Two Coal County Commissioner races on the horizon

The June 28, 2022 Primary Election is now history — but Coal County voters in Commissioner District 1 and Commissioner District 3 will be casting ballots in upcoming elections to decide both seats.

In the District 1 Republican Primary race, Jon Fortner came out on top with 270 votes (60%), defeating incumbent Brock Jones who finished with 180 votes (40%). Jones has served as District 1 Commissioner since November 2013 when a special election was called to fill a vacancy on the Board of County Commissioners following the early retirement of Alvin Pebworth on September 1, 2013.

Fortner will face Democrat James Horton in the November 8 General Election. Horton was the only Democrat to file for the seat.

In the District 3 commissioner race, Democrats Kelly Campbell and Dee Hensley brought in the most votes among a total of five candidates — Campbell 91 votes (26%); Hensley 86 votes (25%). The District 3 race between Campbell and Hensley will be decided in the August 23 Runoff since no Republican filed for the position.

Other Democrat candidates in the District 3 Primary included Kenneth McIninch 63 votes (18%), Willard Delozier 55 votes (16%), and Todd Coats 49 votes (14%). Incumbent Buddy

Incumbent Buddy Cottrell did not file.