Council Candidates Feature Notable Activists

Candidates for the Louisville Metro Council in next year’s election include a Tea Party activist, real estate agent and unemployed trucker driver.In Metro Government history, voters have unseated only three incumbents. In 2006, Judy Green beat Leonard Watkins in District 1 in the Democratic primary. Last year, Democrat David Yates beat Republican Doug Hawkins in a close race and Democratic David James unseated independent Deonte Hollowell.Community activist Curtis Morrison is running against incumbent Councilman Tom Owen, D-8, in the 2012 Democratic primary. He says challengers need to highlight their vision and the council backing down to the mayor’s office."We need a Metro Council with some courage that will stand up to and be a check and balance on the mayor and not just go along with whatever he wants. And I’ve seen vote after vote where they just go along with the mayor no matter who the mayor is. Seems like they just go along and I don’t think that’s the way this is supposed to work," he says.Other candidates include former Republican congressional candidate and Tea Party activist Marilyn Parker and businesswoman Rosa Macklin. Parker is running in the GOP primary against Councilman Jon Ackerson, R-18, and Macklin is challenging Councilwoman Attica Woodson Scott, D-1, who was recently appointed.In the District 8 contest, Owen is considered a popular incumbent who once raised $55,000 for a council race and previously ran for mayor in the old city before merger. But Morrison says council incumbents stay in office because they are loyal to special interests over average constituents."One of the reasons why the incumbent that your referencing is so good at fundraising is he’s very aligned with the power structure that keeps things they way they are," he says. "I’m not and so I’m not expecting to get money from that faction or those interests."Residents eligible to run for office have until January 31 to file with the secretary of state's office.