to comment on the allegations other than to say that agents were sent to counties where there were allegations of vote fraud or other violations. After all polls closed, Glass said the attorney general's office had received 184 complaints statewide. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local News on May 17, 2006 15:07:26 GMT -5
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Post by Local News on May 17, 2006 15:13:15 GMT -5
A few incumbents shown the door in Eastern KentuckyBy Lee Mueller, EASTERN KENTUCKY BUREAUMany courthouse officials in Eastern Kentucky survived bitter primary campaigns on Election Day. But some didn't. Incumbent judge-executives in Pulaski, Breathitt and Clay counties faltered yesterday. Jackson County Clerk Donald "Duck" Moore firmly rejected a comeback bid by ex-clerk Jerry Dean, who lost the job in 2002 while awaiting trial on charges that he had gunned down a woman who had sued him for sexual harassment. Dean, 62, lost by 21 votes in 2002, but was acquitted of the murder charge in 2004 by a Madison County jury. The case remains unsolved, but Dean called his trial "water over the dam" last year when he filed to challenge Moore again. Moore said Dean's trial did not appear to be a factor during the campaign. Audrey Marcum, 31, was shot from ambush on Nov. 17, 2001. Dean could not be reached for comment. Jackson Judge-Executive Tommy Slone narrowly held his post in the Republican primary, defeating challenger Gerald Maupin by fewer than 100 votes in a field of five candidates. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local News on May 18, 2006 5:16:09 GMT -5
Local offices see a lot of turnoverBy Bill Estep And Lee Mueller, HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERSNineteen incumbent judges-executive around the state fell in this week's primary election, according to the Kentucky County Judge-Executive Association. Add in another 18 incumbents who did not run, and there will be new top administrators next year in about a third of the state's 120 counties, said Vince Lang, executive director of the judge-executive association. "There's going to be a lot of changes," Lang said. The number of judges-executive who lost was not out of the ordinary, Lang said, but more retired than usual. Others face races this fall. In Clay County, voters turned out not only the incumbent judge-executive, James Garrison, but also Sheriff Edward Jordan, whose name had been mentioned in a federal investigation of drugs and corruption. Jordan has adamantly denied any wrongdoing, but the investigation likely played a role in Jordan's loss to Kevin Johnson, a Manchester police officer, observers said. Read the entire article at....
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Post by Local News on May 21, 2006 7:26:28 GMT -5
State hears allegations of voter tampering in eastern KentuckyThe secretary of state's office is getting reports of vote tampering in some areas today. A spokesman for the Secretary of State's office says most of the allegations are coming from Clay County. He says voters there suspect their ballots were changed on new electronic voting machines after they left the booth. The dozen voters who called the state office say they don't know how to use the machines. Spokesman Les Fugate says voters were told they wouldn't have to confirm their votes on the final step of the voting process. That would leave room for someone to change their selections when they left. Clay County Clerk Freddy Thompson says he also received similar complaints. Read the entire story at....
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Post by Local News on May 21, 2006 19:06:44 GMT -5
Turnout Varied Throughout State, But Generally LowKentucky counties had reported varying degrees of turnout Tuesday afternoon, state election officials said. Turnout in Jefferson County had been light, but places such as Scott County saw heavier turnout, Secretary of State spokesman Les Fugate said. "It really depends upon what's on the ballot locally and how important those races are to people," Fugate said. He said turnout is on track to add up to about 35 percent of the state's registered voters, who will choose their parties' nominees for the largest general election in state history, involving more than 4,000 races. There had been a few minor problems reported across the state - from hiccups with new electronic voting machines to allegations of vote fraud to people being wrongly purged from voter rolls, Fugate said. "There's really nothing out of the ordinary," Fugate said. Fugate said his office fielded allegations of vote tampering mainly from Clay County voters, who suspected that their votes were changed on new electronic voting machines after they left the booth. The dozen voters who called his office said they didn't know how to use the machines. Fugate said the voters were told they wouldn't have to confirm their votes on the final step of the voting process - leaving room for someone to change their selections when they left. "We've told various authorities to look into this," Fugate said. Clay County Clerk Freddy Thompson said he also received similar complaints but had no proof whether vote tampering was occuring. He said county election officials monitored precincts after initial complaints and found no problems. Read the entire article at....WLEX-TV Lexington
