xt77m03xwh0v https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt77m03xwh0v/data/mets.xml The Kentucky Kernel Kentucky -- Lexington The Kentucky Kernel 2008-11-05 Earlier Titles: Idea of University of Kentucky, The State College Cadet newspapers English Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Kentucky Kernel The Kentucky Kernel, November 05, 2008 text The Kentucky Kernel, November 05, 2008 2008 2008-11-05 2020 true xt77m03xwh0v section xt77m03xwh0v ﬁttitﬁttﬁi
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KENTUCKY KERNEL

\'\l l )\l \1 MN \( )\ l Mlil l\’ 3, 3mm

United States elects first

African-American president

By Bill Lambrecht

St Lotus T’ost Dispatch

WASHINGTON ,. Barack
()bama completed his storybook po-
litical rise by \iiiiiiiiig the election as
the 44th president of the l'nited
States on Tuesday iii a crushing der
teat ol' .lohn .\lc(‘ain and Republi-
cans that promises a new course lor
America at home and abroad.

()bania. 47. the mixed—race son
of a Kenyan lather and a Kansas
mother. will become the first
.»\trican—American president when
he is suorn in Jan. 2“ and just the

third llliiioisan elected to the White
House. after Abraham Lincoln and
l.'lysses (irant.

As the final vote totals an‘ived
late Tuesday. the night was shaping
up as an Electoral College landslide
after a massive voter turnout that
could set a modern record.

()bama molded a coalition that
included majorities of women. inde-
pendents. political moderates. young
ioters and minorities in achieving
his monumental victory just tour
years after being elected to the US
Senate from Chicago.

See Obama on page A5

(‘HlﬁBRATlNU l7 \"l’ARS (")F INDEPI Nl)l:N(‘l-,

PHOTO BY OLIVER DOULlERV r ABACA PRESS

Presrdentielect Barack Ohania waves to supporters after Dhama gave his acceptance speech after it was announced he hat won the presidential election at his Election
Night Rally in Grant Park Chicago on Tuesday

worn 8V FTHAN HVMAN RALElGH NEWS & OBSERVER
From left, Allison Fendtaisw lisa Wilder and lisa Hoages relehrate as Barack

Ohama rs declare-d the
evening in Raieigh N C

it the Raleigh Marriott City lfjer‘rtléi Tuesday

“We know the challenges that tomorrow Will bring are the greatest at our lifetime."
amen ollllll

With unlikely victory,
they had hope

By RosttilindrEssig

reissigaltykernel Cit—ill

The odds: were long but hope re
mained among John McCain supr
potters.

Any potential the Republican
presidential candidate had to take
the presidency vanished Tuesday
tiight when McCain made his coir
cession speech around I 1 pm.

Republicans held out hope for a
win on Election Day. despite falling

behind
Barack ()bama in the polls going
into Tuesday. said UK (‘ollege Re-
publicans President Jacob Sims.

Democrat ie opponent

Still. iealism remained.
"We understood going into it

that things weren't looking too
good.” Sims said'Tuesday night.
shortly after hearing about Mc~
Cain's loss.

In his concession speech.

See Republicans on page A5

PHOTO BY Alli! um I STAFF

John Soukup, left and More: Love, right. of lexrngton watch as the numbers come
in With fellow Loxmotoo Republicans at the lexrngton Green Hilton on Tuesday

First issue tron. Subsequent issues 15 cents.

win expected,

but still exciting

31 la!!! Clark
iciark@kykérriel r‘om

It appeared the UK (‘ollege De-
mocrats were confident on election
night as the group chanted. "fire it
up. ready to go?" alter each an»
nouneement ot' a protected state “in
for Barack ()bama.

But seconds before the tinal
states weighed iii. everyone in the
room inched to the edge ol their
seats. The room tell silent. Then

(‘NN announced the 44th [‘S. pres-
ident.

The ()bama supporters. gath-
ered at UK College Democrats
e\ents ctxrrdinator John (ihaelian‘s
house to watch the election results.

