There are five contested races for seats on the Pike County Commission and Pike County School Board on the ballot for Tuesday’s election.

In District 1, incumbent Commissioner Homer Wright is facing off with Walter Murphy. Murphy could not be reached for comment Friday, but Wright said he’s seeking re-election in order to see unfinished projects through. He also said he’d like to find ways to generate funds for the county without costing taxpayers any more money.

In District 3, incumbent Commissioner Jimmy Barron is being challenged by Samuel Lewis.

Barron has served for eight years as a county commissioner and also on the South Central Development Board in Montgomery.

“I want to seek funding and grants in order to pave our roads and repair bridges in Pike County,” Barron said. “I would like to continue working with economic development and the commission to recruit new business so we can provide more jobs to the people in Pike County.”

At Thursday night’s political forum in Troy, Samuel Lewis said he’d like to take on the job of Pike County commissioner because he believes he has the experience and ability to do a good job.

Lewis is a Purple Heart recipient. He served in the reserves for 28 years and worked for the highway department for 33 years. And he’s a Pike County native who said he still lives “rock throwing distance” from where he was born.

In District 4, Ryan Flowers is taking on incumbent Commissioner Ray Goodson.

Flowers said creating “good paying” jobs is at the top of his to do list if he’s elected to the county commission. He’d also like to see repairs made to the county jail.

“I want to see us move in a direction that will benefit everyone in Pike County,” Flowers said at the political forum Thursday night.

Longtime commissioner, Goodson couldn’t be reached for comment Friday because he spent the day out meeting with his constituents, according to his wife.

In District 6, both candidates for county commission are newcomers. Doristine Sankey and Joey Jackson would both like to represent their district on the commission.

Jackson’s platform during his campaign has been to improve roads and bridges in Pike County. He also values local business and is a small business owner, himself. Jackson said he’d like to see work done to help local businesses grow.

Sankey, a lifelong Pike County resident, has a background in volunteer work and education and said schools, the elderly and infrastructure were just a few of her passions.

“There are different issues and differences of opinion out there,” Sankey said during a prior interview with The Messenger. “I’d like to be able to sit on the commission and come up with a collective solution to problems.”

Chris Wilkes currently sits on the Pike County School Board as a representative of District 6, but Jim Knight believes he’s the man for the job.

Wilkes has served on the board for six years and said he’s involved in the school system because his children school in Goshen. Wilkes said he believes the school board is in the middle of some wonderful advancements in the school system and there are more on the horizon he’d like to see through.

“Our school system has remained stable,” Wilkes said at Thursday night’s candidate forum in reference to how well Pike County schools have fared during tough economic times.

Jim Knight is hoping his background in education will afford him the chance to serve on the school board. Knight has 35 years experience in education and he has the time and energy to devote to the school system, he said.

Knight told those present at Thursday night’s forum that his day-to-day knowledge of the school system makes him a good choice.

Polls open on Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voter status, sample ballots and poll location information can be found at pikecountyboardofregistrars.com.

 

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