FRANKFORT — The new legislative district maps prompted some tough decisions by some key lawmakers – even before the new map and Tuesday’s filing deadline were cast into doubt by a Franklin Circuit Court restraining order.

Republican Jill York of Grayson filed to run in the new 99^th District, which includes her home county of Carter along with Elliott and parts of Lawrence and Boyd counties. York’s district was re-drawn by the Democratic majority and she lost Republican Lewis County from her old district.

The new district is also the new district for Democratic Majority Leader Rocky Adkins of Sandy Hook, a 25-year veteran of the House and member of Democratic Leadership. He also has a hefty campaign balance of around $200,000.

York agreed Adkins “has deeper pockets” but said she has a base in Carter County, family roots in Lawrence County where her father was born and reared, and “I’m a hard worker.” She said she decided to run for the same reason she ran to represent her old district – the “opportunity to serve the good people” of Carter County and the remainder of her district.

“And I believe given the territory (Adkins) had to give up (from his old district) and the territory I’ve gained, it’ll be much more of a race than anybody anticipated,” York said.

Adkins said in addition to his home county of Elliott he has ties to Boyd and Lawrence counties and knows Carter County well.

“I know the people in my district very well,” Adkins said Tuesday afternoon after York filed. “I’ve represented a good part of the district for 25 years. And I’ve had a close relationship with the people of Carter County – I often travel there, I eat there, and I’ve got close personal friends there.”

Adkins said his leadership position is also an advantage for residents of his district and he ticked off a number of economic development, highway, and education projects he’s been able to secure funding for in the area.

“The opportunity for my district to have a seat at the table is important,” Adkins said.

While York isn’t intimidated by a new district drawn in ways to make it more friendly for Democrats, another House Republican, Lonnie Napier of Lancaster, said he’s decided not to run in his newly drawn district which does not include part of Madison County, an area he represented for more than two decades.

“It was a hard decision – a lot of sleepless nights,” Napier said of his decision. He said losing Madison County played a part in his decision but he also wanted to spend more time with his wife, grandchildren and two great-grandsons while he is in good health.

Later, after news broke that Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd issued a restraining order delaying the filing deadline until he can consider whether the new districting plan is constitutional, Napier was asked if he might reconsider his decision to retire.

“Well, only if they gave me Madison County back,” Napier said. “I might then.”

Napier is endorsing Republican Nathan Mick of Lancaster who has filed for the seat. Democrat Larry Woods, also of Lancaster, has also filed for the seat.

Another longtime lawmaker from northeastern Kentucky who found himself in a largely Republican district with Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers of Manchester will not run. Walter Blevins, D-Morehead, said he has had enough and will back Ralph Hoskins, an educator from Manchester, against Stivers.

Senate Republicans placed Blevins in a district that runs from Rowan County in the north all the way to Knox County on the Tennessee border. Rowan County is the only reliably Democratic county in the district which would make it tough for Blevins to win.

“It’s tough to run for something you don’t want,” said Blevins. He also said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and isn’t sure what he’ll do next. But he said Hoskins will be a strong candidate against Stivers and he plans to work to help Hoskins win.

Tuesday was supposed to bring into focus the new electoral map after the General Assembly re-drew district maps – at the direction of majority Democrats in the House and majority Republicans in the Senate. But Shepherd’s order meant there’s at least another week before candidates have to decide whether to run. Some who were expected to file didn’t, citing the extra week to build support or make a final decision.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.