The deadline for the local Democratic and Republican parties to select nominees to run in the race for Hopkinsville Mayor in a special election is closing in.
According to a news release from Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Jeff Taylor, the committee will hold a meeting on June 2 to select a nominee and the candidate that wins the nomination must file with the County Clerk’s office no later than 4 p.m. that day.
Anyone interested in filing to the run for the position, which is currently held by Mayor Wendell Lynch until the November general election that will include the mayoral special election, is asked to do so by contact Taylor. A nominating committee selects the nominees and then the body of the Executive Committee, which resides in the City limits, selects the winner.
Republican Executive Committee Chair Jason Hasert tells WHOP News that the party is currently assessing possible candidates and will most likely meet virtually sometime this upcoming week to select a candidate, since the deadline to file is June 2. He says the local Republican Party believes in offering positive and competitive choices for the November election.
Former Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks stepped down from that position at the end of 2019 to accept the role of Executive Director of the South West Kentucky Economic Development Council, and Mayor Lynch was appointed to serve until a special election could be held.
The winner of the special election would serve as mayor for the remainder of Hendricks’ term.