There will be at least three new faces on Hopkinsville City Council when the new terms begin in 2025 after the filing deadline for partisan races in the May primary election came Friday afternoon.
Republican Brandi Stallons will represent Ward 2 after incumbent Bruce Smiley opted not to run and no one else filed.
In Ward 8, Republican Seth Adam Meek was the lone candidate to file.
The Ward 7 primary race will feature Republicans Clayton Sumner, the former Hopkinsville police chief, and Mark Graham, who ran for the seat two years ago and lost by a single vote, setting forth a legal battle that confirmed Doug Wilcox as the winner. Wilcox opted not to run for re-election.
Three other council members will make a return to the governing body in 2025 and will face no opposition on the primary ballot — Donald Marsh in Ward 3, Travis Martin in Ward 6, and Jason Bell in Ward 11.
In Ward 1, Republican incumbent Natasha Sophia Francis will face primary opposition from Vance Smith. The winner will face Democrat Markeeta Oldham Wilkerson in November.
In Ward 4, Republican incumbent Chuck Crabtree will see primary opposition from Faye Hendricks, the wife of former Mayor Carter Hendricks.
Ward 5 councilwoman Amy Craig will see a primary challenge from fellow Republican Shannon Trogden.
Ward 9 will feature the largest ballot. Republican incumbent Jamie Lienberger will face primary opposition from Brittanie Bogard. Also filing for the seat were Democrats Ardell Owens, Monike Love, and Angelique Victor. Facing the primary winners in November will be Independent candidate Duane Shepard.
In Ward 10, Republican incumbent Steve Keel will face Michael Velez in the primary. Two Democrats filed on Friday — Angelita Atkins and Andra Gold.
In Ward 12, incumbent Matthew Handy will face Elizabeth Draude in the Republican primary. The winner will face Democrat Samual Goodman in November.
Circuit Court Clerk Paige Parker and Commonwealth’s Attorney Maureen Leamy both filed for another term in office and will be the only names to appear in their race on the May primary ballot.
Meanwhile, there will be three Christian County school board seats up for election in November with one filing occurring this week.
David Webster has filed to run for the District 1 school board seat held by Jeff Moore. Also up for election in the fall is the District 2 seat held by Ambrea Watkins and the District 4 seat occupied by Rebecca Pepper. School board candidates have until June 4 to file because it is a non-partisan race.