Voters in Wayne County selected a new clerk and re-elected a state representative, when they went to the polls Tuesday, May 22 for the primary election.

Patricia Lay will be Wayne County’s next circuit clerk. Lay defeated James Lynn Hill in the Republican primary for the office. She received 1,404 votes compared to 1,021 for Hill.

In the other local race that drew a lot of interest in the election, 52nd District State Representative Sara Beth Gregory won a second term in office by defeating challenger David Gover on the Republican ticket. Gregory easily won Wayne County with 1,710 votes. Gover received 674 votes in the county.

The 52nd District includes McCreary and several precincts in Pulaski County. Gregory received a total of 2,580 votes in the district, compared to 1,142 votes that were cast for Gover.

Other than president, the only other race on the ballot was the democratic primary for the 5th District U.S. Representative. Michael Ackerman received 222 votes in Wayne County, while Kenneth Stepp received 166 votes.

Stepp actually won the democratic nomination in the 5th District with a total of 12,272 votes. He will face U.S. Representative Hal Rogers, a republican, in the general election.

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A Wayne County man died Tuesday, May 22, following a one-vehicle accident on East KY 92.

Virgil G. Gregory, 74, of Monticello, was pronounced dead at the Wayne County Hospital Emergency Room at approximately 10:18 a.m., according to Deputy Coroner Anthony Vaughn.

The accident occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. on KY 92 about eight miles east of Monticello, according to information released by Kentucky State Police Detective Parrish Baker. Baker said that Gregory was traveling west in a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix when the vehicle dropped off the roadway causing the driver to over correct.

The Gregory vehicle then crossed the roadway, striking a ditch and crossed back to the westbound side where it left the roadway and came to rest.

Gregory was not wearing a seat belt, according to the report. Alcohol or drug usage is not suspected.