Through the office of Thomas, Arvin & Adams PLLC, Hopkinsville Ward 7 primary election winner Doug Wilcox issued a statement Tuesday afternoon — addressing his being named as a party in two lawsuits seeking a recount of the ballots cast.
In the writ, Wilcox said “at this time, any call for an entire re-vote of the Ward 7 primary election is entirely premature,” and that “under clear Kentucky law, a complete re-vote is absolute last resort.”
Wilcox edged candidate Mark Graham by one vote, 185 to 184.
But Graham maintains in his recount request that some Ward 8 voters were given a Ward 7 ballot, and this improperly voted in the race. Some issues have arisen in last Tuesday’s primary election, and County Clerk Mike Kem confirmed that 109 voters from Ward 8 cast ballots in the Ward 7 race.
Wilcox said he believes “it will be ultimately shown that [he] conclusively received the Republican nomination for Ward 7,” and that if the complete information provided be inconclusive for a victor, the only remedy will be provided by the presentation of a presiding judge.
That judge, John Atkins, said he will likely be deciding the method by which the winner occurs.
Wilcox said he hopes to be the Ward 7 candidate in the general election, and that “we all need to be reminded that open elections are the strength of democracy, even when mistakes occur. Let us keep the faith in that democracy.”
