City honors Josh Anderson

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Mayor Eddie Girdler and the City of Somerset honored Atlanta Braves baseball player Josh Anderson by dedicating a portion of University Drive to him. Pictured is Girdler (at right) with Anderson and his wife Heather during the ceremony on Friday. Susan Wheeldon Photo

October 27, 2008

Braves outfielder has street dedicated to him

By SUSAN WHEELDON, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Mon Oct 27, 2008, 07:51 AM EDT

The City of Somerset honored Atlanta Braves outfielder Josh Anderson on Friday for his representation of the community and his accomplishments.

Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler and members of the Somerset City Council held a dedication ceremony, dedicating a portion University Drive to Anderson, who is one of most famous athletes to come out of the area.

University Drive is the location of Pulaski County High School, Anderson’s former high school. The portion of University Drive dedicated to Josh runs North Main Street to Ky. 39.

“It’s quite an honor to honor a great man in our community,” said Girdler. “We’re just so proud of him ... he’s helped put us on the map.

Somerset City Councilor Jimmy Eastham, who headed up the effort to get the street dedicated in honor of Anderson, said Anderson is a breath of fresh air.

Eastham said people can tell their children or grandchildren to look to Josh for an example.

“Josh, we’re proud of you and thank you for all you’ve done,” added Girdler.

When accepted the plaque, Anderson showed only gratitude and gratefulness for the honor like on so many other occasions, thanking others for their help throughout his life and letting everyone present know how grateful he is for all the community support.

“Words don’t justify how I feel,” said Anderson. “... It’s an honor to be here and receive this (award).”

Anderson credited his success to his “great family” who raised him in church, and credited the Lord for that. He also said over the years he has had many good people, who have been instruments in his life.

Anderson said when he was young and playing baseball in the fields of Science Hill, he dreamed of playing baseball in the pros, but didn’t know that it was ever going to happen.

“It’s incredible,” said Anderson. “ ... There’s not a day, I take it for granted.”

Anderson noted, however, to those from his hometown there are times it’s tough.

“There’s a lot of sacrifice to do what you love,” said Anderson. “There’s a lot of stuff that comes along with a dream.

Anderson noted the many moves he and his wife, Heather, have made, sometimes several times in one year.

“I’ve been fortunate enough the Lord has helped me every step of the way,” said Anderson.

Anderson said he also had to adjust to how much media attention came along with playing in the pros and the 60,000 people, who were in the stands watching the game and remember to just play his game.

“My goal is just to represent this community the best I know how,” said Anderson.

“I would say I would like to play for the next 10 years, but that’s all in God’s hands,” added Anderson.

Anderson played baseball at Pulaski County High School and then Eastern Kentucky University and then was selected by the Houston Astros in the fourth round of the 2003 draft and began his career with the organization in June of that year. He played for the Lexington Legends, the Salem (NC) Avalanche and Corpus Christi Hooks before joining the Triple-A Round Rock Express team in the Pacific Coast League.

In September 2007, Anderson was called up from the minors and played for the Houston Astros. In November 2007, he was traded from the Astros to the Atlanta Braves playing a short stint this spring with the Braves before returning to the minors. Anderson returned to the Braves on Aug. 27, after the Braves traded starting center fielder Mark Kotsay to the Boston Red Sox.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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