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Post by Local News on May 21, 2006 19:12:35 GMT -5
Election brings few surprises; allegations of vote buying surfaceVoters ousted two Democratic legislators in Tuesday's primary election, one of them a veteran House leader, while the only two Republicans with opposition won handily. The Democratic casualties included state Rep. Gross Lindsay of Henderson, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who has served in the legislature for 23 years, and Chuck Meade, a first-term Democrat from Floyd County in eastern Kentucky. Eleven other Democratic incumbents survived the primary, which was marred by allegations of voter fraud. "It looks like we might have some fraud issues to deal with," said Les Fugate, spokesman for Secretary of State Trey Grayson. "We've got allegations of vote buying." Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, easily defeated two challengers to win the Republican nomination for his seat, and one of his Senate Republican allies, Julie Denton, R-Louisville, also won her party's nomination. Williams had stirred controversy earlier this year by engineering a deal to give the University of the Cumberlands, a private Baptist college, $11 million in state funding for a pharmacy school. In a primary election fraught with allegations of improprieties at the polls, especially in the mountain counties, Kentucky voters also chose four Democratic challengers to face the state's Republican delegation in Congress. John Yarmuth, founder of an alternative weekly newspaper in Louisville, will challenge five-term Republican U.S. Rep. Anne Northup in November for the 3rd District seat. In the 2nd District, state Rep. Mike Weaver of Radcliff defeated James Rice of Campbellsville and takes on Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis, who is in his sixth full term in the fall. In the 1st District, former one-term U.S. Rep. Tom Barlow defeated Eric Streit of Paducah and Jim Bloink of Scottsville. Barlow will challenge six-term U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield in November. And in the 5th District, Kenneth Stepp of Barbourville won the nomination over James Tapley and will face 13-term Republican U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers in the 5th District. In Louisville, voters chose a Supreme Court nominee who could become the first black to serve on the state's highest court if he wins in the general election. That nominee, Court of Appeals Judge William E. McAnulty, will face Jefferson County Circuit Judge Ann O'Malley Shake in November. If Shake wins, she would be only the third woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Despite relatively low voter turnout across Kentucky, election officials received numerous allegations of improprieties at the polls on Tuesday. Some voters voiced suspicions that their votes may have been changed on new electronic voting machines after they left the booth. Fugate said turnout was on track to add up to about 35 percent of the state's registered voters, who will choose their parties' nominees for the largest general election in state history, involving more than 4,000 races. Problems reported across the state ranged from hiccups with new electronic voting machines to allegations of vote fraud to people being wrongly purged from voter rolls, Fugate said. Fugate said his office fielded allegations of vote tampering mainly from Clay County voters, who suspected that their votes were changed on new electronic voting machines after they left the booth. "We've told various authorities to look into this," Fugate said. Officials received more than 100 calls to an election hot line telephone number where people could report voting problems, said Vicki Glass, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office. Read the entire article at....FortWayne.Com
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Post by Local News on Jun 2, 2006 20:14:18 GMT -5
Allegations Of Election Fraud Continue Following May PrimariesThe May primaries have resulted in allegations of election fraud all across the state, but in Clay County, two incumbents are saying the results should be thrown out. Several people that lost the May primaries are not just surprised at their losses, but have actually brought allegations of election fraud and corruption to the attorney general's office. In a meeting with a representative from the attorney general's office on Tuesday, the Manchester Enterprise reports about 20 people brought up allegations of voting irregularities. There were claims that 18 of the 20 precincts had votes stolen by poll workers as voters did not know they had to confirm their votes before leaving the machine. There is also an alleged list of people offered 5 thousand dollars each to tamper with the election. The attorney general's office says they held the meeting to gather more information since they received complaints from several different sources. Attempts to set up an interview with the Sheriff Edd Jordan were unsuccessful and the Judge Executive James Garrison has told us he will be available for an interview next week. Read the entire story at....
