Joe Hagan secured the Republican nomination for East Daviess County Commissioner on Tuesday, defeating Steven Shake and Shane Cox in a closely contested three-way primary race.
Hagan will now face Democrat Sagan Storm in the November general election.
Speaking after the results came in, Hagan said he expected a tight contest throughout the evening.
“I told my wife and everybody that I expected to be within about 50 to 100 votes all the way across between Stephen Shake, myself, and Shane Cox,” Hagan said.
Hagan said he believes voters are focused on issues involving infrastructure, growth, and transparency in local government.
“I think that responsibility and commitment to focusing on drainage and creek maintenance, the flooding — I think there’s a lot of communication around these AI data centers and solar farms,” Hagan said. “I think those are going to be the top key issues going forward.”
Hagan also emphasized the importance of involving residents more directly in county government decisions.
“It’s about doing the right thing for Daviess County,” Hagan said. “It cannot be the three commissioners and the judge-executive who make these decisions. We’ve got to get the county involved in our decision-making process and bring transparency to that entire process — not only what decisions are made, but how the decisions are made.”
When first announcing his candidacy for the seat, Hagan said he wanted to bring “steady, real-world leadership” to county government. A lifelong Kentuckian, he has spent much of his career in skilled trades, manufacturing, and operations leadership, while also owning and operating multiple businesses.
During his campaign, Hagan said his priorities included integrity and transparency in government, long-term planning, and collaboration between local jurisdictions. He also stressed the importance of balancing economic development with preserving Daviess County’s rural character.
Hagan and his wife, Joanie, have been married for 34 years and have five children and multiple grandchildren.
