BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The candidate filing deadline closed at 4 p.m. Jan. 9, setting the field for county and city races in Martin County ahead of the May 2026 primary election.
Under Kentucky law, when only one candidate files for a party’s nomination in a race, that candidate automatically advances to the Nov. 3 general election and no primary is held for that office.
In the race for judge/executive, incumbent Lon “Doc” Lafferty, 68, of Inez, filed as a Republican.
Five Republicans filed for sheriff: Incumbent John Herman Kirk, 57, of Inez; Kristopher Lang, 65, of Lovely; Anthony J. “Tony” Preece, 58, of Inez; William Harvey “Bill” Preece III, 45, of Beauty; and Austin Harless, 31, of Debord.
Melissa Fannin Phelps, 43, of Tomahawk, is the lone Republican candidate for county attorney.
Susie Skyles, 62, of Beauty, filed as the only Republican candidate for county clerk.
Chris Todd, 53, of Inez, filed as a Republican for the coroner’s seat.
The race for jailer drew five Republican candidates: Nicholas “Nick” Marcum, 44, of Inez; Billy Lee Patrick, 50, of Debord; Buddy Stacy, 49, of Lovely; Oscar “Ock” Jude, 74, of Lovely; and Darrell Spence, 67, of Tomahawk.
Bobby Eugene Hale Jr., 51, of Pilgrim, filed as a Republican for property valuation administrator.
Two Republicans filed for magistrate in District 1: Cody Slone, 34, of Inez, and Matthew Baisden, 30, of Inez.
Three Republicans filed for the District 2 magistrate seat: Kermit Howell, 42, of Inez; Amanda J. Jude, 44, of Debord; and Jason “Booger” Jude, 47, of Debord.
Four Republicans are seeking the District 3 magistrate seat: Chris Blackburn, 53, of Tomahawk; Craig Keagan Haney, 47, of Tomahawk; Tracy Spence, 52, of Tomahawk; and James Derrick Stepp, 47, of Tomahawk.
In District 4, the magistrate race includes two Republicans: Joseph Hunt Jr., 47, of Pilgrim, and Eric Jude, 49, of Inez.
Ronald Workman, 72, of Warfield, filed as the sole Republican candidate for magistrate in District 5.
Two Republicans filed for constable in District 1: Bobby Gene Maynard, 71, of Inez, and Homer “Pickle” Mills Jr., 73, of Inez.
The District 2 constable race features two Republicans: Ryan May, 54, of Inez, and Charles “Randy” Lafferty, 64, of Inez.
Kody Thomas Rainwater, 29, of Grassy, filed as a Republican candidate for constable in District 3.
Two Republicans filed for constable in District 4: James Brad Preece of Pilgrim and Charles Eddie Spear, 68, of Lovely.
The District 5 constable race will include Republican Melvin Mitchell Bowen, 62, of Warfield, and Democrat Granville Shaun Sweeney, 45, of Beauty.
In Warfield, Michael Hinkle, 58, filed as a nonpartisan candidate for Mayor.
Important dates
Voters may begin requesting mail-in absentee ballots online April 4 at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky. The portal will remain open through May 5. All mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk no later than 6 p.m. on Primary Election Day, May 19.
The U.S. Postal Service advises voters to mail completed ballots at least one week before Election Day, noting that a postmark may not reflect the date the Postal Service first takes possession of a mailpiece. Voters may request a manual postmark at their local post office free of charge.
Residents have until April 20 to register to vote in the May primary. Registration is available online at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky, in person at the county clerk’s office by the close of business or by mail if postmarked by that date.
“Excused” in-person absentee voting will be available May 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 at the clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“No Excuse” early voting will be available May 14, 15 and 16 at the clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Primary Election Day is May 19, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The filing deadline for the Nov. 3 general election is June 2 for candidates not participating in the primary. Write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent later in the election cycle to get on the ballot.