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Post by Local News on Jun 7, 2006 6:26:22 GMT -5
Candidate Says Voters Weren't Properly Shown How To Use Voting MachinesA candidate in the May primary election is blaming state board of election officials for not properly instructing voters on how to use new machines. Candidates in the May primary election say there was nothing complicated about new voting machines. The state attorney general's office received over five-hundred complaints of voting fraud from 77 Kentucky counties. Clay County Judge James Garrison says this wouldn't have happened if voters were properly instructed how to use the machines by precinct officials . "They should have been properly instructed to teach the people for the first time we were using new machines," Garrison said. Garrison has been judge for 13 consecutive years and while he lost in the May primary election, he is more concerned that the people of Clay County didn't have a fair chance to cast their vote. "I'm not complaining I've lost 'cause I've always kept myself in the frame of mind that every four years you can win or lose," Garrison said. However, Edd Jordan has been Clay County Sheriff for 17 years and he says the problem wasn't that voters didn't know how to use machines, but that several precinct officials claim that they were bribed to change selections in the voting booth. Should the KBI find voting irregularities, information will be turned over to the attorney generals office for prosecution. The KBI is currently investigating irregularity claims in 73 of the 77 Kentucky counties where issues were raised. 36 complaints have been referred to other state and local agencies for follow-up. However, specifics on the allegations have not been released. Read the entire story at....
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Post by Local News on May 20, 2012 6:04:48 GMT -5
Sparse ballot for Tuesday’s primary
Clay County’s voters won’t have many choices to make when they go to the polls in next Tuesday’s primary election. Republicans will see only the presidential primary which has become a formality with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney now the presumptive GOP nominee. Also on that ballot are Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul. The ballot has an “Uncommitted” box for those voters who want Kentucky’s delegates to go to the Republican national convention under obligation to no particular candidate. Democrats will have a choice between President Barack Obama and “Uncommitted” in their presidential primary. Also on the Democratic primary ballot are two lawyers – Michael Ackerman of Morehead and Kenneth Stepp of Manchester – vying for the nomination to face Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers for the 5th District congressional seat in November. In local races, the only contest pits current circuit court clerk James Phillips against Margaret Henson Woods. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Post by Kentucky News on May 21, 2012 19:52:21 GMT -5
Election Fraud Hotline Open during Primary Election Commonwealth News Center press release
As voters prepare to head to the polls tomorrow, Attorney General Jack Conway reminds Kentuckians that they can help his office combat vote fraud by utilizing his Election Fraud Hotline. Kentuckians who witness election irregularities or possible election law violations are encouraged to call the Election Fraud Hotline at 800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683). "Our Election Fraud Hotline is an important tool to ensure honest and fair elections for all Kentuckians," General Conway said. "I want to encourage voters to be our eyes and ears in the polling places and report any election irregularities to our hotline." The Attorney General's Election Fraud Hotline is open throughout the year during normal business hours and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EST) on Election Day. The hotline received six calls on the day of the 2011 Primary and 22 calls from 16 counties during last year's General Election. The Presidential Primary Election of 2008 resulted in 59 calls from 29 counties to the hotline. Investigators from the Attorney General's Office will also be patrolling precincts and polling places across the Commonwealth during tomorrow's Primary Election. General Conway's office has also worked closely with the Secretary of State's Office, United States Attorney's offices in Eastern and Western Kentucky and other members of the Kentucky Election Integrity Task Force to protect the integrity of the election. By law, the Office of the Attorney General has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute election law violations. The office is also required by statute to conduct post-election audits in six randomly drawn counties within 30 days of the election. The Attorney General's Office will send hotline updates to the media at 10:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m., after the polls close. The office will not provide specifics about allegations – only the number of calls, the types of complaints and the counties of origin.
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Post by Local News on May 22, 2012 20:11:11 GMT -5
James Phillips
James Phillips wins re-election for Clay County Circuit Clerk
Current Clay County Circuit Clerk won re-election with 2,149 votes over challenger Margaret Henson Woods who had 436 votes. Phillips will now serve another six year term. In the republican primary for president Mitt Roment took 65% of the votes in Clay County. Ron Paul was second with 14%. In the democratic primary for president current President Barack Obama defeated 'UNCOMMITTED' by 4 votes.
