Clerk jailed over marriage licenses loses re-election bid
U.S.
Clerk jailed over marriage licenses loses re-election bid
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky clerk who went to jail in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples lost her bid for a second term on Tuesday.
Kim Davis, the Republican incumbent, was defeated by Democrat Elwood Caudill Jr . in the election for clerk of Rowan County in northeastern Kentucky. Caudill won with 4,210 votes, or 54 percent, to 3,566, or 46 percent, for Davis.
"I believe that as a community we must continue to work together toward a more prosperous and cohesive Rowan County," Caudill said after his win, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Davis became a national figure when she stopped issuing marriage licenses days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. The ruling overturned same-sex marriage bans nationwide.
Davis cited her religious beliefs, saying she was acting under "God's authority."
She was released from jail when her staff issued licenses in her absence.
Rowan County voters denied Davis another term to a job that pays about $80,000 a year. She was elected to the clerk's job as a Democrat in 2014, but later switched parties because she said the Democratic Party "abandoned her."
She didn't back away from her stand, saying at a fall campaign debate that she didn't treat anyone unfairly, and that she took an oath to uphold the constitution. She said she treated everyone equally because she quit issuing marriage licenses altogether.
At the same debate, Caudill said if elected he would treat everyone equally because he took an oath to uphold the law.
Caudill criticized Davis for hiring her son to work for her. Davis defended the hiring, saying her son is someone she can trust to oversee human resources and handle the office computers.
Kentucky voters in 2004 overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. But in June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples have the right to marry. The ruling overturned same-sex marriage bans nationwide.
Days after the ruling, Davis stopped issuing marriage licenses.
She was sued by gay and straight couples, and a federal judge ordered Davis to issue the licenses. She refused and spent five days in jail.
She was released only after her staff issued the licenses on her behalf but removed her name from the form. The state legislature later enacted a law removing the names of all county clerks from state marriage licenses.
A federal judge later ruled Kentucky taxpayers must pay the couples' legal fees of about $225,000.
Ha ha! Stupid cow!
Closet lesbian.
That's an insult to self-respecting lesbians everywhere Lenny my dear!
Lenny looks like a guy to me. Maybe it's time for you to invest in Lasik?
Now, now, Tessy, that's insulting cows.
I'm surprised she didn't lose her 'job' immediately after being jailed.
Why would Jesus let this happen?! No worries, I’m sure Mike Huckabee is setting up a gofundme account for her as we speak.
with a couple of save me geebus' uttered, she's first in line to be his Kentucky thumper pumpkin fuck on the side.
Doesn't Kentucky have nepotism laws? (hired son to work for her)
Glad she went down in flames. Married 4 times and she's gonna tell us what God says about marriage?
Excuse me:
She's such a skank ho - spreads her legs for anyone. When married to one she was cheating with a former husband and got knocked up while screwing around.
Fine family values there.
enforcing nepotism laws in the south is almost impossible
Tell me about it. I see it all the time where I work
One more homophobic bitch bites the dust.
Now that she has spare time on her hands, maybe she will have another affair.
either she wasn't really acting under " God's authority " or maybe God changed his mind and decided it was ok for same sex marriage to happen after all - because she lost
Looks like God voted for Elwood.
Ever notice how many losing politicians claim God told them to run?
2012 the entire field of gop candidates claimed God's endorsement...
The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Apparently, they were endorsed by the wrong god, or their god has a twisted sense of humor.
"two men say that they're Jesus, so one of them must be wrong......."
well if they lost then i guess the reason could be - " Satan interfered ! it's all Satan's fault ! God was thwarted again ! "
I didn't have a goddamned thing to do with it
i don't believe you - i'm told you lie all the time and for being a creation of God you sure seem crafty enough to keep thwarting his plans and he never seems to be able to defeat you . You've definitely got some power ! now, if you only had free peanut butter cookies and free rainbow cakes - i might consider joining you
Free peanut butter cookies? That's all it would take?
I make a mean peanut butter cookie. I'll get baking
Need my address for delivery?
don't forget the rainbow cake too !
You have to promise to join the dark side
I'm sorry, but I'm really bad at cakes. I really only do cookies.
Again?
I lost your membership form
well they better be excellent cookies - i think a taste test is in order.
I like to create cakes, except for fussy, tiered wedding cakes. They are an absolute PITA. You make the cookies and I'll bake 5-6 cakes and we'll all meet somewhere and indulge.
I'm sure they're excellent cookies. I'll give you my shipping address and confirm for you TG.
oh no - they are peanut butter cookies - i'm taste testing them myself !
Good, she proved she was unfit to hold that office with the first licence she refused to sign.
Is there a Hobby Lobby or Chick-Fil-A in her area that is hiring? Alternatively, she could open a bakery or a flower shop?
I don't know, I'm not at all familiar with that area. Sorry
My reply didn't need an answer because it was both sarcastic and rhetorical.
Lol obviously I know that, but I felt like having a little fun with it
What did she expect? A parade? A bouquet of roses? "BYE BYE"...
I have no problem with anyone practicing their own personal religious beliefs. But, I do have a problem with them doing so on the taxpayers dime, especially, when they may not speak for every taxpayer who pays their salary.
And her 'it's all about me' attitude when reprimanded over her actions did not serve her well either.
So now she can practice her religious beliefs to her hearts content as she will now have a lot more time on her hands.
Thank you sweets for the most reasonable comment here.
Yes she is absolutely entitled to her beliefs, her beliefs were not a reason for her to not do her elected job....
There is no place for religion in the running of government.
Now she has time to go find husband number 5. Or is it 6?
It depends on whether the previous husband is free to marry again. She seems to want to go back and repeat her mistakes time and time again. She's like the sequential example of ground hog day of marriages. You know what they say about repeating the same thing over and over and expecting different results......
LOL!
On a more serious note, it is my personal opinion that anyone who fails at marriage twice should take a good long look in the mirror and ask themselves "What's wrong with me?"
She was screwing around on number whoever with a prior husband and then remarried number whoever. She spreads her legs for every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the county.
That's one complicated flow chart.
She basically couldn't be fired either and was getting paid for not doing her job. No more job you dumb bitch! Buh-bye Felicia
oddly enough - she was still supported by many of the conservative minded who didn't care that she was just living off the government's dime while not doing her job..... i thought they were all about personal responsibility, not living off the government's dime and doing your job ?
That's a good point. I never would have thought of that
Given she is a hypocritical bigot I think Kentucky could do better.
Given that it's Kentucky, I'm not so sure. But Davis losing her post in an election does seem to be an improvement.
Yes, Ken Ham country. But then again I cannot dismiss the fact that our own Dowser (geological scientist) lives there. Brains do exist in the state.
Unfortunately, that is the exception rather than the rule.
Yep. I have a buddy near Bowling Green who set up a self sufficient homestead. Very innovative and creative.
90% Sarcasm 10% Idiocy?