The Magoffin County judge-executive political race includes current office holders, past public servants, and some of the county’s best known and most respected residents.

The Magoffin County judge-executive political race includes current office holders, past public servants, and some of the county’s best known and most respected residents.

On both sides of the political isle, the field includes an incumbent, a long-time countywide office holder, a former educator/superintendent, a current school board chairman, and a current board employed educator.
On the Democrat side, incumbent Charles Hardin, MD is battling long-time former clerk Hayden Brian H.B. Arnett.
Judge-executive Hardin is a popular Salyersville physician, but it is his two separate stints as Magoffin County’s top office holder that he says sets him apart from his opponent.
“I think nine years of experience as county judge-executive is as important in terms of qualifications as any,” Hardin said.

“I have always ran the office in a manner that will be most beneficial to the people of Magoffin County, and if elected again I will continue to manage the people’s money as wisely and as efficiently as possible.

“I will take a little money as possible from our citizens and use the money we have available in a beneficial way to help all citizens regardless of their location in the county, their financial standing, or party affiliation.”
Judge-executive Hardin says his next term would be a continued method of “ethical government” with emphasis on infrastructure. He also offers a continued open, transparent style of government.
H.B. Arnett, who built a huge support system during his 25 years as county clerk, says his reputation of honesty and friendliness has been a big boost to his campaign efforts thus far.
“I have always been a good friend and a good servant to the people of Magoffin County,” Arnett said.
The former long-time clerk says an H.B. Arnett judge-executive office would dedicate efforts to improve the current water system.

Among other things, Arnett says he would appoint a highly qualified board to improve the county’s infrastructure and another top-notch board to help solicit job growth and increase employment opportunities for Magoffin County residents.

“I will do whatever I can to get people to move businesses and industry to our county,” Arnett said.
The promotion of Magoffin County tourism is also high on his priority list.
Longtime educator, administrator, and former Magoffin County schools superintendent Carter Whitaker is one of three candidates vying for the Republication nomination.
Whitaker is well educated, as are his two opponents, namely BOE chairman John Montgomery and Gerald Howard.
Whitaker has a college degree in math, a subject he taught in his early years as an educator. He also served seven years as local superintendent of schools where he received both negative and positive publicity with the positive based on his concern and attention to a student-first policy.

“As judge-executive I would dedicate myself to improving the quality of life,” Whitaker said.

“I would improve our water source, work toward better roads throughout the county, and generally do whatever it takes to make Magoffin County a better place to live.”
Higher education is one quality all Republican candidates can put in the positive qualification category.
John Montgomery, who has a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University, is the current school board chairman, and has been a board member for 10 years.
“I am well known for being able to work with people, to reach across isles to get things done, regardless of political affiliation,” he said.
Montgomery says he sets high standards for himself and has “the ability and the desire to go the extra mile to get what’s before me accomplished”.

Montgomery says the next judge-executive needs to use one or more of several options now available to secure clean drinking water, be it a small reservoir, the drilling of wells, or other measures.

“Just because we’ve had some rain lately doesn’t mean the problem isn’t there and it is a huge problem that must be taken care of,” he said.
Montgomery praised the current school system and recently added facilities, the new health department, and thinks additions like these need to be promoted and used to help attract industry into the county.
A small hospital with the capacity to continue to expand is critical to Magoffin County citizens’ well-being, and another feature to help attract job opportunities.
“We have to be creative in our thinking and we have to partner with community leaders, organizations, and churches to pursue opportunities for the people of Magoffin County,” he said.
Gerold Howard, currently the community education coordinator with the board of education, is also keen on economic growth, but offers a slightly different take on how that should be done.

“I well know the needs of the county, and what those needs are I will go to the resources we have available and get what we need to help out with the jobs and roads situations,” he said.

Howard would like to see the county bonded, he would like to blacktop county roads equally in each district, and not for just one year but put some down in each district each of the four years he would hold the office.
Recreation, for both young, old, and all in between is high on his list.
“People tell me things can’t be done, and I want to know why,” Howard said. “If Knott County can do what they did with the Sportsplex then Magoffin County can too. There’s no reason for us not to have something like that, and not only would it benefit our citizens, it would boost tourism and that would boost our local economy.”
Howard, who said he would work with representatives to secure recreation and tourism projects, said he would also cut down on the drug problem, which he says is directly linked to high unemployment rates, which he also plans to improve.
“I campaign from my heart and not my head,” Howard said. “Our problems are personal to me and I want to deal with them in an effective manner and that’s why I want to be Magoffin County’s judge-executive.”
Howard will hire a grant writer and re-evaluate the position and the employee on a yearly basis.
“There are funds out there for recreation, tourism, and programs to boost job creation and I plan to get all I can for Magoffin County,” he said.