FISCAL COURT: Hedges, Whitehouse edge out competition

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Anna Hedges Photography

Bill Hedges is a candidate for magistrate in District 4.

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Shelby County Magistrate Mike Whitehouse.

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In the races for the two openings on Shelby County Fiscal Court,  District 7 incumbent Democrat Mike Whitehouse came out on top again, just as he has for 21 years, beating Republican Jeff Carman by a  margin of 153 votes.

And in District 4 a battle between two newcomers to the political arena, Republican Bill Hedges nosed out Democrat John. C. Lewis, 1,097-917.

Although neither man has held office before, Hedges did previously run for magistrate in 2002.

The two were vying for the seat vacated by long-time magistrate Cordy Armstrong, who will retire at the end of this term after holding the office for 25 years.

Armstrong, who defeated Hedges by 300 votes in 2002, said both Hedges and Lewis were good candidates.

“Maybe him [Hedges] running against me back then got his name out a little more,” he said.

In the District 7 race, Carman, a 6-year resident of Finchville and graduate of Asbury College, had expressed sentiments before the election that Whitehouse and the other magistrates had become too complacent of late and that the county needed new blood on fiscal court.

But apparently, the voters in that district, encompassing the southern portion of the county, did not agree.

“Well, I did get beat downtown, but I won out here,” Carman said, referring to his neighborhood.

Whitehouse got 53 percent of the vote.

Whitehouse, a Martinrea employee, Taylorsville High School graduate and vice president of Autoworkers Local Union No. 2383, acknowledged that the vote was a close one but added that, “a win is a win.”

“I’m just out picking up signs right now,” he said right after the votes were tallied. “I’m just glad it’s over – it’s been a long haul.”

Lewis and Hedges  campaigned strenuously throughout District 4, which encompasses Bagdad, Cropper, Jail Hill and the Boone Station voting precincts.

Lewis, a Bagdad resident, said after the votes were tallied that he had had better nights, but still wished his opponent well.

“I just called to congratulate Bill,” he said.

He and Hedges were well-known around the county for running a clean race, devoid of animosity and mudslinging, and both say they will remain friends now that the election is over and Hedges has acquired the coveted magistrate’s position they have both worked so hard for.

Hedges echoed Lewis’ feelings about remaining friends.

“I want John to know I appreciate him running such a clean race and I know our friendship will continue to be strong,” he said.

Lewis, son of Jack and Stella Lewis,  operates his own lawn care service, Johnny’s Lawn Service,  and is a 1978 graduate of Shelby County High School. He is a member and past president of the Bagdad Ruritan Club with 32 years perfect attendance.

He said that even though he lost, “It’s been a good race and I met a lot of good people and made a lot of good friends. And I learned a lot, too. All in all, it was a great experience.”

Hedges has worked in the transportation industry for more than 30 years as a dispatcher, safety director and truck driver.

During the election, both candidates had emphasized economic issues as major focuses on their campaigns.

Before they were weeded out in the primary election in the spring, the District 4 race initially had several candidates, most of whom, when asked why they were running at this time, said they didn’t run before because they knew they didn’t stand a chance of defeating longtime magistrate Cordy Armstrong.

“I sure want to thank Cordy for retiring,” Hedges said with a chuckle. “He beat me good in 2002 and I wasn’t about to try to run against him again.”

Armstrong said he feels good about Hedges taking his place on the fiscal court next year.

“Bill has got a good head on his shoulders and he will do a good job for the county,” he said.