The Rev. Jim Gearhart decided to toss his hat in the ring for magistrate/justice of the peace for two reasons.
“Democrats need more elected officials everywhere and I like doing weddings,” grinned the goateed McCracken countian, a retired Disciples of Christ pastor. “That’s what a justice of the peace does.”
According to the State Board of Elections, a candidate for magistrate/JP “at the time of election, must be at least 24 years of age, a citizen of Kentucky, has resided in the State 2 years, and 1 year next preceding his election in the county and district in which he is a candidate.”
He more than fulfilled the age and residency requirements to run. The 75-year-old Louisville-born Gearhart and his wife have lived in McCracken County since 2016.
So, he headed to the county clerk’s office in Paducah from his home in the Hendron community, plunked down the $50 filing fee and crossed his fingers that nobody else would run for magistrate/JP in McCracken District 1.
His wish came true. Gearhart is all but a shoo-in because in District 1, neither a Republican nor another Democrat filed for the May 19 primary. The only threat to his election come November would be an independent or write-in candidate. In that unlikely eventuality, Gearhart said he would mount mostly a social media campaign.
Gearhart is one of only three Democrats seeking office in the far western Kentucky county, which shifted from bright Blue to deep Red in the waning decades of the last century. The other two Democratic hopefuls are Daronda Tyler, who wants to be county clerk, and Michael McVickers, who hopes to turn the 3rd District House seat from Red back to Blue.
Gearhart said in his career in the ministry, he’s officiated at hundreds of weddings. Asked what he’d do as a magistrate/JP if a couple knocked on his door late at night and asked to be married, he replied, “I’d say let’s do it tomorrow.”
Gearhart said he ran neither for the money — there is no salary — nor as a springboard for higher office. “I’m very clear about that,” he said.
His name and contact information are already on file in the county clerk’s office. He guesses as a magistrate/JP he can still charge the going rate for performing a wedding service. “Wedding are much more fun than funerals,” Gearhart said with a chuckle.
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