Jack Whitfield Jr.
Republican · KY · Hopkins County Judge-Executive
Jack Whitfield Jr. has led Hopkins County government since 2018, after serving as a county magistrate. He is an Air Force veteran, a former coal miner, and owner of Melody Lanes in Madisonville.
Where Jack Whitfield Jr. stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (3 records), Government Spending Reduction (1 record), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 3 support
Called publicly for western Kentucky to get a fair share of federal money for cleaning up old coal mines. He said each region's share should match its share of abandoned mine sites.
June 17, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: wkms.org
Signed an executive order setting a COVID-19 curfew in Hopkins County. It kept people under 18 out of public from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless with a parent or at work. It also banned public gatherings of 10 or more.
April 2, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: hoptownchronicle.org
Declared a county state of emergency on March 16, 2020, as COVID-19 began to spread. Under state law, the emergency let him later order a curfew.
March 16, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: hopkinscounty.ky.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support
Voted to cut the number of county magistrates from seven to five, a change expected to save about $60,000 a year. His vote made a 4-4 tie, so the motion failed.
August 1, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: kentuckynewera.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Made a motion for a short-term emergency contract to haul tornado debris after the December 2021 tornado. The fiscal court passed it so cleanup could start inside the 30-day window for full federal payment.
December 21, 2021Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: the-messenger.com
Track record — General
General · 7 records
Endorsed Andy Barr for U.S. Senate in the 2026 race.
April 21, 2026
Source: barrforsenate.com
Made a motion to keep seven county magistrates after two more 4-4 tie votes. He said the court should decide rather than send it to a judge. The motion passed 4-3, and he did not vote.
August 15, 2023
Source: the-messenger.com
Received a state audit of the county's 2021 books. Auditors found the county kept no ledgers or financial statement for the corporation that carries the judicial center's debt. His office replied that the treasurer would prepare the reports from then on.
June 2, 2022
Source: auditor.ky.gov
Was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear to the Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority, a state board. The term runs to April 28, 2026.
May 2, 2022
Source: wpkyonline.com
Publicly apologized for a crude Facebook post shared by a county magistrate. He said he asked the magistrate to take the post down, and it was deleted.
August 19, 2020
Source: 14news.com
Canceled his April 2, 2020 curfew order by a new executive order. He told residents to keep following state health and distancing rules.
May 4, 2020
Source: hopkinscounty.ky.gov
Signed a county resolution backing gun rights under the Second Amendment. The resolution asked state and federal lawmakers to pass no laws limiting the right to keep and bear arms.
January 7, 2020
Source: hopkinscounty.ky.gov
Past race Jack Whitfield Jr. ran in:
- Hopkins County Judge/Executive · November 3, 2026 · Hopkins County, Kentucky · incumbent