Voter Apathy In Ky. Primary

A publicist edged a former Democrat Tuesday to win the Republican gubernatorial nomination in a primary election that may rank as Kentucky's worst ever for voter turnout.

Peppy Martin won the GOP's nomination over David Williams on Tuesday, and will face heavily favored incumbent Gov. Paul Patton in the general election. Patton was not challenged in the Democratic primary.

This is the first Kentucky gubernatorial race in which an incumbent has been allowed to succeed himself in nearly 200 years. The state constitution was changed in 1992 to allow succession.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting in the GOP race, Martin had 19,198 votes, or 51 percent, while Williams, who ran for the Senate as a Democrat a year ago, had 18,201 votes, or 49 percent.

Even with incomplete returns, barely eight percent of registered Democrats cast ballots along with only five percent of Republicans. Secretary of State John Brown III said final results could show the lowest turnout in state history.

Ms. Martin has worked in various capacities, but has most recently been a publicist working on her farm in Hart County.

Williams, who at one time ran a utility construction company, has been disabled with throat cancer and speaks with the aid of a mechanical device. His wife, Joanna, was his running mate.

Patton is heavily favored to win re-election, largely because Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans on Kentucky voter registration rolls.

By Mark R. Chellgren