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Post by In The News on May 23, 2012 16:05:41 GMT -5
Kenneth Stepp
The Times-Tribune Kenneth S. Stepp to face Hal Rogers in fall By Carl Keith Greene, Staff Writer
Two Democrats, Kenneth S. Stepp, of Clay County, and Micheal Ackerman, of Rowan County, running for the Fifth Congressional District ran a heads-together race in the 30-county district. For the past 32 years, Republican Harold “Hal” Rogers has represented counties ranging from Bath and Rowan to Pulaski, McCreary and Wayne. With all the counties in the district reporting, Stepp came away victorious with 12,272 votes, or 52.71 percent. Ackerman tallied 11,008 votes, or 47.29 percent. The unofficial total of votes in the 30 counties was 23,280. It was apparently Ackerman’s first attempt at Congress, while Stepp had tried for election against Rogers in the 2006 race. thetimestribune.com/local/x1561289146/Kenneth-S-Stepp-to-face-Hal-Rogers-in-fall
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Post by In The News on May 26, 2012 9:59:23 GMT -5
courier-journal.com Hal Rogers, Kenneth Stepp House race one of three reruns in Kentucky this fall
Kentucky primary voters set the fields for the state’s U.S. House contests this fall, three of which will be rematches. In the Democratic primary in the 5th District, attorney Kenneth Stepp of Manchester defeated attorney Michael Ackerman of Morehead, 53 percent to 47 percent. Stepp will take on Republican Rep. Hal Rogers. Stepp challenged Rogers in 2006, when Rogers got three-quarters of the votes. In Kentucky’s 1st District, Republican Rep. Ed Whitfield won re-nomination. He will run against Democrat Charles Kendall Hatchett, a real-estate broker from Benton, who was leading James Buckmaster, a doctor from Henderson, 59 percent to 41 percent. Two years ago, Whitfield defeated Hatchett with 71 percent of the vote. The 6th District will feature a rematch between Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler and Republican Andy Barr, a Lexington attorney. Chandler defeated Barr by 696 votes two years ago. In the Louisville area, incumbent Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth easily won his primary for the 3rd District against Burrel Charles Farnsley, taking 87 percent of the vote. Yarmuth is seeking his fourth term. On the GOP side, Louisville accountant Brooks Wicker Jr., the Republican candidate who had no primary opposition, will face Yarmuth in November. Kentucky’s 2nd District had no primary, so the fall campaign will be between Republican Rep. Brett Guthrie and Democrat David Lynn Williams of Glasgow, a frequent but unsuccessful candidate for various offices. www.courier-journal.com/article/20120522/NEWS0106/305210093/kentucky-congress?odyssey=nav|head
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Post by In The News on Jun 23, 2012 7:50:32 GMT -5
thenewsjournal.net Stivers, Hoskins race hot topic during discussion of Knox County, Corbin tax issue
The next stop in the battle between Corbin and Knox County over the collection of occupational taxes is Knox Circuit Court, as the city of Corbin voted Thursday morning to challenge a new law as unconstitutional that tipped the scales in the fight Knox County's way. At a special called meeting Thursday, Corbin City commissioners voted unanimously to proceed with a lawsuit over an amendment to HB 499 by Senator Robert Stivers, whose district includes Knox County, that bars city taxpayers from claiming any credit or offset against a county occupational tax unless both the city and county were both collecting the taxes by March 15, 2012. They are calling the legislative move "special legislation." Before the new law, it appeared that the ongoing dispute between Knox County and Corbin in the courts was destined to go Corbin's way. Commissioner Joe "Butch" White, who is also named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit and who made the motion to proceed said that citizens of Corbin and Knox County might want to rethink who is representing them in the state senate. When asked if he might look into the job, White said he is supporting Ralph Hoskins, a Democrat who is challenging Stivers in the general election in November. When Corbin passed a citywide occupational tax in 2005, an agreement was reached to share 25 percent of the revenue with Whitley County. No agreement was ever reached with Knox County, so no tax was ever collected. The two sides have been at odds over whether state law allows Corbin taxpayers to claim a credit against the county tax. Stivers' argument in favor of the amendment was that if Corbin were able to keep all of the occupational taxes generated in the area of Corbin that lies within Knox County, it would compromise the ability of Knox County to provide services to its citizens because it would severely hamper the county's budget. thenewsjournal.net/details/6301/EXTRA-CONTENT:-Corbin-Commission-gives-go-ahead-to-court-challenge-over-new-occupational-tax-law
