2 Danville attorneys compete in March 8 special House election

A Danville attorney who worked for U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning during college and another Danville attorney who was a Navy fighter pilot and now is assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Boyle and Mercer counties are the candidates in the crucial House special election in the 54th District.

Republican Daniel B. Elliott and Democrat Bill Noelker are making their first bids for public office to represent the district, made up of Boyle and Casey counties.

The race has attracted more attention than usual because it is one of four special House elections on March 8 to fill vacancies and possibly shift the balance of power in the lawmaking chamber.

Democrats now hold a 50-46 margin in the House. If Republicans win all four special elections, the House would be split 50-50 along party lines. That would be unprecedented in the state and would raise questions about who would govern the chamber. Republicans now control the governor’s office and the Senate.

Republican Gov. Matt Bevin and former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who have been at odds over health care issues, have appeared at fundraisers in the 54th District to tout their parties’ candidates.

Elliott, 31, and Noelker, 50, are trying to replace Republican Mike Harmon of Danville, who was elected in November to be Kentucky’s auditor. Harmon’s House term runs through Dec. 31. Elliott and Noelker also have filed to run in the May primary elections to try to gain a full term for the next two years.

The district is Republican in voter registration. According to the state Board of Elections, the 54th District has 16,422 Republicans and 13,577 Democrats. In Boyle County, about 60 percent of voters are Democrats. Casey County is heavily Republican, with about 80 percent of voters in the GOP camp.

Elliott said his conservative stances, especially his desire to shut down the Beshear-created Kynect health insurance exchange, will propel him to victory.

“I very much look forward to voting out (House Speaker) Greg Stumbo and the other liberal leaders in the House and put the House in a different direction,” he said.

Noelker said the race would hinge on issues specific to the district.

“I’m working hard on the flooding issue in Casey County,” Noelker said. “People there are desperate for help. These are local races. I’m looking at why the Green River seems to be clogged with silt and debris that causes so much flooding. That’s one of my priorities, and I think the people of Casey County appreciate that.”

In his legal career, Elliott said, he represents people “with nowhere else to turn.” He said he would do the same as a state representative.

He said President Obama has hurt Kentuckians. “Today, thousands of Kentuckians remain out of work or underemployed, waiting for a stagnant economy to slowly recover. While living under Obama’s policies, we have experienced a slumping economy, a health care disaster, higher utility rates due to the war on coal, and Obama’s EPA reaching our family farms. These job-crushing policies are unacceptable, and Kentucky families just cannot afford them.”

Noelker said he sees running for the state legislature as an extension of his military service. He was a naval aviator who flew combat missions in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq.

Asked about GOP efforts to tie him to Obama, Noelker said, “This is not a national election. It’s about the people of Casey and Boyle counties. It’s unfortunate that a lot of outside money is coming into Kentucky to help Republican candidates from wealthy people who want to decide what’s best for our state.”

Concerning Kynect, Noelker said he thinks every Kentuckian should have affordable health care.

“I can’t justify how it is fiscally responsible to use millions of dollars to disassemble a program that has helped so many Kentuckians,” he said.

In hopes of boosting his campaign, Elliott has received the endorsement of Medal of Honor recipient Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer of Columbia, who was grand marshal of Bevin’s inaugural parade in December.

“We have been stuck with the same, ineffective liberal leadership in the state House for as long as anyone can remember, but the special elections on March 8 have everyone working with renewed fervor,” Meyer said in a news release. “With the right candidates, we have a very real chance to see conservative leadership in the House once more, which I believe many of us can agree is needed.”

Noelker’s response: “There’s a big difference in being endorsed by a military man and being in the military.”

Noelker said the major difference in the race is “life experiences.”

“If you look at the two of us, I am the one with a tremendous amount of life experiences,” he said. “I know what it is to continue to pay on a mortgage. Daniel is not in the same ballpark with life experiences.”

Elliott said he has devoted his life to community.

“Many people I represent don’t have lobbyists,” he said. “My priority will be to fight every day for working families.”

In campaign fundraising, Elliott held a lead over Noelker as of Feb. 5.

Campaign finance reports showed Elliott had raised $36,050 to Noelker’s $28,295. Elliott took in $13,434 from a Danville fundraiser and $10,000 from political action committees. The House Democratic Caucus gave $10,000 to Noelker, who raised $2,400 from a Danville fundraiser.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 12:27 PM with the headline "2 Danville attorneys compete in March 8 special House election."