RELATED: Check out this link to see the interviews with Cave City mayoral candidates.
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GN1 staff
A total of 12 candidates, including four incumbents, are running for the six nonpartisan seats on Cave City’s governing council. The responses for candidates in this nonpartisan council race are listed in the order in which they were received. Please see below* for more information on the process by which these responses were gathered. For No. 1, the person’s preferred name and date of birth to determine current age were requested. Incumbents are designated with a double asterisk.** The exact wording of the other requests for information was:
2. In no more than 250 words, please explain what experiences (education, work, life, etc.) you have that have prepared you to take on the role you are seeking. Incumbents will be designated as such, so please only include experiences BEFORE you took office the first time.
3. In no more than 100 words, why are you seeking this office?
4. In no more than 100 words, please list/explain any potential conflicts of interest you could anticipate occurring with your role in an elected office, if you win.
Steve Pedigo,** 73
2. I’ve lived in cave city all my life and graduated from Caverna High school. I went to Lindsey Wilson college. I was a fire fighter for Cave City Fire Department for over 20 years, where I also became assistant chief over time and enjoyed my time with the department. I was also a president for Caveland Sanitation Authority. I retired from RR Donnelleys where I was an employee for 23 years. I owned multiple businesses including Pedigo Contracting, guns unlimited, and Caveland Screen Printing. I’m an active member of the community and hell in any way that I can.
3. I’m seeking this position for office to continue making Cave City the best city it can be while making sure all residents concerns and voices are heard.
4. I foresee no conflict of interest if I do win. I’ve been a City Councilman for 12 years and haven’t had any issues.
Ronald Coffey, 67
2. My experiences in marketing and sells and being able to communicate with people are some of my stronger assets. I help market our products to increase the amount of work we can get. For the city I would assist the Mayor in helping market our city in any way that I can. I would try my best to sell our city to as many businesses as I could. We need more maintenance people so we don’t work the ones we have so hard. In order to do this, we will need our code enforcements officers to be at work on a daily basis. The more we can clean our city, the better it looks to people coming in our city. To help with the buildings that are in need of repair. We need a person that will be kind and help the citizens in any way possible and at same time be able to enforce the laws we have on our books if need be. Communications with the citizens of Cave City would be a top priority. Working with the Mayor and the City Council members is a must. We all have to work hard for the people of Cave City and then we will be able to grow the city. I look forward to being a part of the City Council. Thank you very much
3. I want to be a voice for the veterans of our community and fight for the rights if need be. I want to help the mothers find affordable daycare where she can get a good paying job. A place that is safe and the mom will not have to worry if her children are ok while she works. I want to be able to help our senior citizens. Be nice to have a senior citizens park. They could get exercise and talk to other people. Taking care of the children so they can grow up in community and be glad …. (exceeded word limit)
4. If elected I don’t see any conflicts. I will work hard for the Citizens of Cave City.
Ashlyn Hudson, 27
2. I grew up just outside of Columbus GA but my family always spent their summers here. I remember what Cave City used to be and I want to bring that back. I’m a mother, Christian, wife, and the owner of a small business; a business in which I opened during the middle of the pandemic and that is thriving today. It is for these titles that you can trust that my decisions will be made with both knowledge and heart!
3. Ultimately to make a difference, and I’m certain that I can, if given the opportunity.
4. I can honestly say, I foresee zero political conflicts of interest should I be elected as a Cave City Councilwoman. Small businesses are vital to the resurgence of our town as a tourist destination. When people visit Cave City they want something unique that you can’t find in a box store or chain restaurant. We need to embrace this and support our local small business owners to encourage growth.
I’m Ashlyn Hudson (tenth on the ballot) and I would appreciate your Vote for Cave City Council this election.
Vote 10 and bring Cave City back again!
Jamie Burnett, 51
Jamie Burnett
2. I was in public service for 24 years at Farmers Rural Electric. I have been a business owner also that has given me experience with decision making and budgeting.
3. I grew up in this community and am very proud to be from Cave City. I would like to do my part to help it get back to what it once was and also help it grow for my children and yours. I want to see our children and grandchildren be able to stay here to work and live and not have to move away to chase their dreams.
4. I don’t anticipate any conflicts of interest. I am easy to get along with and very approachable. I try my best to keep an open mind and become fully informed before making decisions.
Brandon Wright, 42
Brandon Wright
2. I have over 15 years of experience running my own businesses. I have the skills needed to work with others to accomplish a goal.
3. I want to make sure the citizens of Cave City have a voice in the choices that affect our city.
4. One of my businesses does repair work from time to time on certain city vehicles. Once I take office I will necessarily end that working relationship to avoid even the appearance of conflict or impropriety. When elected, I will donate my city council salary back to the city. I am not seeking this position to benefit myself. My job is to represent the citizens of Cave City and that is exactly what I will do. It is time for Cave City to get rid of the good ol’ boy system and elect a city government that will listen to them.
Denny Doyle,** 69
2. In the past, I have worked in an office performing accounting duties, accounts payable
mainly, payroll and accounts receivable.
I have had training in radio electronics, but I let my FCC License expire years ago IOS
I have worked as a security officer (armed) and hotel security in Atlanta.
I really prefer to listen to smooth jazz when it comes to music.
3. I am running again because I have had training with the Kentucky League of Cities. (Much training) This city needs officials who have had training or are willing to go in for training. It usually is only for 4 or 5 days every two years and almost always happens in January Orientation does happen in December. (Only one day)
4. At this time, I cannot say what conflicts of interest may arise during my term in office.
Dustin Holloway, 41 (write-in)
Dustin Holloway
2. I was born and raised in Barren County and with the exception of few short-lived travels away from our small town, Cave City has always been my home. I attended Barren County High School and then The University of Kentucky after graduating. College wasn’t for me though so I moved back home and followed my calling as a carpenter. After several years of working and learning from other contractors, I started my own business. Now, I am currently building much needed housing for our small town and doing my part to help Cave City grow. I’m a father. I attend River Lake Church and my time is either spent there, work, or with family. That is my focus in life. However, I feel like I could do more. As a city council member, one should have the best interest at heart for the city so that when a vote is given it is the greater good. As a resident, I am the victim/beneficiary of these votes. I’m a firm believer that our town has been stagnant for a long time simply because our council was made of people who were comfortable with things being the way they were. I’m not comfortable. I still live job to job, check to check, project to project. While I grew up in a home full of love and with more than enough, we weren’t rich financially. There have been times I wished I had more money, but I’m thankful for the life experiences struggling …. (exceeded word limit)
3. I have witnessed Cave City booming with tourism. However, I’ve also seen our town stay rather stagnant for the majority of my life. I have always wondered why Cave City never reached its potential with a world wonder, a national park, several caves, and an interstate running adjacent to our town. The opportunity is there yet for whatever reason we are where we are. My goal is to bring business and industry to our town so that we are not solely dependent on tourism to keep our town afloat. If elected, my vote will go towards growth.
* Glasgow News 1 sent letters to these candidates via U.S. Postal Service regular mail the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 17, with a request for them to send responses by email by 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24. The deadline was then extended to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, and at least one attempt was made to contact by phone each of the candidates from whom a response had not been received, and voicemails were left with those who did not answer, to advise them of the extension. With the extension, candidates were advised that no handwritten responses would be accepted, as some had submitted or tried to submit. The letter with the questions advised candidates their responses would be copied and pasted word for word, with no editing other than if they went over the allowed number of words. Numbers to correlate with the questions have been added in some cases where the candidate did not have them; in some instances, it was left to the discretion of Glasgow News 1 to determine where one answer left off and the next began.
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