Kentucky General Assembly

Charlie Miller / Mike Payne

28th LD — Long-term incumbent Democrat Charlie Miller, who faced no opposition in 2014, has a race this year from Republican Mike Payne, an Engineering Manager for Cardinal Integrated Systems, and is a graduate of Sullivan University. He starts the race with $7,420.00 Miller, who has served in the House since 1998, holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Western Kentucky University, and is the retired principal of Pleasure Ridge Park High School. Miller begins with $30,723. Miller’s real opponent is the top of the ticket in this conservative area, which includes Valley Station and Pleasure Ridge Park.

Miller is popular, but not invincible.

Bisig Pick: Rand Paul

Kevin Bratcher

29th LD – Long-term incumbent Republican Kevin Bratcher, who has served since 1997, is unopposed for re-election. His district is largely in the Fern Creek area. Bratcher’s campaign has $5,317. Bratcher is “awe, shucks” likeable and popular.

Bisig Pick: Kevin Bratcher

Tom Burch / Waymen Eddings

30th LD – Jefferson County’s longest serving legislator, Tom Burch, faces newcomer Waymen Eddings, an African-American who recently moved to the district. Burch, who is 85, has served since 1972, with the exception of three years in the late 1970s. He is a graduate of Bellarmine College and is retired from General Electric. His campaign reports $58,686.00. Eddings is a small business owner and as recently appointed by Governor Matt Bevin to the state’s Minority Employment, Business Affairs, and Economic Development Council. He is presently reporting $361.00 in his account. The district includes Newburg, Buechel, and parts of Okolona and Hikes Point.

Burch’s age is always an issue. Eddings has a bright future, but not this time.

Bisig Pick: Tom Burch

Steve Riggs / Sarah Provancher

31st LD – Democratic incumbent Steve Riggs, serving since 1991, faces Republican Sarah Provancher, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the Metro Council four year ago. Riggs is a graduate of UK and an Independent Insurance Broker and Consultant. He has raised $36,642. Provancher, who is in the public relations business and is active in her neighborhood association, proved to be a good fundraiser in her 2012 Council race, raising $23,136 then. To date, she has raised $5,400. This is a swing district and could prove more difficult for Riggs than in the past. The district includes Hikes Point and part of Jeffersontown.

Provancher has built a following.

Bisig Pick: Toss Up

Phil Moffett

32nd LD – One-term Republican incumbent Phil Moffett is unopposed for re-election. His campaign reports $439.00 in this moderate to conservative leaning district covering Lyndon and Saint Matthews.

Bisig Pick: Phil Moffett

Jason Nemes / Rob Walker

33rd LD – Long-term Republican incumbent Ron Crimm lost his primary in a three-way race to Jason Nemes. Nemes is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville School of Law and works as a trial and appellate attorney. He has raised $95,105. His Democratic opponent is Rob Walker. Walker is a small business owner and also holds a law degree from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Walker has raised $31,172. The district is moderate to conservative and is situated in Middletown, Anchorage, Fincastle, and parts of southwestern Oldham County.

Bisig Pick: Jason Nemes

Mary Lou Marzian

34th LD – Long-term Democratic incumbent Mary Lou Marzian is unopposed for re-election. She presently has $9,236.00 in her account. The 34th district, perhaps Kentucky’s most liberal, covers the Highlands as well as parts of St. Matthews, Buechel, and Crescent Hill.

Marzian is so far left that she may drift too far from center. GOP has eyed this seat for many years.

Bisig Pick: Mary Lou Marzian

Jim Wayne

35th LD – After a bruising but ultimately easily successful race two years ago, long term Democratic incumbent Jim Wayne is unopposed in 2016. Wayne’s campaign account appears to have only $1000.00 cash-on-hand. His vertically shaped district runs along Preston Highway and Poplar Level Road from the Original Highlands south through Germantown, Camp Taylor, and the Airport area, and into parts of Okolona. From north to south, it progresses from liberal to conservative.

Bisig Pick: Jim Wayne

Jerry Miller

36th LD – Single-term GOP incumbent Jerry Miller is unopposed for re-election in this far eastern conservative Jefferson County district which includes parts of Eastwood, J’Town, and Fisherville, and parts of Shelby County. Miller has $13,512.00 in his campaign account.