Jumped to their feet. gave hugs and

[nipped the corks oft ot champagne
bottles to celebrate the \ ietory

"We see potential of the youth
\ote." said Joe (iallenstein. the

See Democrats on page A5

PHOTO BY Eo rum | STAFF

John Ghaelian, left, an English and History senior. celebrates With other members
of UK College Democrats by pouring out champagne after it was announced that

Barack Obama had won the presrdency shortly after it p m on Tuesday

WWW.KYKERNEL.COM

KENTUCKY ELECTION
masons

Mitch McConnell
U.S. Sonata

Party. Republican
Reclaimed his seat and is
the longest-sewing senator
from the state of Kentucky

—47%
‘ McConnell 53%

Kathy Stein
State Senate

Party: Democrat

Served as 75th District state
representative for 12 years
before joining the Senate

_m 66%
K” “W 34%

Ben Chandler
US. House

Party: Democrat

Served in the 61h District
since 2004; defeated oppo-
nent Jon Larson

55%

as ”35%

Kelly Flood
State House

Party: Democrat

A minister at a Unitarian
Universalist Church, it is
Flood's first time in elected
office

65%

Diane lawless
Urban County Council

Will replace six-term council
member Dick DoCamp in the
district that includes UK

No numbers reported at time
of press.

m 257-1915; M 257-872

s truss; .s.w,~z."~.~‘§0¢.-S-"JN< . a A“' r >\»~9k\ WAN

ﬁttiiiiiii'

ELM I'I‘I()N 2008

Vat»

it'v‘.‘

IS. SI‘ZNA'I‘IC

Senate seat decided Int narrow margin 1

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chat), celebrate his Win at the Salt
House Hotel and Suttes fll loursvtlle on Election Day McConnell Wlll serve a fifth term in the Senate

McConnell looks ahead to face
Kentucky challenges .

By Allison Alvey

news@kykernel com

LOUISVILLE . , The dll‘ was thick with
tension in the Galt House Hotel and Suites in
Louisville as a large crowd of \Iitch Mc—
Connell supporters awaited the outcome of a
close race for one of Kentucky ‘s IKS. Senate
seats.

All night long. reports went from too
close to call. to a steady lead for McConnell.
but nothing was certain until the final hour
of the night. By‘ ll p.m.. though. McConnell
narrowly reclaimed his Senate seat with 53
percent of the vote. or 954173 of the
|.800.327 total votes. over Democratic chal-
lenger Bruce Lunsford

“Winston Churchill once said that the
most exhilarating feeling in life is to be shot
at — and missed," McConnell said. “After
the last few months. I think what he really
meant to say is that there's nothing more ex-
hausting. This election has been both.”

What was once ﬁgured to be a landslide
win for McConnell turned into a close dog
fight as Election Day neared. The current
US. Senate minority leader saw a double~
digit lead dwindle in the weeks leading tip to
the election as issues like high gas prices
and the failing economy dominated head‘
lines.

McConnell. who is set to become the top
Republican in Washington I).(‘. by the start
of the year. found himself being blamed for
many of the current problems \Olc‘l‘\ were
worried about.

Now re-elected for his fifth term. .\Ic>
Connell said he is taking his close call serir
ously. promising to handle many of those
same concerns voters had heading iiito the
election.

"Looking ahead. our nation laces many
serious challenges. I'm ready for them.“
McConnell said. “And I want Kentuckians
to know that after tonight. 1 lane here en
ergized and recomrnitted to putting our
state and our nation on the road to clean en
ergy independence. a strong economy. low .
er spending. and to safeguarding our home
land and the ser\'iceincit and women who
put their lives on the line to defend it "

Mc('onnell was raised in I,ottis\ille. He
graduated in Mod with honors from the l m
y'ersity of Louisi ille (‘ollege of Arts and Sci
ences. In l*)(i7. he graduated from the 't K
('ollege of Law. where hc was elected piesi
dent of the Student liar .-\s\llL‘ltlIlHl‘. \lc
('onnell has sery ed as minority leader stnt c
3007.

