House 97: Collins Draws Opponent
Democratic Rep. and House Transportation Chair Hubie Collins has drawn an opponent for 2010.
A well-known former basketball coach from Eastern Kentucky has announced that he will run for state representative.
Bill Mike Runyon who retired from coaching at Paintsville High School last year, is seeking the Republican Party's nomination to run in the 97th District, which serves Johnson and Martin counties, and parts of Pike and Floyd counties.
The seat is currently held by Rep. Hubert Collins, a Democrat who has served since 1991.
A press release said Runyon would like to tackle issues, such as "the full out assault on coal mining, the strangle hold the government has on our individual liberties, the problems with our state budget, and the need to move forward in education."
Runyon who has also retired from teaching, currently serves on the Paintsville City Council.
Rep. Collins ranked #78 with a paltry score of 24 in our 2008 scorecard.
The district itself swings pretty well. Martin and Johnson counties can be strong Republican counties. McConnell received 63% of the vote in these two counties in 2008 and McCain received 73%. About two-thirds of 97th district voters are in these two counties. The remaining third live in portions of Pike and Floyd counties. These two counties are strongly Democratic, where Bruce Lunsford received 60% of the vote. If you weigh the 2008 Senate vote two-thirds to Martin and Johnson and one-third to Pike and Floyd, that would represent about 55% for McConnell, suggesting there is an opportunity for the challenger.
