The announcement last week that Kentucky State Senator David L. Williams will step down from that position to accept the appointment as the Circuit Judge for the 40th Judicial Circuit, answers the question of whom our next circuit judge will be, but opens up yet another question of who will represent Clinton County and the rest of the 16th District in the Kentucky State Senate.

One local attorney, David M. Cross, issued a statement Monday morning to the Clinton County News, confirming that he is seeking the Republican nomination to fill the unexpired term created by Williams’ stepping down last week.

“When it became apparent that Senator Williams would be leaving office early, there was discussion about who might be nominated by the Republican Party to fill out his term,” Cross said. “Serving in the Legislature has always been a dream of mine, but the opportunity has never been there for me. I have followed politics for many years and my efforts on behalf of Republican candidates, state and local, are well-recognized in the district.”

He added that in discussions concerning the possibility of this race with people across the district, he had received tremendous encouragement to seek the nomination.

“Although Clinton County furnished the Senator for the 16th District for 36 years of the first three-quarters of the 20th century, we have not elected a senator from Clinton since Jim Hicks was elected in 1969,” Cross said. “Much of the work David Williams started remains unfinished, particularly regarding the improvements of U.S. 127 north of KY 90.”

Cross, 55, has practiced law for 28 years. His office is currently located at the corner of Washington and Cumberland Streets on the northeast side of the courthouse square, and his practice is partnered with his oldest daughter, Terran Helm.

Cross and his wife, Jennifer (Hoover), have two additional children, Lora Brewington who works for Cumberland Family Medical in Burkesville, and Martin, a sophomore at Western Kentucky University.

Cross, who has been involved in politics on several levels since serving as a precinct youth chairman when he was 18, has also served as Clinton County Republican Chairman for eight years, and is currently serving on the State Board of Elections.

“I feel that I know the district, and have practiced law in each of its counties. Through the practice of law, political campaigns or on the playing fields, I know many people throughout the district,” Cross said. “I am committing to do the best job for my county and for the entire district for the next two years if I am elected. I’ll never be a Frankfort politician, and never want to be.”

The 16th Senatorial District includes, in addition to Clinton County, Monroe, Cumberland, Wayne, McCreary and Whitley Counties.