Denise McWhorter - candidate for magistrate

UPDATE: Denise fell short in her run for magistrate. She came in second in a field of six candidates. Winner Kory Naranjo gave her a big hug when the results were announced on Tuesday evening.

Denise McWhorter is running for the job of Hickman County District #2 Magistrate in the Democratic primary on May 20th. She is part of the 7% of Kentucky women running for a job traditionally held by a man.

During the campaign, she’s been asked if a woman can even be a magistrate. Her answer is “Why not?” Then she cites her experience and qualifications. McWhorter has thirty eight years of bookkeeping experience, four of those years in the office of the Hickman County judge. She has worked at ABC Bookkeeping since 1979.

The candidate sings and plays the organ and keyboard for church services in multiple churches around the area. She’s often finishes playing for a worship service and heads for the service and then the next.

She is married to Joe McWhorter and is a mom and a grandmother, with one daughter and two grandchildren. Family is highly important to McWhorter.

Recently, she was faced with the decision of campaigning or fulfilling a request to play for a funeral. She opted for the funeral.

“It’s a family that I could help when they were in need.” she said.

McWhorter strongly believes that she should not make promises to voters just to get votes. What she does promise is to work hard and listen.