“Soon I'll be the lt‘flgwl‘st‘l‘\ ing senator

Mitch McConnell hit h~ftvris a sun itirtor .ifter otvrn ltiit celchraturr Jinnah at the Ooh Hun
l l . 9

and States in trinrsvrllo rm liiriﬂtldy

Lorrie Salas. .tift of lutiisville and Gillit‘rt
Rrilierts, right ni' touisitllc, celtihratr, Mitch
lt‘ittCoiiiioll's Victory on Tuesday at the Ga.’
Home Hotel and Qt‘ill‘h

in Kentucky history and when that happens.
l‘ll ha\e fulfilled another longtime dream."
McConnell said "Mitch McConnell will be
remembered for something other than those
bloodhound ads,”

.\'ot oiily has the race been close — it‘s
been L‘\ch’llsl\c. .\'lc(‘onnell and Lunsford
each spent millions on I'\' and radio adverv
tiscrnents. rallies and other campaign ex—
penses Izach cai‘ididate‘s .tdyer‘tisements be—
came highly negative at times. invoking
Lunsford‘s business dealings or Mc—
(‘onnell‘s working relationship with Presi—
dent (ieorge W, Bush Despite that. Mc-
(‘ottnell said Innsfotd had proved a worthy
opponent

"In the end. Bruce won a lot of \otes and
he earned my respect.” ,\fc(‘onnell said.

lratis ‘yttrton. a .‘wld‘onncll supporter.
said the race was not ey en about Lunsford.
but about haying lattli that all of Mc»
('oiitiell's hard work has paid off.

"It's about \litth \lc('onncll." \'tirton
said "He goes in day in arid day otit and
lights to: the people of this state.”

Itl lll‘~ tlccclildritc \[lt'L‘clL .\I\J('tillllt‘ll
said ll is .t tradition after at: election for him
to dedicate the w in to someone After a tight
race. .\lc( onncll dedicated his \\ in to people
across the start \i ho embraced him on the
catiipatgn Had

"I ant to thank thc people of the ('om»
tlltlll\‘.c‘.tllll It'i placing their trust iii me once
again ” .\Ic( oiincll said "I will not let yoti
down."

I? v.»

se Hotel

“IDOIIIIO ahead Ill" nation laces many serious
BIIIIIBIIIBS. I'm [Bally [Of them."

lite! Icconrioll. Its. senator

PHOTOS BY BRITNEY MCINTOSH I STAFF

PHOTOS BY EMILY COOVERT | STAFF

Bruce Lunsford gives his concession speech at the Marriott Hotel in Louisville on Tuesday Lunsford
lost by an estimated srx percentage points to Republican Mitch McConnell,

Lunsford calls for bipartisanship
after near-upset bid

By Kelli Long

LOUISVILLE — In what could have
been the biggest upset in the state. Democrat
Bruce Lunsford walked away from months
of campaigning just short of unseating the
current US. Senate minority leader.

“This has been the joumey of a lifetime."
Lunsford said. “I entered the race with a
pledge to change Kentucky. btit we fell just
short."

Lunsford lost to Republican Mitch Mc-
Connell. the incumbent US. Senator. in a
race that was close until the end. McConnell
won 53 percent of the vote. or 954.173 of the
1.800.327 total \otes. to retain the seat.

“It isn‘t because we didn‘t work hard
enough." Lunsford said in his concession
speech. “It isn‘t because we didn‘t give
everything we had."

The atmosphere at the Marriott Hotel iii
Lotiisyille. where Itinsford gay'e his concesr
sion address. was liy'cly. Large groups of
people gathered around televisions that dis
played the latest updates from the Kentucky
State Board of Elections Web site. anticipatv
ing when Lunsford would arrive to make a
speech in either Victory or concession. livery
feyy minutes. screams of excitement or agony
echoed across the room as additiotial num—
hers l‘rom counties came in.

Former Kentucky (lot, .lohri Y. Brown Jr.
introduced Ltiiislord to the hundreds of wait»
ing people. Ltiiislord was “the greatest corri—
merce secretary we have eyer had." while
serying tinder Brown in the WXlls. the for-
mer governor said,

In defeat. l,tinsford spoke of a need for
bipartisanship during tough times.

“This is a time to use all of our represen-r
moves to do better." Ltiiislord said. "It is not
a time for partisanship. It is a time for all of
its to work together."

Friends of Bruce Lunsford. a political ac-
tion committee. and the Kentucky Democrat»
ic Party held receptions at the Marriott.
bringing otit large numbers. tnany of whom
were w caring stickers in support of
l iinst'ord. presidential candidate Barack
llbama and IKS. Rep John Yarmuth.