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Post by In The News on Jun 24, 2012 6:56:14 GMT -5
kentucky.com John Edd Pennington to attend 2012 Democratic national convention
John Edd Pennington, Manchester City Councilman, will be an at large alternate at the Democratic national convention September 3 through 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Some Democratic officials from coal-producing states plan to boycott this year's national party convention because of discontent with President Obama's energy policies. But Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Friday he will support Obama as the party nominee at the national convention. State Democratic Party spokesman Matt Erwin said every Democratic delegate representing Kentucky will support the Democratic ticket, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Read more here: www.kentucky.com/2012/06/23/2235863/kentucky-delegates-prepare-for.html
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Post by ClayLive on Jun 29, 2012 6:20:56 GMT -5
steppforcongress.blogspot.comKenneth Stepp gives ten reasons you should vote for him instead of Hal Rogers
I am Kenneth Stepp, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Fifth District, Kentucky, having won the Democratic primary. A majority of the voters in the Fifth District of Kentucky are registered Democrats. I am married to the former Wilma Smith, who was born at Red Bird in Clay County, Kentucky. We have two children together, Carson Stepp and Conrad Stepp. I have one son, Brian Stepp by a previous (deceased) wife, and he lives with his wife and daughter in South Carolina. I am a Baptist, and a lawyer practicing law in Manchester, Kentucky. I am a veteran of five years in the Navy. I support the right of public and private sector workers to bargain collectively. Collective bargaining evens up the bargaining position of many workers and one employer. I oppose “right to work” legislation. If a business in unionized, the union should be allowed to prevent the hiring of nonunion workers. That gives more strength to the labor union. I would be a Congressman friendly to unions and to disabled veterans, replacing a Congressman hostile to unions and to the interests of disabled veterans. Read the entire blog at: steppforcongress.blogspot.com/2012/06/ten-reasons-you-should-vote-for-stepp.html
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Post by In The News on Jul 7, 2012 1:20:23 GMT -5
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Post by Kentucky News on Aug 14, 2012 17:15:23 GMT -5
Tom Jensen will not run for re-election as Senator from the 21st District Commonwealth News Center press release
Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky’s Secretary of State and Chief Election Official, is notifying individuals interested in running for office of vacancies in candidacy for two elections that will appear on the ballot in the November 6, 2012, General Election. The Hon. Tom Jensen, Republican Senator from the 21st District, withdrew his candidacy for re-election on August 10, 2012. The Hon. Brian Wright, previously the Republican candidate for Commonwealth’s Attorney in the 29th District, withdrew on August 8, 2012. No Democrat had filed to challenge either candidate, and pursuant to KRS 118.105(5), each political party may nominate replacement candidates in the two races. Certificates of nomination for State Senate, 21st District, must be filed by no later than 4 p.m., EST, on August 24, 2012. The 21st Senatorial District includes Estill, Jackson, Laurel, Menifee, and Powell counties. Certificates of nomination for Commonwealth’s Attorney, 29th Judicial Circuit, must be filed by no later than 4 p.m., EST, on August 22, 2012. The 29th Circuit is comprised of Adair and Casey counties.
