Allen County’s ‘Up All Night’ hosts candidate meet and greet, auction

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. – Candidates in the different Allen County elections made their way to the Washington Center in downtown Scottsville Friday for an auction benefitting Up All Night, a group that helps Allen County Scottsville High School seniors have a memorable prom night once they leave.

“{We} allow all of the seniors in the class to come back in, stay inside the school, play games, make those lasting memories for the class that may not be able to do other things or keep them out of other things, I should say, and allow them just to celebrate one last time as a class,” Class of 2026 president Jonathan Turner says.

We spoke to both candidates in the Judge Executive race, just one of the many that will be decided on May 19th. Incumbent Dennis Harper says he wants to focus on the brand-new park that’s being built and how it will impact the future of Allen County.

“Our kids are driving back and forth to Bowling Green a lot, and they see those really nice parks in between here and Bowling Green. Our kids deserve to play on the just as nice parks as those kids are playing on… and if I’m going to do all I can possible to make sure that happens,” he says.

Meanwhile, challenger Rob Herrington says he wants to focus on the internal aspects of being Judge Executive with his three main campaign points: transparency, fiscal responsibility and collaboration.

“I believe the citizens of Allen County need to know what’s going on in real time. Right now, there’s just no good way of reporting. I’d like to see more of that stuff. To be out in the public every couple of weeks when those fiscal court meetings happen. They need to know where their tax dollars are going,” he says.

Both men agree on one thing: a night like this is important as we approach the primary on May 19th.

“It’s always been important with me, not just during election time but my whole 20 year career working with the county, being on the Fiscal Court… I’ve always attended events and make sure I get out and talk to the community, see what’s important to them, to see what I can do to help them,” Harper says.

“We do have some ways of getting our face out there like this event tonight, which is a great event for Up All Night. It’s a great way to… not just for the people to meet the candidates, but the Up All Night program itself. Get out on May 19th and vote,” adds Herrington.