jeff hines

Former 2nd District State Senator Bob Leeper is McCracken County’s new Judge-Executive. 

The independent beat Democrat Jeff Hines by 319 votes to succeed current Judge-Executive Van Newberry.  

The candidates for McCracken County Judge-Executive laid out their plans for improving the local economy.

Democrat and former circuit judge Jeff Hines debated independent 2nd district state senator Bob Leeper for over 45 minutes at the Crisp Center on Murray State University Paducah Regional Campus. 

Updated 5 p.m.

The stage is set for the next McCracken County Judge Executive race, with two candidates filing their letter of intent by today's deadline.

Kentucky’s 2nd District Senator Bob Leeper filed his candidacy statement this morning, and current Judge Executive Van Newberry filed at 3:25 p.m.

McCracken County Judge-Executive Van Newberry is running for a third term, and will do so as an independent.

Newberry was a Democrat and says he has considered the party switch since 2010. He says county level officials should be nonpartisan. Newberry's party switch, at present, allows him to avoid a primary race against Democrat Jeff Hines.