Several local candidates running for office in 2026 got a head start on the campaign trail last week during a quarterly meeting of the local Republican party organization.
Republican candidates were invited to attend the meeting and introduce themselves before the audience and on a live social media stream.
Eight candidates took advantage of the opportunity. Three of those candidates are running for county judge executive. Incumbent Larry Russell Bryant, former judge executive Gale Cowan, and magistrate Chris Reeder all spoke. Also making comments were Nadalie Inscho, a candidate for county clerk; Jimmy Eaton, a candidate for magistrate, District 2; Mark Humphress, incumbent candidate for magistrate District 6; Richard Phelps, candidate for magistrate, District 7; and Jason Rector, incumbent candidate for constable, District 6.
Larry Russell Bryant
Bryant spoke for around nine minutes, commenting that his first term as county judge executive has brought tough at times but also a delight in other aspects.
He noted that in the past he served four years on the school board and on the utility district board. He said he feels strongly about economic development and to give young people an opportunity to stay here. He said the county has made significant strides in economic development and just announced 2,000 ft. of blacktop at the commerce park.
Bryant said the park is a “poster child” for a state economic development funding program with the development that has taken place at the park.
“Things are moving forward, and it seems like every week or two we have a request for information, so we know it’s just a matter of time until our economic development program starts coming together and hopefully we will get some jobs,” he said.
The spin-off to that is Bryant trying to get a vocational school, he said. He talked about Adair County students traveling to Russell County to take vocational classes.
Bryant said he appointed tourism director Paige Nichol, a position that had not been filled until his appointment. He said the position is required to receive money from the state.
He noted that he has appointed people to the tourism board and the ambulance board.
Bryant then talked about his decision to appoint Jamie Richard as sheriff when the office became vacant.
“When he came in, he was needing hazardous duty pay. Once we got that straightened out where he could get hazardous duty, he retired. I did not ask him to retire. He said, ‘You won’t have to worry about me leaving once I get my retirement.’ Got it in for him, he left, then I moved Buddy Powell into the jailer’s position, and according to the people who work over there Buddy Powell is doing a fantastic job for our jail.”
Bryant said he calls the jail a sinkhole for the county’s taxpayer money, but he is working on the problem. He said he then appointed Gary Roy as sheriff.
He has put three new board members on the utility district and has two more he plans to replace before his term is over.
“So, I will have all the water district board members out there on that,” he said.
Bryant complimented the work at the recycling center, said he had appointed a new 911 director and emergency management director, “and all these appointments I am really proud of.”
Bryant said the county has new jobs through Martin Peterbilt, and Phillips Tank Company in the Sparksville community. He noted that the county just bought a new mower and tractor to replace ones that burnt, and bought a forklift for recycling through a grant.
“My conscious is clear on the stands I had had to make on some of the things that are not favorable in some people’s eyes, that’s fine, I don’t worry about that,” he said. “I do appreciate the support and encouragement I have gotten from the citizens of Adair County. I have stood for the people that couldn’t stand for themselves.”
Gale Cowan
Cowan spoke for around two minutes, noting that she worked in the judge’s office for 27.5 years, working under three judges before running for the office herself. Her term in office encompassed when the country was affected by Covid and “slowed about everything down. Hopefully the next term we won’t have to deal with a worldwide pandemic.”
“If I am elected again, I will have an open-door policy. I will serve all of the citizens of Adair County,” she said.
Cowan said she will work with the EDA board as she did in the past, to hopefully bring jobs to the commerce park.
“I will work with our fiscal court, and not against them. I know we won’t always agree, but I hope we would be able to sit down, discuss the matter at hand and work out the best scenario for Adair County,” she said. “Our fiscal court meetings should not be a shouting match.”
Cowan said she wants to talk with young people. She has been working as a substitute teacher and has seen that the county has amazing young leaders coming up.
“We need to pay attention to them,” she said,
She wants to work with state and federal legislators to bring in more money into areas that need attention, such as roads, emergency services and jail, to name a few.
If elected, Cowan said, “I promise to do my job myself. I will not have a deputy judge.”
