Fiscal court was a feisty environment in October of 1964. Last week, we read that a couple magistrates had verbally attacked the county judge over a trash issue. This week, one of the same magistrates was again on the attack – this time “lighting up” the local electric co-op for getting a little too involved in the national political scene.
There was a lot of news to report this week 60 years ago, so let’s get right to it. Here’s what was newsworthy in Pulaski County this week in 1964, from the pages of The Somerset Journal. South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation was criticized today by Magistrate J.
Frank Harris in Fiscal Court for the display of a political poster in the lobby of the co-op’s building on North Highway 1247. Harris told court members that a sign opposing Senator Barry Goldwater was displayed at the co-op near the window where customers pay their bills. Harris moved that the court request the co-op to remove the political poster or either give equal space to supporters of Goldwater.
Four of the seven magistrates present voted to send a letter to the co-op concerning the request. Three magistrates passed and would not vote. .
.. County Judge John Garner voted no on the motion.
“They’re campaigning for Johnson with the people’s money,” Harris charged. “The poster was even lighted with the people’s electricity,” Harris added. The Co-op is “owned by the people and controlled by the Democrats,” Harris said.
He also charge.