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Post by In The News on Aug 23, 2012 17:43:14 GMT -5
WYMT-TV Albert Robinson vs Amie Hacker in the 21st
Leaders from the Kentucky Democratic Party have chosen who they think should serve Kentucky's 21st District. The pick comes after republican incumbent Tom Jensen announced he was giving up his seat to run for circuit court judge. KDP officials announced Amie Hacker of Laurel County as their candidate to serve the state's 21st District. Hacker was the only person nominated at the meeting. The small business owner said she can relate to many in the five-county region Hacker said was “one of them” and was ready to “help them and be a voice for them.” Her opponent, Republican Albert Robinson, who has previously served in the state senate, said he, too, relates to small business owners. He said his platform is “God, gun, country and family.” The chosen candidate will serve a full four year term. Because Sen. Tom Jensen was running unopposed for his third term, his withdrawal created an opening on the ballot for both parties. The candidate will be chosen during the November 6 election. www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Democratic-candidate-for-21st-district-senate-seat-announced-166989926.html
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Post by Kentucky News on Aug 28, 2012 19:42:03 GMT -5
Military and Overseas Voters will get to vote in Kentucky Special Elections Commonwealth News Center press release
Two weeks after Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes filed a lawsuit in Franklin Circuit Court to ensure that military and overseas voters have sufficient time to receive, fill out, and return absentee ballots in special elections, Judge Phillip J. Shepherd entered an order that will accomplish that goal. “Regardless of whether it’s a special or regular election, every election matters, and every vote counts,” said Grimes. “Kentuckians who risk their lives on the battlefield must have their voices protected at the ballot box, and I’m relieved that, with the Court’s decision, the rights of our men and women in uniform will not be compromised.” The Court’s order affects the special elections scheduled for November 6, 2012, to fill vacancies in the Kentucky House, Second District; Kentucky Senate, Nineteenth District; and United States Congress, Fourth Congressional District. With respect to those three elections, Judge Shepherd enjoined enforcement of the candidate filing deadline prescribed by KRS 118.770 and ordered that candidates for those special elections must file their petitions and certificates of nomination no later than 4:00 p.m., EST, on September 10, 2012. “Kentucky law is not only inconsistent with federal requirements, but it is out of touch with the practical difficulties facing our military and overseas voters,” said Grimes, the Commonwealth’s Chief Election Official. Additionally, “Hundreds of military and overseas voters have already requested absentee ballots for the upcoming elections, and to administer the special elections under the existing law would have cost the counties tens of thousands of dollars. With the county clerks’ cooperation and the Court’s assistance, we were able to protect military and overseas voters, save our counties money, and avoid voter confusion.” The order will enable county clerks to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters at least 45 days before they must be returned, ensuring that those voters will have adequate time to receive, vote, and return their absentee ballots. It also achieves consistency with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act, which requires that absentee ballots in federal elections be transmitted at least 45 days in advance. Grimes worked closely with county clerks in her effort to protect the rights of military and overseas citizens. Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk, and Patricia Hieneman, Greenup County Clerk, intervened in the lawsuit. Kenny Brown, Boone County Clerk; Jeff Jerrell, McCracken County Clerk; and Gabrielle Summe, Kenton County Clerk, submitted affidavits supporting the Court’s action. Each of the 27 affected county clerks also consented to the Judge’s order. Grimes is currently working with Rep. Darryl Owens, Chair of the Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, on legislation for the 2013 session to address the issues raised in this lawsuit.
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Post by Kentucky News on Sept 24, 2012 18:13:29 GMT -5
Absentee Ballots Are on Their Way to Military Voters Commonwealth News Center press release
The November 6, 2012, General Election is only six weeks away, and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes reports that Kentucky’s county clerks started sending absentee ballots to military and other eligible voters last week. “The process of receiving, filling out, and returning an absentee ballot can take weeks, especially for active-duty military members,” said Grimes. “I encourage all eligible citizens to make sure they are registered to vote and submit their absentee ballot requests promptly.” Kentuckians can check their registration status, obtain a voter registration card and review information related to the upcoming General Election at the Secretary of State’s website, www.sos.ky.gov. Resources for military and overseas U.S. citizens are also located on the Secretary of State’s website. In an effort to reach all eligible voters, direct links to these items are highlighted on the Secretary of State’s Facebook page. Members of the military and their families and overseas U.S. citizens can find additional information on registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot via the Federal Post Card Application by visiting www.fvap.gov. Grimes, who recently returned from a trip to the Middle East to assess and improve military voting, said, “Many of the men and women in uniform I had the privilege to meet during my trip to the Middle East sought reassurance that their ballots are actually counted. As the Commonwealth’s Chief Election Official, removing these doubts and ensuring that our troops have the opportunity to have their voices heard is a priority.” Under Kentucky law, ballots for the November 6th General Election were required to be printed at least 50 days before the election, or September 17, 2012. Absentee ballots that were validly requested prior to that date were required to be transmitted no later three days thereafter, or September 20, 2012. Absentee ballots validly requested after September 17th will be transmitted within three days after the application is received. For all voters, the deadline to register to vote is October 9, 2012, and the deadline to apply for a mail-in absentee ballot is October 30, 2012. In order to be counted, executed absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk no later than 6 p.m., local time, on November 6, 2012. In-person absentee voting will be open in all counties at least 12 business days before the election.