But not all supporters were voting along
their party lines. (‘ry'stal Steele. a first—year
graduate student at I'K. said she is a regis-
tercd Republican. btit \oted for Ltiiislord be»
cause of his news on how to change the
economy

"Deciding who to \otc for was hard."
Steele said. " ecausc of my \alues. it was dif—
ficult to titltWlelhlht‘ right and the wrong.”

Karina Strange, 23, left, and Victoria Strange,
54, Sll entaide after Bruce Lunsford's concession
on Tuesday Both were unhappy Ltiiislord was
notable to unseat Mitch heronrmll

Many others in the Ltiiislord crowd w ho
gathered echoed the desire for change. in
cluding Joe Hohman of Louisville. who
graduated from [K in 1995. llohman has
been a supporter of Ltiiislord since early in
the election and came otit to the reception to
be involved in the results.

"Since he entered the race I have stip-
ported Lunsford." Hohman said. “Tonight I

just wanted to be a part of it."

Kentucky nati\e Ashley Judd and US.
Sen. Hillary (‘linton were campaigning for
Lunsford in the filial week leading tip to the
election. Judd appeared at a Keritttcky Dem»
ocratic I’ai‘ty‘ rally held Saturday in
Louisville. while (‘linton spoke on behalf of
Ltinsford on Sunday at a rally in Ha/ard. Ky.

The stipport of ('linton. Judd and other
Democratic leaders was not enough. but
Lunsford said it is time for Kentucky to
come together to effect change in the state.

“I hope Sen .\1c('onnell will go outside
the bo\ and listen to the Kentuckians who
deriiantlcd change l.unslord said. “The next
six years must not be like the last sis "

Now that the election is o\'ci‘. Lunsford
plans to remain actiyc to "further the agendas
of change and rebuild the economy from the
bottom up."

"I'm disamiointcd. btit not for me "
l,.unsfortl said. "I'm disappointed because of
a lot of the big things I wanted to accomplish
for Kentucky. I et‘s work together and bring
America back."

Briirti liinsfnrrl thanks a supporter after (trying his concessmn speech on Tuesday in Lomsvrlle

“I entered the race truth a nlcdoo to chance
Kentuckii. but we tell lust short."

tit;:ttttt

ELECTION 2008

Mill A3 3 Wl'llNlSll/XY, NilVfMBlR {. L’llfi‘ti

6TH DISTRICT US. I IOL'SIi ()1: RItIPRIiSIiN'I‘A'I‘IVICS

Ben Chandler talks with a few of his supporters in anticipation of his Victory over Bruce Lunsford on l’uesdav at Victorian Square in lextitgtoii

By Ali Cicarchi and Sarah Eisenmenger
news@kykernef.com

With a big grin on his face. Ben
Chandler accepted his win for the
6th District seat. which includes

Lexington. in the US. House of

Representatives. Chandler defeated
Jon Larson with 64.8 percent of the
votes.

“I’m very pleased." Chandler
said. “We were hoping we‘d break
60 percent. This is more than any
other election I‘ve been in."

About 250 Democrats gathered
at the Fayette County Democratic
Party’s downtown celebration at
Victorian Square Shoppes to show
support for their party.

Chandler was re-elected by
80.563 voters for another term. In
the 6th District. 6‘) percent of regis—
tered citizens voted.

He was first elected to the
House in 2004. where he has been a
member of the Democratic Blue
Dog Coalition. a fiscally consena»
tive Democratic caucus.

In 2007. Chandler was selected
by colleagues to serve on the House
Appropriations Committee. He also
served on the Science and Technol—
ogy Committee.

Mike Stanaitis. art intern for
Chandler's campaign and a current
graduate student in the UK Patter-
son School of Diplomacy. said he
was happy with the campaign and
with the responses from Chandler's
constituents.

"I can say for certain tltat con
stituents call often to say how
pleased they are with Chandler."
Stanaitis said. “I think that‘s rc
markable."

Chandler thanked Fayette Court

“We 90! a big night. all“ INN IIIII Fayette county name IIII'OIIQII."

ty “from the bottom of his heart" irt
his acceptance speech after being
declared the winner.

“We. got a big night and boy did
Fayette County come through."
Chandler said.

