SALYERSVILLE – This morning a petition to challenge the nomination of a Salyersville mayor’s race candidate was filed in Magoffin County Circuit Court.
Just after 8 a.m. on November 7 Salyersville Mayor James “Pete” Shepherd electronically filed, via attorney Ned Pillersdorf, the petition to challenge former mayor and current mayor candidate Stanley Howard as a “bona fide” candidate.
According to the petition, Shepherd alleges Howard lives approximately 500 feet outside of the city limits, though the law dictates that mayor candidates must live in the city they file for office.
The petition included maps from the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office and from the Magoffin County Property Valuation Administration, showing where the official maps indicate the city limit boundaries, as well as the location of Howard’s residence as reported on his candidate filing forms.
Shepherd asked the court for injunctive relief in the form of a preliminary injunction against the Magoffin County Board of Elections, directing them to not count any votes on behalf of Stanley Howard.
As an alternative, Shepherd asked that a court order be issued directing the Magoffin County Board of Elections not to certify the election results for the mayor’s race from the November 8, 2022, election until the matter can be determined in court.
Civil summonses were issued to the Magoffin County Board of Elections, in care of Renee Arnett-Shepherd, and Stanley Howard, notifying them that legal actions had been filed against the two defendants, noting written defenses from the Board of Elections and Howard are required within 20 days or a default judgment may be taken.
Circuit Judge Kimberley Childers issued an order this afternoon setting a hearing on the petition for Wednesday, November 9 at 11 a.m.
The Independent will continue to follow this case as it develops.
Patty Maynard
November 11, 2022 at 11:16 pm
Own or have owned property in 4 different counties in Kentucky. My parents taught me to get the PVA map anytime I purchased property. The PVA’s always advised that the maps were not to be relied on for legal purposes or boundry debates.