WOODFORD COUNTY DEMOCRATS held their annual dinner last Thursday at Equus Run Vineyard. A sold-out crowd heard speeches from, clockwise from the top left, Cassie Barnes, candidate for Woodford County Attorney; Jackie Anthony, candidate for Woodford County Clerk; David Graves, candidate for the House District 56 seat; and James Kay, seeking reelection to the Woodford County Judge-Executive position. (Composite photo by Scott White)
By Scott White
Woodford Sun Staff
Report for America corps member
The Woodford County Democratic Party and the Woodford County Republican Party held their annual fundraising dinners last week, which have added significance given that all but two of the county offices are contested in November’s election.
The Republican dinner took place on Saturday, Sept. 19, at The Woodford Club. According to the party’s Facebook page, Congressman Andy Barr and Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe attended. As is its right, the executive committee of the party informed the Sun the dinner was closed to the press, so the Sun is only able to report on the Democratic dinner.
The Democratic dinner was held Thursday, Sept. 17, at one of the new, large venue locations at Equus Run Vineyard on Moores Mill Road in Midway, with a sold-out attendance of 200 passionate activists and voters who dined on a dinner catered by DV8 Kitchen and Catering while enjoying live music before the speeches and rallying.
The featured speaker was Lt. Gov. Jacquelyn Coleman, a Midway resident. The entire evening focused on local races and issues, with the exception of how Coleman began her speech when she exhorted Democrats saying, “I plan to do just what my president asked me to do, vote like Trump is on the ballot!”
She was followed by Democratic candidate for county judge-executive, incumbent James Kay; county attorney candidate, Cassie Barnes; county clerk candidate, Jackie Anthony; and candidate for State House District 56 seat, David Graves.
Kay focused on the accomplishments of the Woodford County Fiscal Court under his leadership as judge-executive, noting four straight years of property tax cuts, the first in-state ban on data centers, the purchase of the Yokohama plant, which will continue to keep pressure off rural lands for industrial growth and control the type of employer that comes in, and enacting new ordinances strictly regulating in-family conveyances of rural land.
Barnes highlighted her experience practicing law for her entire career in Woodford County, as well as her endorsement by long-time County Attorney Alan George, for whom she works as the second assistant county attorney. Barnes also introduced Steele Rouse, a Midway native and Versailles attorney, who will be her first assistant county attorney.
Anthony focused on her four years of experience as a deputy under Woodford County Clerk Sandy Jones, a Democrat who is not running for reelection. Anthony focused on continuing the work of Jones, the importance of non-partisanship in managing elections and her years of experience as general manager of Holly Hill Inn, which required managing a large group of employees, dealing with food vendors and ensuring the smooth operation of lunch and dinner service.
Graves focused his remarks on his expertise gained from several years as a teacher at Woodford County High School and the need for the legislature to fully fund public education, and how he intends to make himself responsive and available to his constituents with regular community forums.
The evening concluded with Kentucky’s U.S. House 6th Congressional District candidate Zach Dembo contrasting his approach to the issues facing Woodford County agricultural and bourbon industries with that of his opponent, who has been endorsed by Trump – specifically, the negative effects of tariff policy on beef, row crops such as soybeans and bourbon.