STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Republican candidates for three Barren County government offices met the community Tuesday night via a question and answer forum at the Plaza Theatre.
The forum began with candidates for jailer — incumbent Aaron Shirley, and challengers Hunter Jones and Larry Poteet — introducing themselves. Shirley has been jailer since winning election in 2022. Both Jones and Poteet have previously worked at the Barren County Detention Center. Poteet recently served in political office as mayor of Park City. Jones has not previously held elected office.
Barren County jailer candidates, from left, Larry Poteet, Hunter Jones and Aaron Shirley, are pictured during a forum at the Plaza Theatre on May 5, 2026. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Candidates for sheriff — Adam Bow, Freddie Wilkerson and Steve Garrison — followed on stage. Bow is a current deputy with the Barren County Sheriff’s Office. Wilkerson is retired from the National Guard. None of the three have held an elected office before.
Barren County sheriff’s office candidates, from left, Steve Garrison, Freddie Wilkerson and Adam Bow, are pictured during a forum at the Plaza Theatre on May 5, 2026. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Finally, the judge-executive race features only two candidates — incumbents Jamie Bewley Byrd and challenger Paula Ratliff Pedigo. Bewley was elected to office in 2022. Pedigo is running for elected office for the first time.
The primary election is May 19. There is only a Republican primary for the three offices featured at the forum because there were not enough Democratic party candidates running to trigger a Democratic primary. The winner of the primary for judge-executive and sheriff will run unopposed in the November general election. The winner of the jailer primary will face Democrat James Scott in the November election.
See the full list of candidates running for public office here.
Watch our interview with Judge-Executive candidate Jamie Bewley Byrd.
Watch our interview with Judge-Executive candidate Paula Ratliff Pedigo.
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