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Post by In The News on Sept 25, 2012 20:10:41 GMT -5
cincinnati.com Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Political action committee to support Robert Stivers Written by Scott Wartman
A political action committee associated with Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce announced its first political candidates it will support. The NKY Business PAC announced on Tuesday it will give a total of $10,000 to nine state candidates –three Democrats and six Republicans– in races for the state House or Senate this year. The NKY Business PAC is separate from the Northern Kentucky Chamber but has Chamber members on its board and supports many of the issues in the Chamber’s platform, said Jim Willman, a real estate appraiser who serves as the PAC’s chairman and previously served as Chamber chairman in 2000. It formed two years ago, but this is the first time it has doled out money to candidates. The NKY Business PAC will give money to: Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown; Senate District 23 Republican candidate Chris McDaniel; Rep. Rick Rand, D-Bedford; House District 61 Republican candidate Brian Linder; Rep. Dennis Keene, D-Wilder; Rep. Tom McKee, D-Cynthiana; Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg; Senate District 15 Republican candidate Chris Girdler and Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. Candidates whose votes or positions aligned closely with the agenda of the Chamber and local businesses got the nod, Willman said. This includes support for funding the Brent Spence Bridge replacement, he said. cincinnati.com/blogs/nkypolitics/2012/09/25/political-action-committee-to-support-chamber-business-causes
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Post by Kentucky News on Oct 10, 2012 21:08:35 GMT -5
Absentee Voting Procedures Commonwealth News Center press release
Many Kentuckians are already casting their ballots in the November 6, 2012, General Election, and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is reminding eligible individuals of the rules regarding absentee voting in the Commonwealth. “Kentucky is at its best when everyone’s voice is heard,” said Grimes. “I encourage anyone who needs to vote absentee, particularly military voters serving overseas, to request and return their absentee ballots promptly.” Voters who are eligible to vote absentee in the November 6th election include: • Military personnel, their dependents, and overseas citizens
• Students who temporarily reside outside the county
• Other voters who temporarily reside outside of Kentucky (e.g., “snowbirds”)
• Voters who are incarcerated but have not yet been convicted
• Voters whose employment takes them outside the county during all hours the polling place is open
• Voters who will be out of the county on Election Day
• Military personnel confined to base who learn of that confinement within seven days or less of the election
• Voters and spouses of voters who have surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day
• Pregnant women in their third trimester
• Precinct Election Officials
• Voters of advanced age or who suffer from disability or illness
Depending on the reason for casting an absentee ballot, an individual may be permitted to vote either by mail or in person. Voters may request an absentee ballot application from their county clerks in person or via telephone, fax or email. Applications for mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk’s office no later than October 30, 2012, and completed ballots must be received by the county clerk by 6:00 p.m. local time on Election Day. In-person absentee voting will begin in all counties no later than October 23, 2012, although county boards of elections may permit in-person absentee balloting earlier. In-person absentee voting is conducted during the county clerk’s regular business hours on voting machines similar to those used on Election Day. In-person absentee votes must be cast by close of business on November 5, 2012. With the start of in-person absentee voting, electioneering laws are in effect in buildings where absentee voting is conducted. During polling hours, electioneering is prohibited inside absentee voting locations, and electioneering materials may not be affixed to the interior or exterior of those buildings. Anyone with questions about absentee voting or electioneering should visit www.elect.ky.gov or contact their county board of elections, county clerk or the State Board of Elections. You can also follow @kysecofstate on Twitter and like Kentucky Office of the Secretary of State on Facebook to be sure you receive other important election-related announcements.
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Post by Press Release on Oct 13, 2012 6:53:39 GMT -5
James E. Koutz of Boonville, Ind., is national commander of The American Legion, www.legion.org, the nation’s largest organization of wartime veterans with 2.4 million members.
