Pulaski County will not be holding a primary election this May, due to a lack of contested races. The county election board made it official Thursday, by formally approving a motion not to have a primary this year. Clerk JoLynn Behny explained, “The only two municipalities that are having elections are the Town of Medaryville – and they have no contested seats, and nobody is running for Medaryville town clerk – and the Town of Monterey has chosen to have a convention.”
Three Republicans and one Democrat have filed for the three Medaryville Town Council seats. Voters will make their decision during November’s general election. Monterey candidates have until August 1 to file for a town convention.
Additionally, Behny said that counties not holding a primary are required to pass a formal resolution, indicating how much money the county will save. She’s still working on a final figure. “I can tell you that by looking at what’s been budgeted for 2019 for elections, by not holding a primary, we will save in the area of $6,775.” Behny plans to present a resolution for the approval of the election board and county commissioners next month.
Medaryville is in the process of moving its election cycle to presidential election years, in an effort to save costs. Monterey officials have been less interested in doing that, according to Election Board Member Jessye Gilley.
