Henderson County Property Valuation Administrator Andrew Powell announced Thursday that he is switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
Powell, who was first elected in 2018, is in his second term as PVA.
His switch comes ahead of the next election cycle when he will likely take on Republican Joe McGarrh, who is currently serving on the Henderson County School Board. McGarrh has publicly announced that he will run for the PVA spot at the Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in September and more recently in a Facebook post.
Candidates can officially throw their name in the hat on Nov. 5, when the county clerk’s office begins accepting official filings for office.
In a press release Powell sent out Thursday afternoon, he said, “Over the past several years, I’ve realized that my beliefs and principles more closely align with the Republican Party.”
Powell in an interview with the Hendersonian, however, declined to expand on that or offer specifics regarding that statement. He said that he doesn’t want to be preachy or condemn anybody else.
“I just feel the world is changing in many ways,” he said. “That’s where I am.”
Although McGarrh said he welcomes any elected official to the Republican Party, he did say of Powell’s switch that “the timing is a little interesting.”
The primary election for both Republicans and Democrats is on May 19.
Powell said he announced the party change at this time because he was elected as a Democrat and wanted to stay true to that party for as much of his term, but with his mind made to change, he didn’t want to do that during a third term. He said he’s tried to fulfill the work during his term as a Democrat and “now seemed right to make a change.”
McGarrh said he questions whether Powell can run both the PVA office as well as the Rhythm River Distillery, where he is the president and co-founder. The distillery is expected to open for business either late this year or next year. McGarrh said the taxpayers of Henderson County deserve a PVA administrator who can devote 100% of their time to the office.
Powell took issue with that statement, saying, “I’m never going to apologize for doing things (for Henderson) and moving Henderson County forward.”
He also said that he’s been in his role with the distillery for two years now—throughout planning and current construction—and the PVA office “is in the best shape it’s even been in now.” Additionally, he said his wife, Meredith, will be running the day-to-day operations of the distillery.
McGarrh his family’s trucking business, Bluegrass Trucking, has been sold to Silver Creek Transportation, and he has taken a job with them. If he wins the election, he said he’ll resign to focus on the PVA office.
But, there’s a chance that McGarrh may not end up qualifying to run. He’ll need to take and pass a PVA exam given by the state in order to run for and hold the office. It’s given once every four years, McGarrh said. He is signed up to take it on Nov. 13, he said, adding there’s “little to no chance” he won’t pass as he’s been studying for six months.
Powell ran unopposed in the 2022 election. In the 2018 election, Republican Troy Coleman filed to run against Powell but withdrew from the race before the election, according to records at the Henderson County clerk’s office.
In the press release from Powell, local, state and national Republican politicians applauded Powell’s switch. They included U.S. Rep. James Comer, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, Henderson state Sen. Robby Mills, Henderson state Rep. J.T. Payne and local Republican Party Chairman Dwight Williams.
“I applaud Andrew Powell, Henderson County PVA, for joining the Republican Party—it reflects a deeper realignment of values happening across Kentucky,” Paul said in a prepared statement. “I’m glad to welcome him and look forward to working alongside him.”
