A Tompkinsville businessman is the newest member of the Kentucky General Assembly. Republican Bart Rowland won a special election Tuesday against Democrat Barry Dean Steele. The Monroe County native and insurance executive will represent the heavily Republican 53rd district which covers Monroe, Metcalfe, Cumberland, and Green counties.
He will fill the remaining term of James Comer, who was elected state Agriculture Commissioner. The term lasts until the end of the year. Rowland has filed to run for a full four-year term. He must first get through the GOP primary in May which so far features four candidates. As of now, three people have filed for the Democratic primary. The deadline to file to run for legislative seats is this Friday. A judge has thrown out the new legislative re-districting map, so at least for now, candidates will run in their current districts.