Bisig Pick: Jerry Miller

Jeff Donohue / Mark Wilson

37th LD – Democratic incumbent Jeff Donohue, of Fairdale, is running a quiet race against his Republican challenger Mark Wilson, of Okolona. Wilson filed for the office in 2014 but withdrew before the election was held. Donohue is a retired from Ford, active both on the union and management side. Wilson is retired from the Kentucky National Guard and is in the insurance business. Donohue is reporting $15,068.00 while Wilson has yet to file a report. The politically moderate district covers South Louisville, Fairdale, and parts of Okolona and Highview along the Bullitt County line.

Bisig Pick: Toss Up

Denver Butler, JR. / McKenzie Cantrell

38th LD – Two years ago as a Democrat Denver Butler, Jr. was unopposed for re-election. After the election of Republican governor Matt Bevin in 2015 Butler switched parties and gained Democratic opposition for the 2016 election. This is the most watched race in Jefferson County as it is a strong Democratic district with deep ties to union workers at Ford, GE, and other manufacturing plants. The district was once held by Rep. Butler’s father, Denver Butler, Sr. Butler’s sister Marianne serves on the Louisville Metro Council covering much of the same territory. She is also a member of the local Democratic Executive Committee. While the district is Democratic, polls suggest that the Butler name is stronger than the party identification and Donald Trump has many yard signs scattered in what have always been Democratic areas. Butler is a retired Louisville Metro Police Officer and a graduate of the University of Louisville. Butler’s Democratic opponent is newcomer McKenzie Cantrell, a resident of the Beechmont neighborhood. Cantrell faced long-term Louisville councilman and alderman Dan Johnson in the Primary, who she handily defeated. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and a practicing attorney. Her race has caught the interest of many outside interests. The 38th District is vertically shaped beginning near Churchill Downs and extending southward along Taylor Boulevard, New Cut Road, St. Andrews Church Road, and Third Street Road out to Valley Station. Butler has $38,068.00 for the remainder of the race while Cantrell is reporting $41,384.00.

Bisig Pick: Denver Butler, Jr.

Dennis horlander / George Demic

40th LD – Long-term Democratic incumbent Dennis Horlander faces GOP challenger George Demic. Demic also filed for seat in 2012 but withdrew before the election. Horlander is a manufacturer’s representative and former member of the Shively City Council. Little information can be found on Mr. Demic. Horlander has $6000.00 cash on hand while Demic has not filed a report. The 40th District, a liberal-to moderate area, runs southwestward from Old Louisville through the Hallmark neighborhood out 7th Street, Manslick Road, and Dixie Highway through Shively to PRP.

Bisig Pick: Dennis Horlander

Attica Scott

41st LD – Democrat Attica Scott defeated long-term legislator Tom Riner in the Democratic Primary and is unopposed for election. Scott is a graduate of Knoxville College and the University of Tennessee. The 41st is an urban district stretching horizontally across the city from the Russell and California neighborhood in the west, through Old Louisville, Smoketown, and parts of Butchertown and Clifton, then east to St. Matthews. Her campaign account holds $2,921.00 as of the last report. The district is heavily Democratic.

Bisig Pick: Attica Scott

Reginald Meeks / James Howland

42th LD – Long-term Democratic incumbent Reginald Meeks faces his 2014 GOP challenger, James Howland, in this heavily Democratic district. The district is urban in nature running horizontally from Park-DuValle in the west through Old Louisville and the University area to the Original Highlands, parts of the Cherokee Triangle, and eastward to Clifton and Crescent Hill. Meeks has $13,524.00 on hand while Howland is reporting $50.00.

Bisig Pick: Reginald Meeks

Darryl Owens / John Owen

43rd LD – Long term Democratic incumbent Darryl Owens faces Republican perennial John Owen, a Portland activist of many years. Owen, the Republican, has ran for many offices over the years and is devoted advocate for the Portland neighborhood. Owens, the Democrat, is a graduate of the Howard University School of Law. Owens is reporting $37,535.00. Owen has made no report. The horizontal district, heavily Democratic, extends from Chickasaw and Shawnee in the west, hugging the Ohio River through Portland, Main Street downtown, and River Road, then Mockingbird Valley to St. Matthews.

