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Letcher County, Kentucky
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==Politics and government== {{PresHead|place=Letcher County, Kentucky|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,848|1,457|146|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,226|1,799|110|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,293|1,542|299|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,811|1,702|245|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,367|2,623|245|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,801|4,192|72|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|4,092|4,698|195|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,222|4,160|844|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,011|5,817|1,262|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,601|4,697|46|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1984|Democratic|4,073|4,707|50|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,426|4,280|112|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,122|4,590|36|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,213|2,908|76|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3,243|3,499|925|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,632|5,420|11|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,408|4,258|0|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,741|4,133|30|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|4,689|5,097|0|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,560|4,741|46|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|4,055|4,599|16|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|4,433|6,127|19|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,871|6,240|11|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,732|5,190|53|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,400|3,502|16|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,172|1,912|687|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,317|1,960|24|Kentucky}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,220|1,121|23|Kentucky}} {{PresFoot|1912|Republican|978|611|380|Kentucky}} === Elected officials === {| class=wikitable |- | colspan="3" |'''Elected officials as of January 3, 2025'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/smembers_county.html |title=Senate Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/hmembers_county.html |title=House Members - County |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=apps.legislature.ky.gov |publisher=[[Kentucky General Assembly]] |access-date=January 3, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> |- ! scope=row|[[U.S. House]] | {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Hal Rogers]] (R) | {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|KY|5|B}} |- ! scope=row|[[Kentucky Senate|Ky. Senate]] | {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Scott Madon]] (R) | {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Kentucky's 29th Senate district|29]] |- ! scope=row|[[Kentucky House of Representatives|Ky. House]] | {{party shading/Republican}}|[[Mitch Whitaker]] (R) | {{party shading/Republican}}|94 |} === Presidential elections === Letcher County has a somewhat similar political history to West Virginia. Under the [[Fourth Party System]] it was a reliable Republican county, voting Republican in every election from 1884<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1884.htm|title=Presidential election of 1884 - Map by counties|website=geoelections.free.fr}}</ref> to 1928.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidential election of 1928 - Map by counties |url=http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1928.htm |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=geoelections.free.fr}}</ref> However, with increasing unionization under the [[New Deal]] it turned for the next sixty to seventy years into a fairly solid Democratic county, apart from the 1956 and 1972 landslides and the candidacy of [[John F. Kennedy]]. However, since 2004 as the Democratic Party has become opposed to coal production due to [[global warming]] issues, it has become a solidly Republican county.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson-Black |first=Hannah |date=October 20, 2023 |title='I Am Home': In Appalachia, Environmentalists Defy Partisan Categories |url=https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/i-am-home-appalachia-environmentalists-defy-partisan-categories |website=Pulitzer Center}}</ref> === Governor === In the [[2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election|2023 Kentucky Gubernatorial Election]], popular incumbent [[Andy Beshear|Governor Andy Beshear]] won Letcher County by a margin of 4 points, marking the first instance since 2015<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120927100618/http://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/2010-2019/2011/off2011gen.pdf Election Results 2010-2019] </ref> that a Democrat clinched victory in the county in any statewide race. === Senate === Letcher County is a solid Republican county in Senate elections, having re-elected Republican [[Rand Paul]] in [[2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2022]] with 67.6% (3,873 votes) of the vote over Democrat [[Charles Booker (American politician)|Charles Booker]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 26, 2023 |title=Kentucky Senate Election Results 2022: Live Map |url=https://www.politico.com/2022-election/results/kentucky/senate/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=Politico}}</ref> In [[2020 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2020]], the county re-elected Republican [[Mitch McConnell]] with 71% (6,441 votes) of the vote over Democrat [[Amy McGrath]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Kentucky Election Results 2020 {{!}} Live Map Updates |url=https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/kentucky/senate/ |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=Politico}}</ref> === House === Letcher County is part of [[Kentucky's 5th congressional district]], represented by Republican [[Hal Rogers]]. It re-elected Rogers in [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections|2022]], with 79% (4,538 votes) of the vote over Democrat Conor Halbleib.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-08 |title=Kentucky Fifth Congressional District Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-kentucky-us-house-district-5.html |access-date=2024-05-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> === State senate === Letcher County is part of [[Kentucky's 29th Senate district]], which is represented by Republican [[Scott Madon]]. It voted to elect [[Johnnie Turner (Kentucky politician)|Johnnie L. Turner]] in 2020, with 54.8% (4,900 votes) of the vote over 20-year Democratic incumbent [[Johnny Ray Turner]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kentucky State Senate - District 29 Election Results {{!}} Democrat and Chronicle |url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/elections/results/race/2020-11-03-state_senate-KY-18077/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.democratandchronicle.com |language=en}}</ref> === State house === Letcher County is part of Kentucky's 94th house district, represented by Republican [[Mitch Whitaker]] of [[Fleming-Neon, Kentucky|Fleming-Neon]]. In 2022, it voted to re-elect Democratic representative [[Angie Hatton]], with 60.7% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kentucky State House - District 94 Election Results {{!