Most of the races that voters will be deciding on in the upcoming May primary, have been set, although with the ongoing controversy and lawsuits involved with redistricting Kentucky districts on both the state and national level, others are still up in the air. . . at least at press time this week.

Most of the May primary ballot in Clinton County is now settled, following the filing deadline that was 4 p.m. local prevailing time on Tuesday, January 31.

Because of a civil action suit being filed in relation to House Bill 1 and the state’s redistricting plan passed by both state houses and signed by the governor, an extension for candidates filing for state offices including State Senate and House of Representatives has been extended while judge’s rulings are pending.

Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd is presiding over the suit and was expected to make a decision in regards to how the case would proceed sometime this past Tuesday, after this week’s Clinton County News press deadline.

Should the redistricting plan as passed stand in court, Clinton County would move from the 83rd House District to the 52nd and be included with Wayne and a portion of Pulaski County. That district is now represented by Sara Beth Gregory, a Republican of Monticello, who has filed for re-election and is unopposed.

Representative Jeff Hoover, the House Minority Floor Leader, would remain in the 83rd District. However, that district would then include Cumberland, Russell and Monroe counties. That district will have a candidate running this year to fill the unexpired term of James Comer of Tompkinsville, who is now Commissioner of Agriculture.

The redistricting will also affect some counties in some Congressional districts, but not nearly as much as state House and Senate races.

A joint state senate and house committee are currently working on a compromise plan for Kentucky’s U.S. Congressional redistricting.

Also, the local magisterial redistricting process is required to begin within 15 days following state action–which has not been delayed pending the lawsuit filed against the state redistricting plan.

Most races that will be on the local ballot in May are set however.

40th Judicial Commonwealth Attorney Jesse M. Stockton, Jr. of Albany, a Republican, is running unopposed for that office, which includes Clinton, Cumberland and Monroe counties.

In the race of Clinton Circuit Court Clerk, incumbent Jake Staton is running against Kathy Stearns, both Republicans. There are no Democrats in that race.

In the election involving Kentucky’s U.S. Representatives, the exact lineup is still undecided, due to the aftore mentioned redistricting efforts involving those districts also.

Currently, Clinton County is in the 1st Congressional District, but as was the case in the state districts, that is subject to change as well.

U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield, who represents the first district in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, is currently unopposed in the May primary lineup.

However, with the redistricting work continuing in that area also, it was expected on Tuesday of this week that the filing deadline for U.S. Representative races would be extended a second time, past the already extended date of February 7.

The First District Republican nominnee will, however, certainly be involved in a race in the November general election as Democrats will have two candidates on the ballot to nominate to oppose the Hopkinsville Republican. James Buckmaster of Henderson and Charles Kendall Hatchett of Benton are seeking the Democrat nomination for that seat.

With 2012 also being a “federal” election year, there is also a Presidential primary slated for Kentucky voters this spring, even though actual nominees may already be known by the time the state primary election is held.

According to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website of candidates who have qualified to be on the ballot for U.S. President in May, five names will appear, including incumbent Democrat and unopposed United States President Barack Obama.

On the Republican slate, four names will be on the Presidential ballot in Kentucky, including Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, both of Virginia, Ron Paul of Texas, father of Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul, and current GOP front runner Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.

It should also be noted that after Governor Steve Beshear–prior to legal action being filed–signed the redistricting plan into law, Representative Sara Beth Gregory, R-Monticello, (52nd District), issued a news release saying she is now representing Clinton County after the governor signed legislation into law dealing with redistricting. “Because there was an emergency clause in the legislation it (redistricting) took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature,” the release said.

The release stated, “Soon after the passage of House Bill 1, I began contacting local officials and other individuals in Clinton County to discuss the needs and concerns of the county. I look forward to the opportunity to represent the people of Clinton County and will work hard to be your voice in Frankfort.”

Gregory is serving her first term in the Kentucky House of Representatives, having been elected in 2010 to represent the district that was then comprised of McCreary, Wayne and a portion of Pulaski County. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and also serves on the House Agriculture and Small Business and Banking and Insurance Committees.

An attorney by profession, Gregory is currently employed with the Carroll and Turner law firm in Monticello. She also serves on the full board of The Center for Rural Development in Somerset and as Vice President of the Wayne County Fair Board. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Monticello.

Those interested in contacting Rep. Gregory may do so by phone at her office (606) 348-9767 or at her Frankfort office, (502) 564-8100, ext. 673. She can also be reached by email at sara.gregory@lrc.ky.gov.