Bisig Pick: Darryl Owens

Joni Jenkins

44th LD – Long term Democratic incumbent Joni Jenkins is unopposed for re-election. Her district includes parts of Shively, PRP, and Valley Station, south to West Point along the Ohio River. She is reporting $26,648.00.

Bisig Pick: Joni Jenkins

Al Gentry / Eric Crump

46th LD – With the retirement of long-term Speaker Pro-Tem Larry Clark, a Democrat who has served since 1985, this race opens up this swing district in the Okolona-Highview area. It is otherwise represented by both Democrats and Republicans in the State Senate and on the Metro Council. The Democrats nominated Al Gentry, Clark’s hand-picked candidate. Gentry is a graduate of the University of Louisville, is an engineer, and is in the real estate management business. Gentry faces Republican attorney Eric Crump, a graduate of Centre College and the University of Kentucky College of Law. Both candidates are working the district and yard signs are plentiful with some houses sporting both indicating what is known to be a close race. Gentry has $31,076.00 as of the last report; Crump is reporting $1,879.00, a surprisingly low amount in such a competitive district.

Bisig Pick: Toss Up

Ken Fleming / Marie Sorolls

48th LD – Long term Republican incumbent Dr. Bob DeWeese has retired creating an opening in the northeastern Jefferson County district, a largely conservative Republican area. Ken Fleming, a former Riverwood commissioner who also served several terms on the Metro Council is the Republican nominee and should have an easy race against Democratic nominee Maria Sorolis, a non-practicing attorney. Fleming is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and also attended the Bellarmine University MBA program. Sorolis is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and is presently attending the MBA program at the University of Louisville. Fleming has $71,317.00 cash-on-hand dwarfing Sorolis’s $2,257.00.Fleming is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and also attended the Bellarmine University MBA program. Sorolis is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and is presently attending the MBA program at the University of Louisville. Fleming has $71,317.00 cash-on-hand dwarfing Sorolis’s $2,257.00.

Bisig Pick: Ken Fleming

Morgan McGarvey / Larry West

19th SD – First-term Democrat Morgan McGarvey, an attorney with Morgan and Pottinger, is seeking re-election against Republican Larry West, a computer consultant and graduate of the California Polytechnic State University and the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a Masters of Divinity degree. McGarvey holds two undergraduate degrees, one from the University of Missouri and another from the University of Kentucky, as well as a law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. The district is oddly shaped with its core in the Germantown, Highlands, and Camp Taylor area, then extending out to Fern Creek and then westward back to Okolona. It leans Democratic. McGarvey has $104, 594.00 in the bank. West has not offered a report.

Bisig Pick: Morgan McGarvey

Gerald Neal / Sherita Rickman

33rd SD – Long-term Democratic senator Gerald Neal faces nominal opposition from newcomer Sherita Rickman in the Republican Party. Neal is an attorney, a graduate of Kentucky State University and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Ms. Rickman attended Fairdale High School and Sullivan University and is affiliated with Dream Styler. Neal has $28,719.00 in the bank. Ms. Rickman is reporting $1,326.00. The strongly Democratic district takes in Shively, West Louisville, Downtown, Butchertown, and Clifton.

Bisig Pick: Gerald Neal

Denise Harper Angel Dreisbach

35th SD – Long-term Democratic senator Denise Harper Angel Dreisbach is unopposed for re-election. Her district is oddly shaped beginning near Cave Hill, then running west to Old Louisville, south through U of L and the Airport, then eastward to Newburg, Okolona, and Buechel. She is reporting $21,032.00.

Bisig Pick: Denise Harper Angel Dreisbach

Perry Clark

37th SD – State Senator Perry Clark, a Libertarian-leaning Democrat, is unopposed for re-election. Clark’s district is largely based in PRP and Shively, but also extends narrowly eastward through Auburndale, Yorktown, Fairdale, and into Okolona. His account is reporting $1,067.00.

Bisig Pick: Perry Clark