File photo; 2018 mayoral debate
A longtime community activist and voice for the impoverished will be stepping out of the race for Mayor of Hopkinsville due to health concerns.
Walter Shamble is a familiar name in the community where it comes to activism—he was set to face off against Democrat Wendell Lynch and Republican J. R. Knight in the November election as an independent, but says he has to withdraw due to being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He says government has a moral obligation to address poverty and he has pushed for this for a long time.
Shamble says he hopes whoever the next Mayor will be, they are ready to lead the city in a new, fresh direction.
He says people can still very much expect to see him in the community and continuing to speak out for those in need of help.
Shamble has campaigned as an independent for mayor during the last several mayoral elections, holds a political science degree from Kentucky State University and has spoken during public comments at Hopkinsville City Council meetings many times over the years and is known for ending his remarks with “I speak for the poor.”