NEWS IN LOCAL POLITICS
2026 Bell County Elections Shaping Up to Be One of Our Most Contentious! Two stellar contenders announced Candidacy
By The Source
Bell County, KY – The political landscape in Bell County is bracing for a contentious upheaval as two high-profile challengers—Rick Nelson, a respected elder statesman of regional politics, and Jeromy Killion, a principled emergency services veteran—enter the 2026 primary for Bell County Judge-Executive. Their candidacies pose the most serious threat yet to the long-standing reign of incumbent Albey "Al" Brock, whose grip on the office has spanned nearly two decades.
Several regional political operatives, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggest that Mr. Brock may face a steeper uphill battle than his predecessors in securing the Judge Executive seat in the 2026 Bell County election. According to these sources, there is reportedly an “arsenal of information that will make the citizens of this county’s heads roll” — though specifics remain undisclosed at this time.
Despite multiple attempts, Mr. Brock has not responded to requests for comment. If you are Mr. Brock or a representative, please contact us at justin@tri-statesource.com.
Rick Nelson, a former state representative and Middlesboro mayor, brings decades of public service experience underscored by a reputation for ethical governance and community-centered leadership. Nelson’s return to the political sphere is seen not as a nostalgic reach for relevance, but as a deliberate intervention in what he characterizes as a “county drifting into complacency and cronyism.” His campaign has emphasized transparency, financial accountability, and restoring trust in the mechanisms of local government.
Conversely, Jeromy Killion presents an entirely different yet equally compelling profile. Known not as a career politician but as a man forged in the crucible of emergency response, Killion has built his reputation in the trenches—rescuing citizens, coordinating disaster response, and leading with action rather than rhetoric. With deep community ties and a populist edge, his campaign has become a rallying point for voters fatigued by bureaucratic elitism.
“Bell County deserves leadership that doesn’t hide behind a desk or a padded resume,” Killion has declared in campaign stops. “This isn’t about politics; it’s about people, and I won’t stand by while our future is auctioned off to the highest bidder.”
The 2025 race marks a second potential confrontation between Killion and Brock. The two clashed previously in the 2022 election, and while Killion came up short, the margin was enough to spark a following that has only grown louder and more organized. Now, with Nelson in the fray, Brock may be facing a perfect political storm: a battle-tested reformer from the past and a boots-on-the-ground public servant from the present.
Adding fuel to the fire is growing public scrutiny of the Brock administration. In recent months, a DUI charge involving Brock’s wife cast an unwelcome spotlight on the Judge-Executive’s inner circle. While legally separate from his office, the incident has further amplified local calls for change and accountability—calls that both Nelson and Killion appear uniquely positioned to answer.
Observers note that while Nelson and Killion differ in tone and trajectory, their core message is unified: Bell County needs ethical, competent, and responsive leadership. Whether the electorate favors it Nelson’s institutional wisdom or Killion’s raw authenticity remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the era of uncontested incumbency in Bell County is over.
The primary election is expected to be a crucible for local democracy, as voters weigh not just personalities but philosophies of governance, public trust, and the direction of their county’s future.
2024 ELECTION RESULTS
