Secretary of State
Independent Candidate and Special Election Candidates Face Deadline

(Frankfort, KY)  Candidates for office who want to fill judicial vacancies, or who want to run as an independent candidate for statewide office, are facing a deadline of August 14, 2007 to have their filing papers and fees into the Office of the Secretary of State.  Candidates must file for the office with the Secretary of State no later than 4:00 p.m., EDT, for placement on the 2007 general election ballot.

            “I would encourage all interested and eligible citizens to get their required paperwork into our office as soon as possible if they are interested in running for one of these offices,” noted Grayson.

The Office of the Secretary of State has received notification from Chief Justice Joseph Lambert of vacancies in office in the following judicial circuits:

     Counties of:            Clay                  Circuit Judge

                                    Jackson            41^st Judicial Circuit

                                    Leslie               1^st Division

     County of:               Daviess            Circuit Judge

                                                            6^th Judicial Circuit

                                                            1^st Division

     County of:               Hardin              Circuit Judge

                                                            9^th Judicial Circuit

                                                            2^nd Division

     County of:               Henderson        Circuit Judge

                                                            51^st Judicial Circuit

                                                            1^st Division

     County of:               Jefferson           Circuit Judge

                                                            30^th Judicial Circuit

                                                            7^th Division

     County of:               Kenton             Circuit Judge

                                                            16^th Judicial Circuit

                                                            1^st Division

            The Office of the Secretary of State has yet to receive official notification about a vacancy in the 4th Appellate District of the Supreme Court.  The Kentucky Constitution states that “if three months do not intervene between the happening of said vacancy and the next succeeding election … the office shall be filled by appointment until the second succeeding election …”

              The Office of the Secretary of State can also accept nomination papers until the August 14, 2007 deadline for independent candidates who properly filed their statement of candidacy with the Office before April 2, 2007.  The only candidates to file the statement of candidacy were the gubernatorial slate of Micah L. Ingram (I-Georgetown) and Paige Allen (I-Corinth) for Governor and Lt. Governor, respectively.   

            There may also be special elections for positions that file with the local county clerk.  Please contact your local county clerk to see if any positions will be on the ballot for the November 6, 2007 general election.

            “Our office stands ready to help any potential candidate with questions he or she may have, and we hope to see continued interest in these positions,” remarked Secretary Grayson.

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