Kelley, Hogsten advance in Ashland mayoral race

By CARRIE KIRSCHNER - The Independent

CATLETTSBURG May 21, 2008 07:36 am

— Former Police Chief Tom Kelley and current City Commissioner Paula Hogsten will face off in the general election to be Ashland’s next mayor.
In the Ashland Board of City Commissioners race, incumbent commissioners led among the top eight vote-getters, all of whom will advance to the fall election.
Separated by fewer than 150 votes, Kelley and Hogsten beat out political activist David Madden to advance to the November election. Kelley received 2,428 votes to Hogsten’s 2,279. Madden was a distant third, receiving only 256.
Current Mayor Steve Gilmore, who dropped out of the race this spring and whose results do not count, received 524 votes.
Commissioner Kevin Gunderson, who is currently serving his ninth term, led the field of commission candidates, receiving 3,356 votes.
Incumbents Larry Brown and Cheryl Spriggs, along with former Commissioner Larry Branham, rounded out the top four, followed by Marty Gute, Donald Maxwell, James W. King and Jim Moore. The top four vote-getters in the general election will win seats on the commission.
Candidates Estill “Gene” Mills and Leo J. Ranjo Jr. will not advance to the general election.
Kelley, 66, said he was “tickled to death” by his victory in the mayoral primary. “I’m just dazzled by the process and how it works,” he said.
His narrow lead over Hogsten heading into the general election will prompt him to do some internal evaluation of his campaign ahead of November, he said.
“My goal had been a little bit higher but I’ll take 149, yes,” he said. “It’s going to make for an interesting race this fall. I’m inspired to work harder. I know she’s inspired to work hard. It’s going to be an interesting race.
“I’m going to have to sit down and come up with a new and different strategy,” he said. “There are positive things in what I did and some weaknesses I have to strengthen. I’m new at this.”
Kelley said he would also be seeking some “guidance and counseling from some people who have been around it for a long time.”
Hogsten said she was pleased by the results. “I’m very pleased. I appreciate the support this represents from the citizens. The support from my family; they’ve worked very hard and put up with a lot.
“I’ll continue to work hard as a commissioner, ask a lot questions, and look at the issues on the citizens’ behalf. Again, I think this is good. It’s a long time until November and with votes pretty evenly divided I think it gives us both a base to start out with in November.”
Chris Hammond, 35, has filed as a write-in candidate for Ashland mayor in the November general election. He filed after the deadline and his name will not appear on the ballot.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.