While We Wait For Fancy Farm Theatrics, Joe Denning Has Filed To Run For Bowling Green City Mayor; He'll Face Bruce Wilkerson.

Denning files for mayoral position
Incumbent will face Wilkerson in November’s special election
By ANDREW ROBINSON

Bowling Green officially has a mayoral race.

Incumbent Joe Denning filed his paperwork Friday afternoon. He’ll face City Commissioner Bruce Wilkerson in November’s special election.

Wilkerson filed Jan. 31 for the position.

“I think the main thing is that the citizens of Bowling Green and our community have an opportunity to choose from two individuals who are very capable,” Denning said. “Bruce and I are friends. It will be left up to the voters when they go to the voting booths to make their own decision.”

Bringing jobs to the city looks to be the hot topic of the campaign.

“We’ve got to recruit jobs to our community,” Denning said. “Jobs make Bowling Green the city that it is. We’ve got to have those jobs for occupational tax.”

Wilkerson made similar comments when he filed this year. Wilkerson said the city must create an atmosphere that makes businesses want to locate in Bowling Green.

Denning said he doesn’t see a whole lot of difference between running for mayor and running for commissioner, as he has done a number of times.

“I hope voters realize that I’m there to do the best job I can and I have been fortunate over the years to have been in public service for as long as I have,” Denning said. “I hope that is one of the considerations when they go to the polls.”

The city is having the special election in November after former Mayor Elaine Walker was appointed as Kentucky’s secretary of state. Denning was then appointed mayor by the commission.

Should Denning lose in November’s race, he would be off the commission, while if Wilkerson loses the mayoral race, he will keep his commission seat because his term does not expire until 2012. Denning, however, has already been sworn in as mayor, effectively leaving his commissioner seat.

Robin Baldwin and incumbent Melinda Hill have both filed to run for the city commission seat that will be up for grabs in November.

The deadline to file for the office of mayor or city commissioner is 4 p.m. Tuesday.