State Senator Whitney Westerfield says the timing was right to make a run for the 1st District State Supreme Court justice seat.
He filed Friday and says his decision came after prayer and careful consideration with family.
Westerfield is confident he’d be able to set aside his own feelings and political opinions to apply the law as it stands.
He doesn’t believe lack of judicial experience would be a hindrance, saying he has ample experience as an attorney and that his time as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee would be helpful.
Westerfield says he’d also be able to spend more time with his wife and two children, if he were to be elected.
He’s facing Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Shea Nickell in the non-partisan election.
In the meantime, Westerfield continues to represent Christian, Todd and Logan counties in the Senate and it’s anticipated Governor Matt Bevin will soon call a special session for legislation to provide pension relief to quasi-governmental agencies such as health departments and domestic violence shelters.
Westerfield says members of his Republican caucus had a conference call Friday and learned of two new versions of a bill he believes are worse for those agencies than the one proposed by the governor.
Seven Counties Services, a mental health facility near Louisville, filed for bankruptcy in 2013 in part to get out of its pension obligations.
Agencies will be devastated by increased pension costs if relief legislation isn’t passed before July 1st and Westerfield says he continues to be told that the session will be called as soon as Governor Bevin is confident there are enough votes to pass something.