Congress failing to live up to responsibilities By James E. Koutz
According to dictionary.com a popular definition of sequestration is removal or separation. Although the term sequestration is being bandied about in relation to massive defense cuts that threaten our nation’s military readiness, I prefer the term “divorce,” because that is exactly what our elected leaders are doing with the Constitution that they have sworn to uphold. While there are many important issues for candidates to address during this campaign season, the bottom line is that our country is facing an economic and readiness disaster if the cuts kick in January 2. It should shock no one that the organization that I lead, The American Legion, strongly opposes any defense cuts. But did you know that even without sequestration, the U.S. military is already being cut by $487 billion over the next decade? Sequestration would bring the total to well over $1 trillion. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has called the prospect, which will occur if Congress and the president can’t find other ways to reduce the deficit, “a crazy doomsday scenario.” The nation’s top soldier, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, was more specific. “The two things that are alarming to us is one, the magnitude, second, the mechanism,” he told Congress last winter when the likelihood of this disaster seemed far more remote. “It’s coming out of three places and that’s it,” Dempsey said of the looming cuts. “It’s coming out of equipment and modernization, that’s one. It’s coming out of maintenance and it’s coming out of training. And then, we’ve hollowed out the force.” Now if pundits and polls are to be believed, a “hollowed military force” is not the top issue driving voters this year. It’s the economy. Again, sequestration has a disastrous effect. So much so that a George Mason University analysis estimates that the trickle-down effect of sequestration would cause the loss of 2.1 million jobs nationwide and add 1.5 percentage points to the current unemployment rate. Even worse, would be the likelihood that our heroes – the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States – would be more vulnerable because of fewer resources and training opportunities. “Sequestration would severely impact our ability to maintain the same level of readiness,” Lieutenant Colonel Matt Morgan, a spokesman for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command recently told Reuters News Service. “If we have fewer platoons then we have less capacity to respond, and commanders would have to look at where they would accept risks.” And the risk caused by military drawdowns can cost American lives, as we have seen during the failed Iranian hostage rescue attempt of 1980 and Task Force Smith during the Korean War. More recently we have seen deadly violence inflicted against Americans in Libya and other dangerous areas of the world. Yet, defense spending, as a percentage of total federal expenditures, is approaching historic lows not seen since before World War II. Moreover, the U.S. military has been at war for 11 years, causing equipment shortages and the extension of existing equipment to well beyond its useful life span. The American Legion is strictly nonpartisan. We are made up of 2.4 million wartime U.S. military veterans, and include Democrats, Republicans and independents in our ranks. We are not interested in scoring political points against the president, Congress or leaders of either of the two major parties. While there is plenty of blame to go around as to who caused the current deficit crisis, it is certain that it is not the soldier or the veteran that created this mess. And it should not be our men and women in uniform who must pay the price. On October 1, Defense Secretary Panetta spoke to a group of military and veterans organizations that included The American Legion. “We must be able to deal with every threat out there,” he told us. We couldn’t agree more. And that threat includes budgetary shenanigans that can seriously jeopardize our national security. We call on all Americans to put our elected leaders on notice: Fix it now.
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Post by Press Release on Oct 16, 2012 12:48:19 GMT -5
Kentuckians Urged to Vote in Honor of Veterans Commonwealth News Center press release
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is encouraging Kentucky residents to take advantage of her office’s “Vote in Honor of a Veteran” program to show respect for the men and women who risk their lives to protect the right to vote. “More than 350,000 veterans, the fourth most in the United States, live in Kentucky,” said Grimes. “We must never take for granted the sacrifices our veterans make and the freedoms they dedicate their lives to guaranteeing. I hope all Kentuckians will show their respect for our veterans by choosing to vote in honor of a veteran in the November 6th General Election.” Grimes recently returned from a trip to the Middle East, where she assessed military voting and met with Kentuckians who are serving abroad. She continued her evaluation of military ballot access in Kentucky by meeting with veterans from across the state. “It is always my privilege to meet and thank personally our nation’s heroes, whether at home or abroad, active-duty or veteran,” said Grimes. “I believe we must always show our gratitude to and stand up for those who stand up for us.” Through Grimes’ program, voters may obtain a special button from their county clerk or the Secretary of State’s office. The button can be personalized to reflect the name of the veteran in whose honor the vote is being cast. Voters can also submit to the Secretary of State’s website a personal tribute to the veteran they are honoring. For additional information on the Vote in Honor of a Veteran program, to request a button, or to leave a tribute, please visit www.sos.ky.gov/veterans. You can also follow @kysecofstate on Twitter and like Kentucky Office of the Secretary of State on Facebook to be sure you receive other important election-related announcements.
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