SALYERSVILLE – With the filing deadline now passed, the nonpartisan races for the 2026 Magoffin County General Election are all finally set.
Candidates had until Tuesday, June 2 to throw their proverbial hats in the ring for the city races, soil and conservation and school board, so we now know who to expect on the ballot this November.
The mayor’s race will be a familiar matchup, with former Mayor James “Pete” Shepherd going up against current Mayor Stanley Howard.
Three incumbents, Phyllis Howard, Darrell G. Arnett and Herbert “Tex” Holbrook, filed to retain their seats on the Salyersville City Council, with some familiar and some new-to-the-race names also filing for the six council positions, including: Colin Ray Jackson, David Gardner, Brandy Lain, Don Montgomery, Melissa Carty Hines, Paula Hall, David Vanhoose, Wayne Johnson and Gary Lowe.
With three seats total available in the soil and water conservation board, the board is already set with three candidates: Avavan Arnett Deaton, Dwayne Skaggs and Justin Back.
Rodney Ward is running unopposed to retain his seat for Magoffin County School Board District 1. Jesse Rudd II has filed for re-election for school board District 4 and will be up against Vincent Minix this fall.
A public drawing for ballot positions will be held Thursday, June 4 at 2 p.m. in the Magoffin County Fiscal Courtroom.
