The race for 14th Circuit Court Judge took an odd twist this week as candidate Rob Johnson sent out a robo-text to voters in the district with a typo in the link to his website, his opponent, Katie Gabhart quickly took advantage of the blunder, and now the link directs to a new website created by her campaign.
“My opponent claims I can only do half the job,” part of the text message from Rob Johnson’s campaign to voters reads, before listing his accomplishments. Then comes the link to “learn more,” but if you click the link you’ll be redirected to a message from Gabhart who was appointed to the bench in May to replace Judge Brian Privett who resigned.
“Like many times in his career, Rob Johnson made an error,” the redirected website for Gabhart states. “This time, he didn’t proofread his text and it has directed you to this site. Since you’re here, let’s look at the real facts, not what Rob says in his campaign materials. Take a look at what independent media sources are saying.”
Johnson is a former circuit judge who works as an assistant prosecutor for his Commonwealth’s Attorney Sharon Muse Johnson. Gabhart previously served as an attorney for 23 years. In 2005, Gabhart was appointed General Counsel for the Kentucky State Board of Elections. In 2011, she joined the Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission as general counsel and later as its executive director.
The 14th judicial circuit includes Scott, Woodford, and Bourbon counties – and the judge presides over civil and felony criminal cases.
