Judge Rules Wet-Dry Election Illegal; Results Voided
Special Judge Julia Adams has ruled a special wet-dry election held last November in the Jamestown and Lake precincts, including the City of Jamestown, was contrary to state law and has declared the election results to be “null and void”. The Judge’s ruling ended a lawsuit brought by five Russell Countians in late December challenging the validity of the election. Among several points in the order which was entered in Russell Circuit Court Tueday morning, Judge Adams stated state law allows for local option elections in “a city” or in “a county” and “by precincts” only in certain situations set forth in KRS by the Kentucky General Assembly. The Judge’s ruling stated in this case the “local option election” should have been county-wide, citing that voters in 14 of the county’s 16 precincts did not participate in the wet-dry election, further ruling that there were insufficient numbers of signatures on the petitions seeking the special election, since the election should have been in all 16 precincts. WJRS NEWS talked with Pastor Billy Dunbar, one of five Russell Countians filing suit in late December challenging the validity of the election. Dunbar said opponents of alcohol sales are obviously pleased with Judge Adams’ ruling and that neither he nor anyone involved in filing the lawsuit have any animosity toward anyone who supported alcohol sales in the Jamestown area. WJRS NEWS also talked with Jamestown Attorney Derek Helm, one of two local attorneys representing proponents of alcohol sales. Helm stated he has no opinion on the wet-dry ruling as of now and that he continues to review the Judge’s findings. Helm also said that a decision has not been made on whether or not supporters will file an appeal challenging the Judge’s ruling.