}} Journal Sentinel |url=https://www.jsonline.com/elections/results/race/2022-11-08-state_house-KY-18283/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.jsonline.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2022 |title=Redistricting plan draws fire from Rep. Hatton, others - The Mountain Eagle |url=https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/redistricting-plan-draws-fire-from-rep-hatton-others/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=The Mountain Eagle -}}</ref> === Local government === ==== Judge/executive ==== The Judge/Executive is responsible for executing legislation, executing laws passed by the state, informing the [[fiscal court]] with the operations of the county departments, boards, and commissions, demanding all offices, departments, boards, commissions, to make an annual financial report to the fiscal court, submitting an annual budget to the fiscal court, administering budget plans passed by the fiscal court, informing the fiscal court with the financial state and needs of the county, and supervising, appointing, removing, or suspending county officials. The judge/executive as of 2024 is Republican Terry Adams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Powers and Duties of County Judge/Executive |url=https://kcjea.org/county_judge_executives/duties.php |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=kcjea.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Letcher County |url=https://www.letchercounty.ky.gov/government/fc/Pages/je.aspx |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.letchercounty.ky.gov}}</ref> ==== County attorney ==== The County Attorney is the legal counsel for the county government. The county attorney's role is to give legal advice to the fiscal court and county officials, and act as a legal representative to county departments, board, or commissions. The county attorney is Democrat Jamie Hatton.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Letcher County |url=https://www.letchercounty.ky.gov/government/eo/pages/default.aspx |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.letchercounty.ky.gov}}</ref> ==== Commonwealth attorney ==== The Commonwealth Attorney is responsible for attending each [[circuit court]] held in their judicial circuit. The Commonwealth attorney has the ability to prosecute violations, and present evidence to a [[grand jury]]. {{as of|2024|07}}, the Commonwealth attorney is Matt Butler.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--staff byline; no author given--> |date=2024-07-03 |title=Governor appoints new prosecutor |url=https://www.themountaineagle.com/articles/governor-appoints-new-prosecutor/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Mountain Eagle}}</ref> ==== Property valuation administrator ==== The property valuation administrator has the ability to assess property within the county and prepare property records. The property valuation administrator is Democrat Ricky Rose.<ref name=":10" /> ==== Sheriff ==== The sheriff has the responsibility to collect taxes, election duties, provide service to courts, and enforce laws. The sheriff has the ability to make arrests within their county, and collect taxes from properties, the county, and school districts. The sheriff was Democrat Mickey Stines until his arrest for murder in September 2024 and subsequent resignation.{{efn|Stines was arrested in connection with the [[killing of Kevin Mullins]] on September 19, 2024.}}<ref name=":10" /> ==== Court clerk ==== The court clerk has the ability to issue and register and record legal records, register voter polls, and conduct election and tax duties. The county clerk is Democrat Winston Meade.<ref name=":10" /> ==== Circuit court clerk ==== The circuit court clerk is responsible for managing records of the circuit court. The circuit court clerk is Mike Watts.<ref name=":10" /> ==== Jailer ==== The jailer manages the county jail, and all prisoners in the jail. The jailer has the ability to transport prisoners, manage the jail budget, prepare [[bail]], work and education release for prisoners, do community service, and manage all the [[Deputy Sheriff|deputies]]. The jailer is Democrat Bert Slone.<ref name=":10" /> ==== Coroner ==== The main responsibility of the coroner is to decide and certify the cause of death. The coroner is Democrat Perry M. Fowler.<ref name=":10" /> ==== Circuit court ==== Letcher County is a part of the 47th Judicial District. The circuit court deals with civil issues, capital offenses, felonies, land disputes, and probate cases. The circuit court can also supply [[injunction]]s, [[Writ of prohibition|writs of prohibition]], and [[Mandamus|writs of mandamus]]. The circuit court has the ability to dissolve marriages, hear cases of [[child custody]], visitation, distribution of property, adoption, and parental rights. The circuit judge serves an eight-year term. The circuit judge is James W. Craft II.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Letcher County |url=https://www.letchercounty.ky.gov/government/eo/Pages/jas.aspx |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.letchercounty.ky.gov}}</ref> ===== District judge ===== The district judge manages juvenile issues, city and county laws, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, probate of wills, arraignments, domestic violence and abuse, and small civil issues. Until his September 2024 murder, the district judge was Kevin R. Mullins.<ref name=":13" /> ==== Magistrate ==== Letcher County is divided into five [[Magistrate|magisterial]] districts. The magistrates are representatives of the fiscal court, and works with the Judge/Executive in managing the county government. Magistrates also serve as [[Justice of the peace]] and, if permitted by the Judge/Executive, can perform marriages.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Letcher County |url=https://www.letchercounty.ky.gov/government/fc/Pages/mags.aspx |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.letchercounty.ky.gov}}</ref> The magistrates are: * District 1 β Jack Banks<ref name=":11" /> * District 2 β Sherry Sexton<ref name=":11" /> * District 3 β Maverick Cook<ref name=":11" /> * District 4 β William "Cheddy" Smith<ref name=":11" /> * District 5 β Bennie McCall<ref name=":11" /> ==== School board ==== Letcher County is divided into five school board districts. Members of the school board serve staggered four year terms and are not subject to term limits.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Letcher County Public Schools |url=https://www.letcher.kyschools.us/page/board-of-education |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=www.letcher.kyschools.us |language=en}}</ref> The members of the school board are: * District 1 β Lena Parsons<ref name=":12" /> * District 2 β Robert Kiser<ref name=":12" /> * District 3 β William Smith<ref name=":12" /> * District 4 β Mendy Boggs<ref name=":12" /> * District 5 β Shawn Gilley<ref name=":12" /> === Voter registration === As of April 2024, Letcher County has 8,677 registered Democrats, 5,906 Republicans, 351 third party voters, 368 registered Independents, 37 [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]], 2 [[Green Party of the United States|Greens]], and 2 [[Constitution Party (United States)|Constitution party]] voters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Registration Statistics - State Board of Elections - Kentucky.gov |url=https://elect.ky.gov/Resources/Documents/voterstatscounty-April%202024.pdf |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=Kentucky.gov}}</ref>
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