“I want to work for the citizens of Adair County. And I would appreciate you all’s support.”
Chris Reeder
Chris Reeder is serving his second term as magistrate and running for county judge executive. He spoke for around four minutes.
Reeder said preparing for his comments brought three words to mind: professional, respect and effective, all traits of a good leader.
He said he will treat everyone with respect and treat every issue brought before the court professionally and with respect, “as good leaders do, as good humans do.”
“I will work to create a work environment for all departments in county government that are based on professionalism, respect, transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness,” Reeder said.
Reeder said staff will be encouraged, coached and held accountable.
“We are funded through taxpayer dollars, so we have to do our absolute best job to be as efficient and effective as we can be,” he said.
Reeder said people hear about needing more money and adding on a tax.
“We don’t see a lot of planning on how to be more efficient, cutting in places that could be cut. We don’t see any plans on how that money may be used if we had it,” he said.
With a lot of Adair County residents struggling to pay bills, the county government must account for every dollar and waste none, Reeder said, promising that “no one will work as hard for you as I will on that topic.”
Reeder said he speaks with state legislators almost weekly now and commits to do that as judge.
“I want them to know that when they invest in Adair County that Chris Reeder will work harder than anybody to do the best with their investment,” he said. “If we want better opportunities for Adair County, we have to go get them.”
Reeder complimented the road department but said there is room for improvement.
“We have to be better organized, we have to plan better, we have to schedule better, and we have to do better.”
Reeder said the county judge executive position requires someone capable of being at the governor’s office one day and helping at the animal shelter or mowing a road the next day.
“I will work with our fiscal court to make good, common sense decisions that will move Adair County forward in the future,” he said.
Nadalie Inscho
Nadalie Inscho is a candidate for Adair County clerk. Inscho has worked in the clerk’s office for 18 years and worked with three clerks. She has been overseeing the election department for around 10 years.
“So, anything that happens election day, I’m behind the scenes and have had a part in making it happen,” she said. “I have been to trainings for over 10 years at least once a month on typical races. I go to the high school usually twice a year to speak to high school students. I’ve worked on helping register those voters, educating them on the process, how things work.”
Inscho also works the front line at the clerk’s office and has experience with registering vehicles and other daily and weekly responsibilities.
“I pretty much know that office front and back – I’m pretty proud of that. I’ve worked hard to learn it and to do a good job and to serve the people of Adair County. I would like to continue doing that and I appreciate everyone’s prayers and support.”
James “Jimmy” Eaton
Jimmy Eaton is running for magistrate, District 2, and said his main goal is to work with whoever takes office as county judge executive.
“We have to work together to make things go and progress,” he said.
Eaton said he would be the voice of the voters and stand for them.
“My main goal is to move Adair County and District 2 forward and make smart decisions and just work with whoever I have to work with to make it happen,” he said.
Mark Humphress
Mark Humphress is a candidate for magistrate, District 6. He is serving his first term in office.
“I try to work to help the county taxpayers out to make the money go as far as it can,” he said.
Humphress said he knows times are hard for people, and they have had to make some tough decisions.
“It’s been a rough three years so far, but I’m willing to work with people,” he said. “I answer every phone call; if I don’t answer, I always return the phone call.”
Richard Phelps
Richard Phelps is a candidate for magistrate, District 7.
Phelps said he has served the county professionally for 48 years, has served as a deputy coroner for 20 years, has been involved in “just about every organization there is in this county,” and currently serves on the board for the Economic Development Authority.
He has served on the board and been president of the chamber of commerce.
“I am going to serve with fairness and honesty. I pledge to attend the meetings of the taxing districts of this county, the extension board, the airport board (editor’s note: the airport board is not a taxing district but does receive some taxpayer funding), the health department,” he said. “Everything that is receiving tax money, I would like to be there and to know what their concerns and what their issues are.”
Phelps said he will work with whoever is elected judge.
Jason Rector
Jason Rector is the incumbent constable for District 6. He has held the office since 2007 and spoke briefly to announce his plan to run again.
