Opinion ---Pulaski County at the Crossroads: Why the 2026 Local Races Matter More Than You Think

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Somerset, Kentucky (SPA) Opinion/Editorial ---This is not the year to treat local elections like background noise. The 2026 ballot in Pulaski County for election day, May 19, 2026— County Judge, Somerset mayor, Property Valuation Administrator (PVA), sheriff, coroner, fiscal court, county attorney, and county clerk — will shape how we pay taxes, how we’re policed, how development is managed, and how everyday disputes are settled for years to come. Too often, we wait for national dramas to draw our attention while the people who actually run the courthouse and city hall go quietly unexamined. That’s a mistake we can’t afford.

Change is already in motion. Somerset’s mayor, Alan Keck, has announced he will not seek a third term — opening a high-profile race that will define downtown redevelopment, public safety strategy, and economic partnerships with Pulaski County. With the mayor’s decision, the city faces a genuine opportunity to reset priorities — or the risk of muddled leadership during a transitional period. 

At the county level, several offices that look technical on the ballot are actually central to fairness and accountability. The PVA — the office that values your home and business for property tax purposes — already saw turnover in 2025 when a new PVA took office. That change is a reminder that who holds valuation power matters: assessment methods, appeals transparency, and staffing choices have direct financial consequences for homeowners and businesses. Voters should demand candidates who can explain assessment methodology, error checks, and how they’ll reduce taxation surprises. 

Public safety and public trust are on the line. The sheriff’s race is never just about patrols and arrests — it’s about budget priorities, jail management, mental-health responses, and how deputies engage with the community. Early filings around the region show law-enforcement contests are already drawing interest; Pulaski County residents should expect heated debates about drug enforcement, recruitment and retention of deputies, and transparency in use-of-force and complaint handling. Don’t let the rhetoric drown out specifics: ask candidates how they will measure success, manage the department’s budget, and partner with mental-health and addiction services.

Health, dignity, and competence will define the coroner race. When families face death, they expect a coroner who is skilled, impartial, and sensitive. Local reporting indicates at least one qualified candidate — a licensed funeral director and embalmer — has entered the coroner race, and others are announcing intentions via local channels. These are not ceremonial roles; coroners conduct death investigations, guide grieving families, and produce records that can affect criminal cases and public health responses. Voters should look for professional credentials and clear plans for timely, transparent death investigations. 

Fiscal Court, County Attorney, and County Clerk: the quiet powerhouses. Fiscal Court sets budgets that determine road repairs, local grants, and emergency services. The county attorney shapes prosecution priorities in district court and instructs local government on legal risk. The county clerk keeps the mechanics of elections and land records running. Recent local reporting is already urging residents to start paying attention to these races and to the voter registration and qualifying deadlines that the Commonwealth publishes. If you want to influence how Pulaski County spends its tax dollars or how accessible public records are, these are the seats to watch.