Several Council Members Face Primary Challengers

Thirteen seats in the Louisville Metro Council are up for election this year, and Tuesday was the deadline to file to run.Some incumbent council members are facing challenges from members of their own party. In the 9th District, incumbent Democrat Tina Ward-Pugh has attracted one Democratic and two Republican challengers. Republican William Jagger says he thinks Ward-Pugh has been in office for too long."A lot of time when they become elected officials, they sit in office and they get too comfortable at their job, and that's why you need fresh ideas and you need new leadership," he says.Ward-Pugh says she will let the voters decide if her eleven years in office are too many.Both Republicans say they want more conservative approaches to job creation and economic development, while Ward-Pugh's Democratic opponent John Miller says he will bring a progressive voice to the May primary.Ward-Pugh says she's honored to have rivals on both sides of the aisle."I take that as a sign of I'm doing what I feel like I need to do, and that is representing everybody and balancing the competing interests," she says.Republican Councilman Doug Hawkins also faces a challenge inside his own party, as well as a Democratic challenger. One Democrat and three Republicans are vying for the 19th District seat currently held by Republican Hal Heiner, who is seeking the mayor's office rather than re-election.The primary is May 18th.