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| Vandegrift spoke at his Aug. 14 campaign kickoff. |
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
Mayor Grayson Vandegrift won a second term as mayor of Midway with 588 votes over his challenger and School Board Chair Ambrose Wilson IV, who got 239 votes.
After his 71 percent win, Vandegrift said he thinks Midway residents re-elected him because he showed he had a “very inclusive administration” that has accomplished a lot.
“We brought in so many new jobs and all of a sudden our economic future went from . . . uncertain, and now it’s clear our economic path is set for the future,” he said. “Also, the work we did around town on our parks, our infrastructure, our storm and sewer work.”
Vandegrift announced his candidacy for a second term more than a year before the election, in October 2017. Wilson, 67, entered the race on the Aug. 14 filing deadline, and stressed his experience in business and state government.
In an interview, Wilson said he thinks the future of Midway is bright. “I congratulate Grayson on his victory and I look forward to working with him and the new city council in any way I can,” he said. “I look forward to helping in any way I can to move Midway forward.”
Vandegrift said he thinks people were happy with his first four-year term. “Now I look forward to trying to do even better the next four years,” he said.
The mayor said his hard work and conversations with residents helped, ending with his second city-wide canvass on Nov. 3. “I knocked on every door in town again,” he said.
That sort of attention pleased Melissa Wilson, 46, who is disabled. "Vandegrift came to the house, addressing concerning topics such as updates to the cemetery and speed limit," she said.
Generally, most voters interviewed at the polling place said they saw no reason to change mayors.
“I thought he did all right,” said retiree Sharon Staff, 67. “I’ve got no complaints.”
Mayor Grayson Vandegrift won a second term as mayor of Midway with 588 votes over his challenger and School Board Chair Ambrose Wilson IV, who got 239 votes.
After his 71 percent win, Vandegrift said he thinks Midway residents re-elected him because he showed he had a “very inclusive administration” that has accomplished a lot.
“We brought in so many new jobs and all of a sudden our economic future went from . . . uncertain, and now it’s clear our economic path is set for the future,” he said. “Also, the work we did around town on our parks, our infrastructure, our storm and sewer work.”
Vandegrift announced his candidacy for a second term more than a year before the election, in October 2017. Wilson, 67, entered the race on the Aug. 14 filing deadline, and stressed his experience in business and state government.
In an interview, Wilson said he thinks the future of Midway is bright. “I congratulate Grayson on his victory and I look forward to working with him and the new city council in any way I can,” he said. “I look forward to helping in any way I can to move Midway forward.”
Vandegrift said he thinks people were happy with his first four-year term. “Now I look forward to trying to do even better the next four years,” he said.
The mayor said his hard work and conversations with residents helped, ending with his second city-wide canvass on Nov. 3. “I knocked on every door in town again,” he said.
That sort of attention pleased Melissa Wilson, 46, who is disabled. "Vandegrift came to the house, addressing concerning topics such as updates to the cemetery and speed limit," she said.
Generally, most voters interviewed at the polling place said they saw no reason to change mayors.
“I thought he did all right,” said retiree Sharon Staff, 67. “I’ve got no complaints.”
Justice Heltzel, who lives across from Northside Elementary School, the polling place, said after he voted, “The mayor has done a lot of good stuff since we moved here two years ago, and he’s been very personable, and every time you see him out, he says ‘hello’ and I feel like that’s really important.”
Information for this story was also gathered by UK journalism student Thomas Franconia.
Information for this story was also gathered by UK journalism student Thomas Franconia.
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