HARDIN CO.—With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Hardin County has all new folks in major offices, and all of them are Republican in a largely-Democrat county.
Jerry Thomas (JT) Fricker, former deputy and former Elizabethtown village board member, has been elected to the office of sheriff, currently held by Joyce Cullison, who was appointed in March after the untimely death of her husband, Lloyd “Smokey” Cullison.
JT Fricker. See this month’s issue for the feature article on him.
Smokey ran as an Independent in 2010, defeating Fricker, who was the Republican candidate at that time, too.
Fricker defeated Brian Reed, Democrat contender, 1,293 to 1,085.
The county also has a new prosecutor, Tara Cook, a Republican who bested Dem contender Daniel Cockrum, whom, it is said, the party brought in in an attempt to keep the office under that party control. Cockrum, who has worked with the detestable Bryan Drew of Benton, didn’t settle well with the locals, and hometown girl Cook defeated him 1,447 to 910.
Longtime coroner Roger Little, Dem, was also ousted tonight in Hardin by Republican Jessica Cullum, with the tally being 1261 Cullum, 1089 Little.
More numbers in the print edition, on stands beginning a week from Thursday!