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Republican incumbent District 73 state Rep. Donna Mayfield has secured a second term in the Kentucky General Assembly.
“It’s a good day,” Mayfield said. “This feels good because this was a very difficult race.”
In Clark County, she defeated Democratic challenger JoEllen Reed 8,115 to 7,164. Mayfield also carried the northern part of Madison County located in the 73rd District 2,491 to 1,367.
“I did what I feel like needs to be done. I got out and knocked on doors and met people face-to-face and discussed the issues, and my supporters got really engaged and worked hard,” Mayfield said. “That made a big difference.”
Plans for her next term include focusing on making Kentucky more job-friendly and passing pension and tax reform, she said.
In her 2010 campaign, Mayfield targeted the economy, pledging fiscal responsibility. Concerns haven’t changed in the past two years, she said.
“I think people really are focused on correcting the problems we have in Frankfort,” Mayfield said.
Reed plans to serve out her term as a commissioner on the Clark County Fiscal Court and has not ruled out the possibility of a future campaign.
“I’m so thankful to my friends and family for their support,” Reed said. “I want to work hard and continue serving my community.”
Both Reed and Mayfield commented on the negative tone the campaign took at times.
“I can lay my head down tonight and go to sleep knowing in my heart that I ran a clean race without any mudslinging,” Reed said.
Mayfield said she thought voters were tired of combative campaign ads and contributed part of her win to voter frustration.
“I think voters don’t like nasty elections,” Mayfield said.
Reed challenged Mayfield at the 2012 Clark County Candidates Forum over a quote published in the Oct. 15 edition of The Richmond Register. According to the Register, Mayfield called Reed a “liberal career politician,” a claim Reed refuted.
“I am not ... and never have been a ‘liberal career politician.’ I am an experienced public servant,” Reed said at the forum in Clark County last month.
Reed has previously served on the Winchester Board of Commissioners, but resigned in 2008 to spend more time with family, she said. She also previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Winchester.
Mayfield defeated long-time representative Don Pasley in 2010 in Clark County by 103 votes, but handily defeated the incumbent in Madison County 1,682 to 975.
Her second term will officially begin in January 2013.