LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — A former state senator is looking to return to Frankfort in January after receiving the Republican nomination on Thursday night.

Albert Robinson, who was unseated by London attorney Tom Jensen in the Republican primary more than a decade ago, is the Republican choice to fill the seat Jensen recently vacated in order to run for Laurel/Knox Circuit Judge.

Robinson was challenged in the Republican nomination by Mike Calebs.

Approximately 60 people filled the courtroom on the third floor of the Laurel County Courthouse Thursday night as the executive committee members from the five counties in the 21st District gathered to make their nominations and vote.

State Republican Party Chair, Steve Robertson, moderated the meeting, explaining the procedures of the nomination and vote to those present.



How the vote works

The executive committee, which is comprised of members in Laurel, Jackson, Menifee, Powell and Estill counties, voted for their choice for this year’s Republican nomination for state senator.

Robertson explained the total number of registered Republican voters in each county would be divided by the number of people voting. The nominee had to receive more than 50 percent of the total votes, or a second vote would be held.

First, the registered voters of each county at the last general election is taken per county. The larger the county, the larger number of committee members and the larger number of votes, Robertson said.

When a nomination is held, the number of persons on the executive committee from that county who are present at the meeting is divided into the total number of votes. For instance, Laurel County had a total of 29,652 registered Republicans at the last general election and has 13 people on the executive committee. Once divided, each person who cast a vote for the Republican nominee counted for 2,280 votes.

Jackson County had 7,802 registered Republicans and only two people participating in the voting process, with their votes counting as 3,901 votes each. Powell County had 2,060 votes and two people attending, giving each of them 1,030 votes each. Estill County had only one person showing up on Thursday night, making that person’s vote count for all the 5,290 votes for Estill County. Menifee County had the smallest amount of registered voters with 721, but since no representative showed for that county, their votes were excluded from the total needed for a 50-percent majority.

Each executive committee members is required to write down a vote and place it in an envelope. Once each representative from each county has cast their votes, the moderator asks each candidate to choose someone to witness the counting of the votes. Once this is completed, the person pulling in more than 50 percent of the votes is chosen as the nominee.

Once the nominations were completed, each candidate addresses the committee and spectators attending the nomination meeting.



The speeches

Mike Calebs, a newcomer to the political scene, made his plea before the crowd, promising to serve each county in the district fairly. An employee of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Calebs said, “I know roads, highways, and how to fund them.”

As a farmer, a former teacher, a former firefighter, and now a Sunday School teacher, Calebs said he is well versed on how to save a dollar. He admitted the many problems facing our state besides the economic crisis, such as drug problems and the lack of vocational training.

“Some counties don’t have a vocational school. College is not for everyone. We need a vocational school in every county and I will work to see that happens,” Calebs said.

Robinson addressed the crowd, stating those familiar with him and his policies knew that “God, country and family come first.”

The problems in the state and in the nation, he said, stem from lack of faith and strong principles.

“When you leave Biblical principles behind, you’re going to have problems,” Robinson said.

Robinson also addressed redistricting, stating the large population of Laurel County qualifies it for “its own representative,” and criticizing the latest re-districting effort that divides Laurel into four representative districts — with Laurel voters being the minority in all four.



The announcement

As the nomination was announced, Robinson stood and waved at the crowd, then walked to the front of the courtroom.

“I promise I’ll not let you down.”

Calebs said, despite the outcome, he would continue to work for the Republican Party.

“I wanted the opportunity to serve the 21st Senatorial district,” he said. “Now we all need to work together to move the party and the state forward.”



njohnson@sentinel-echo.com