The race for public office in Caldwell County is heating up ahead of the 2026 election, with three familiar faces filing to run for key positions in the county.
Jeff Simms, who previously filed on November 5th to seek a third term as District 4 magistrate, withdrew from that race after Kota Young announced on December 1st that he would not seek another term as judge-executive.
Simms, a Republican, officially filed his paperwork at the Caldwell County Clerk’s Office on Tuesday to run for the judge-executive seat. Simms believes his experience, education, and service as a magistrate have prepared him for both the present responsibilities and the future challenges facing the county.
click to download audioAfter Simms withdrew his name from the District 4 magisterial race and announced his intention to run for judge-executive, former Caldwell County Animal Shelter Director and Animal Control Officer Kevin Lane filed his paperwork on Monday, December 15, to run for a seat on Fiscal Court.
Lane, a Republican, who resigned from the Animal Shelter last month and previously spent 11 years with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, says he wants to continue serving the community and believes his experience will benefit the public.
Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Boyd James Bates submitted his paperwork at the Caldwell County Clerk’s Office on December 5th to run for sheriff. The position is currently held by Republican Don Weedman, who filed on November 7th to seek another term.
Bates, a native of Fredonia, has prior law enforcement experience with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the police departments in Providence and Cadiz, and the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office.
