University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications
Grayson Vandegrift narrowly defeated fellow city council
member Sharon Turner to become the new mayor of Midway, by a vote of 374 to
325.
There was an excited buzz around the polls Tuesday evening
as last-minute voters cast their ballots for who they believed would best
succeed Mayor Tom Bozarth, who didn’t seek a third four-year term.
Before the polls closed, Turner supporters felt confident
that her four two-year terms on the council would put her in position to win
the election, while Vandegrift voters hoped the restaurateur’s hospitable
approach to his campaign would put him in position to effect change in Midway.
“He was the only one that knocked on my door, came into my
house, introduced himself and told me a few of the things he would like to
change,” said Midway resident Mary Raglin. “I really think he is for the
people. Midway is a horse town and a lot
of people do things for the rich and forget about the poor, but I really think
that Vandegrift is going to be for everyone.”
Vandegrift said he believes it was this kind of campaigning
that gave him the edge in such a tight race, as well as what will make him a
successful mayor in the upcoming years.
“I think I ran my campaign a lot like how I want to run the
administration,” said Vandegrift. “I
heard a lot of voices and had a lot of help – I went to every door myself and
got a lot of input from people in the community.”
Some of the biggest issues Vandegrift faces as mayor
include improvements to water lines, sewers, sidewalks and other infrastructure
and how the city plans to pay for them. Vandegrift says these improvements will be his first order of business
and has a plan on how to incorporate them successfully.
“I want to put together a committee of council members and
citizens with certain expertise to devise a five-, 10-, 15- or even 20-year plan on how we can start to use new revenue as well as existing revenue to
improve the water and sewer system without having to raise taxes,” he said. “The only time taxes are
raised is when a city doesn’t plan ahead.”
While Vandegrift’s vision for Midway may be ambitious, not
everyone, including Turner, believes his single term on the city council will
provide the 32-year-old with enough experience to succeed as the mayor of Midway.
Sharon Turner |
“I have to say I’m worried,” said Turner. “His inexperience really scares me.”
Turner, who has served on city council since January 2005
and as mayor pro tem since 2007, now plans to retire from politics and focus on
community service, which will include the new senior living center now under
construction in Midway, for which she helped lead the campaign.
Bozarth offered some advice for his successor.
“People in Midway have their own agendas,” he said. “Always remember to keep Midway
first, and try to hear what everyone has to say.”
Due to the mayor's race and the retirement of City Council Member Aaron Hamilton, the council will have three new faces. There were only six candidates for the six council seats; Bruce Southworth led the ticket with 420 votes and by tradition would become mayor pro tem. The other two incumbents, Sara Hicks and Dan Roller, each got 407 votes. Steven Craig got 385, Libby Warfield 380 and Kaye Nita Gallagher 373.
Due to the mayor's race and the retirement of City Council Member Aaron Hamilton, the council will have three new faces. There were only six candidates for the six council seats; Bruce Southworth led the ticket with 420 votes and by tradition would become mayor pro tem. The other two incumbents, Sara Hicks and Dan Roller, each got 407 votes. Steven Craig got 385, Libby Warfield 380 and Kaye Nita Gallagher 373.
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