By Dennis Brown

Lewis County residents eligible to vote in the General Election will be choosing representatives from the local to federal level.

The official ballot, found on page nine this week, shows all voters in Lewis County will choose between Rand Paul and Jack Conway for US Senator; Geoff Davis and John Waltz for US Representative; Jack Ditty and Robin Webb for State Senator; Jill York and David Hayes for State Representative; Thomas Massie and Anita Gilbert for Judge Executive; and will be able to vote for three of the five candidates for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors, Chris Elam, Bill Bertram, Silas Polston, Fred Bate and Jerry Bloomfield.

Second District voters, those in Vanceburg and Black Oak precincts, will choose between Paul Bruce Swearingen and Danny McCane for Lewis County Magistrate.

The voters in Vanceburg will choose between Angie Patton and Todd Ruckel for Mayor of Vanceburg and will choose six of the nine candidates for Vanceburg City Council. Those running for a seat on council are Shannon Gilbert, Karen Fraley, Edward Taylor, Denver Moore, Matt Jarrells, Dorcas Gilbert, Shane Hull, Charles Hall and Joni Pugh.

Several local races were decided in the May Primary with candidates running unopposed in the General Election. They include Anthony Silvey for PVA, Thomas M. Bertram for County Attorney, Glenda Himes for County Clerk, Johnny Bivens for Sheriff, Chris McCane for Jailer, Tony Gaydos for Coroner, Michael Ruggles for County Surveyor, Milt Stanfield for District One Magistrate, David Lancaster for District One Constable, Aaron Gilbert for District Two Constable, Joe Bentley for District Three Magistrate, Larry Colley for District Three Constable, Brian McCloud for District Judge, Larry Kegley for District One Board of Education, Robert Kennard for District Two Board of Education and Sarah Willis for District Three Board of Education.

Lovell Polley is unopposed for Mayor of Concord and four candidates have filed for the four seats on Concord City Commission. The candidates are Sheila Walker, Lynda Polley, Jerry Walker and Carol Campbell.

The polls in Lewis County will open at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday and close at 6:00 p.m. Any voter in line at 6:00 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballot.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold public to receive comments on the request for a rate increase by the East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. (EKPC) and the resulting pass-through rates to the 16 electric distribution cooperatives which own EKPC and to which it provides electricity.

“These meetings will allow the PSC to hear directly from the public as it prepares to consider whether the proposed new rates are fair, just and reasonable,” PSC Chairman David Armstrong said.

The local meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Monday, November 8, at Rowan County High School Auditorium. Other meetings are scheduled in Somerset, Nicholasville and Bardstown.

EKPC’s 16 member distribution cooperatives have over 500,000 customers in 87 counties in eastern and central Kentucky. EKPC generates electricity at four plants and operates 2,755 miles of high-voltage transmission lines.

EKPC is proposing to increase its wholesale rates by 5.27 percent in order to generate additional annual revenue of $49.4 million. Once passed through to the distribution cooperatives, the proposed higher wholesale rate would increase the typical residential customer’s monthly bill by $4.60 to $5.67, depending on the cooperative.

Fleming-Mason Energy customers would have an estimated monthly increase of $5.23 on residential bills while Grayson RECC would have an estimated monthly increase of $5.33, according to information released by the PSC.

The amounts vary because of differences in the operating conditions and customer base of each cooperative.

The EKPC application, pass-through rate applications for the distribution cooperatives and related documents are available on the PSC website, www.psc.ky.gov. The case numbers are 2010-00167 for EKPC and 2010-00168 through 2010-00183 for the distribution cooperatives.

In response to public input at previous rate case meeting, the PSC has changed the format for public meetings.

The EKPC meetings will begin with a presentation by the utility, followed by an opportunity for the public to ask questions. The parties intervening in the case – the Kentucky Office of Attorney General and Gallatin Steel Co. – also will have an opportunity to make presentations and answer questions.

Members of the public then will be invited to make comments to the PSC.

Written comments will be accepted at the meeting. Written comments also may be mailed to the PSC at PO Box 615, Frankfort, KY 40602, faxed to 502-564-9625 or e-mailed from the PSC website.

The evidentiary hearing in the cases will be combined into a single proceeding, to be held at the PSC offices at 211 Sower Boulevard in Frankfort on Tuesday, November 30, beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT.

The hearing will be open to the public, but there will be only limited opportunity for public comments. Written comments will be accepted through the conclusion of the hearing.

The evidentiary hearing may be viewed live on the PSC website.