Pulaski county kentucky election results 2022

Just like four years ago, three candidates were vying for the chance to lead Pulaski County but Tuesday's unofficial results in the Republican Primary couldn't have been more different.

In 2018, local builder Marshall Todd came in as a close runner-up to incumbent County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley. This time he ran away with 60 percent of the vote.

Todd outpolled Kelley 8,142 votes to 3,603. Political newcomer Shirlene Epperson Taylor came in third with 1,150 votes.

With no Democrats running, the race is most likely decided once the results are certified by the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office.

"We've had a great night," Todd said from his victory celebration at Suits Us Farm. "I'm very humbled that the voters selected me this overpoweringly; it looks better than two to one. It's beyond belief for me."

The presumed county judge-elect said the numbers were such that he and his supporters consider his victory "almost a mandate" to move the county forward.

"It's been a long, hard trail and it's really hard to beat an incumbent like that, but I appreciate all the voters and all our workers. We really had a good team put together that got our message out."

Todd continued that the message was all about having a "good, open, honest government" that focuses on leadership, transparency and accountability. He added that while campaigning, the message he heard from potential voters on the campaign trail was that they were ready for a change.

While Todd said he wasn't ready to make any major announcements Tuesday night, he said that he would be assembling a transition team to help him assume office in 228 days.

"We're going to take a few day off and regroup and plan our strategy going forward," Todd said. "…I'm still very open on a deputy judge. It's a very important job but I'm not looking at anyone in particular right now."

In fact, Todd continued that he may not choose a deputy judge until after he's in office.

"I may get in and see what all needs to be done," he said, adding that he does plan to select an advisory committee "with some very important people of all opinions, not just my opinion.…I look for some very good changes going forward."

While he readily conceded his electoral defeat Tuesday, Judge Kelley maintained that his administration is moving the county forward.

"I'm just glad to have served," he said, "and I know that my county is better than when we began."

Judge Kelley added that his administration still has seven months to accomplish some of what had been in the works.

"Then we'll hand it over to Marshall and hopefully he'll be able to keep the progress going," Kelley said. "I've always loved my county and I want the best for it."

Though Kelley admitted to being "a little disappointed" in the election results, he was philosophical about the voters' decision.

"I told people we were either going to win big or lose big," he said. "It wasn't going to be close."

Kelley attributed the loss in part to historic precedent -- asserting that no county judge in the history of Pulaski County had been elected to a third term.

"I'm proud of what we've done," he said. "We've made our county better, and I can rest my head knowing that."

For her part, Shirlene Epperson Taylor felt proud in running a strong race as the rare female candidate. She had retired last June as the Lake Cumberland Area Development District's Cumberlands Workforce Business Liaison and threw her hat in the ring in January in hopes of bringing her workforce experience to county government.

"It was just a little bit different from what I thought it would be," Taylor said of the campaign. "It's hard to go up against big money and people who've run three times.…but I think I've done well, considering it's my first time [running for office]."

Taylor went on to say that she doesn't know what the future holds for her beyond enjoying her retirement.

"I want to thank all of those that did support me," she continued, "and I'm very happy about it because I love this community and want to the best for them.…I've run a clean race and stayed positive. That's what I wanted to do."

Tim Price ran under the slogan, “This is Tim. Vote for him.”

And Pulaski County did just that.

Price beat his fellow County Clerk’s office employee Samantha Owens in Tuesday’s Primary Election results to become the new Pulaski County Clerk, a position that oversees motor vehicle registration, property tax bill preperation, elections and voter registration, and many other basic functions of municipal life.

Owens was the Chief Deputy Clerk, and had received endorsement from current County Clerk Linda Burnett. But when the dust settled on Tuesday and all the results were in, Price had topped Owens by over 2,000 votes (7,787 to 5,461, 58.78 percent vs. 41.22 percent), and had indeed already established a lead in the early voting tally, 60.59 percent against Owens’ 39.41.

“This has been 16 years in the making,” said Price. “Before I ever started at the Clerk’s office, I ran for the job. (Former County Clerk) Ralph (Troxtell) hired me. ... I can’t describe how it feels. It’s just amazing.”

Price has focused on things like renewals, transfers, and titles in his role at the clerk’s office. When in office, he’d like to improve customer service — “I’ve been in the car business for close to 37 years and when I went to work (for the clerk), that really helped me with knowing what people needed; I’ve always been a person that if you came into the office and I waited on you, I would do everything I could to help you with whatever your problem was” — and also wants to work on the office’s phone system.

“We went to a new system, automated, but it doesn’t seem to have worked out well,” he said. “The biggest complaint I’ve gotten over the last year from customers is, ‘I can’t get through to talk to anybody.’ So I’m going to have to see what I can do. I will improve on our phone service, whatever way I can.”

He credited his win to the people who got behind him and believed in him, including his church family at Pleasant View Baptist Church; “I’ve had a lot of people from other churches that have really helped me, and I give the Lord the praise and glory for everything,” he said.

Price noted that many people would come up to him while campaigning and recall how he helped them at the clerk’s office once with something they needed.

“Time and time again, I heard that,” he said.

He said that he has no ill feelings toward Owens and will be able to work well with her in the same office. “It’s unfortunate that if you want that job, the only thing you can do is run for it, and I admire people who are willing to put themselves out there,” he noted. “Samantha is a good person. She knows her stuff. I have nothing negative to say about Samantha Owens.”

Price did admit that Burnett’s support of Owens “made a strain,” but said he was used to it, as Troxtell did the same for Burnett the last time Price ran for the position. 

“You would hope that they would stay out of it when you’ve got two from the same office, but they have their reasons,” he said. “I hope that never comes to me that way. If there’s two running from the office, I don’t intend to pick one over the other, or at least be public about it.

“There’s one thing about it, I need everybody in that office,” he added. “We were probably split 50-50 in support in that office for me and Samantha. Those people that supported Samantha, I have no desire to do any type of retaliation. I’m just not that type of person. It takes every one of us. One person can’t go in and do that job. It takes everybody in that office, and I intend to use everybody in that office.”

Owens was contacted for comment Tuesday night but did not respond by deadline.

Another county office saw no change, as Clyde Strunk won a third term as Pulaski County Coroner, defeating challenger Jessica Martin, an EMT.

“It’s always good to be able to say you won an election,” said Strunk. “Our election was not heated, it was not argumentative. Jessica is a beautiful girl and a fine lady. She’ll go well in life, whatever she chooses to be. To be honest, she’s done well for her first time out (in an election). She got a lot of votes and I admire her for that.”

Strunk earned 68.86 percent of the vote, with 8,787 total, while Martin, the wife of Burnside Fire Chief James Martin, took 3,973 votes, or 31.14 percent.

“I think I’ve done a good job. I have not had any complaints as far as the coroner’s office,” said Strunk. “I’ve loved and ministered to the families. I’m just honored to be able to say that the county believed in me.”

Martin seemed upbeat when contacted, and, “I plan on running again, and I thank everybody for their support.” 

With no Democratic challengers, the Primary Election effectively decided the outcome of these two races among local Republican candidates.