He was also supportive of fel-
low Democrats Kathy Stein‘s and
Kelly Hood‘s wins irt his speech. l
Stein won the state Senate seat. and ‘
Flood won a spot in the state House
of Representatives.

"Boy do I like this." Chandler
said standing between Stein and
Flood.

Chandler's wife. Jennifer. said
she was nervous for her husband.

“I'm very pleased. but I‘m al»
ways nervous at things like this."
Jennifer Chandler said. “You learn
to never take things for granted."

Larson tells Chandler to 'do
good for my country'

Larson may ha\c lost iii the
electron for oth District seat in the
House of Representatiyes, but he
won on the basketball court. Re—
publican Larson rented out the Les
ington Traditional Magnet School ,
gym to watch the electron results. '

"I wanted the children to hayc a
place to play." Larson said.

Larson. a for'tttcr I'K lavy student
and a Lexington public defender. ---- ..__w..-.
said he was frtrstratcd that his ideas
were itot expressed throughotit the
campaign and he never had art op
portunity to debate with Chandler.

“Things need to be said. ttgly
situations are occurring.” Larson
said.

Larson accepted his defeat to
Chandler only receiving 35.3
percent of the Miles surrounded
by a few oi his closest friends.

Republican 6th district r: iii: .iatr
where he held an open iii”

“It‘s been stressful. we really
wanted to see hirii put lirmsclf oirt
there more.” said Steye |s.i.ics. .i
great guy,"

Despite Larson's lo“. be said
the campaign was a learning expert

iiifii Larson pills won his fr i oil. it l'ir

'rii ti‘eiiaiin's iiiil scorers i'l ‘ll‘l. ii‘ .i part;

friend of Larson‘s "llc\ .i crcatnc.

.izx rigiti

t‘lict’

' Iliarik you for .illoyyirig tire to
fail iii front of my friends here iii
(eiiital Kentucky.” l .iisoti said ‘In
\\li.tt I had hoped \sould be .i mar
lsL‘li‘lttt t‘ litf' ltlt‘ds. ldlltils‘ is .t lc‘.il'ii
my: mperrence "

-Io| chandler. 6th nlstrict Its. nonresentative

ii. ii iii». xii.- 7.‘.ati:ii=t S llillll .wn‘iiasiuni

PHOTO BV ZACH BRAKE l STAFF

. A .. .V....,,,. A
F‘Hi" i F." KRISTIN HERRARD . STAF‘

(‘liandlci called Larson shortly
after the election results came in
to co: ::r.itirl.:ic him on his cam~
paigri

‘lc\i\cci you to do good for my
country' l arson told (handler dur-
ing the phone tall

Quality of state education among Floods top priorities

Bngirston Clancy and Travis “Lolita!

“It's calm: to
' Ira hard.
out with
Imanlnatlon
and resolve.
in can
solva those

INIIIOIIIS."

The mood at Victorian Square
Shoppes on Tuesday turned from
tense to celebratory as results poured
in. Quiet conversation became enthu<
siastic cheering as anticipation melted
and local Democratic candidates won.

The night was no different for
Kelly Flood. the Democratic candt~
date for Kentucky‘s 75th District
House race. Flood won wrth 65 per-
cent. or 8.740 of the
votes. to defeat Republican opponent
Kimberly Ward.

“I‘m feeling humbled. honored and
really excited." Flood said. “It's going
to be hard. but with imagination and re-
solve. we cim solve these problems."

Flood said the largest of those
problems includes health care and ed—

75in Dis'ifititri‘ Start: 1 lot st: or: RIil’RliSliX'l'.\'l‘l\'l-‘.S

riTéi/vs@kvkernel com

Ward

Flood

ucatron, Specifically. she is ants to rm
prove the quality and accessibility oi
public education in Kentucky as well
as work With UK to help it achieve
top-2i) status. She also supports uni
versal health care.

Followrng her acceptance speech.
Hood expressed gratitude to her fam‘
rly. who have supported her from the
beginning.

“It‘s been nervewracking btit

H.446 total

frightening.”
Hood‘s husband. "We‘ve been mar
rted for If) year‘s. arid this is the hapr
presi she‘s been career-Wise."

\crl ('bcthik.

sdltl

Hood's political experience in

cludes being art aide for a Florida
state legislator for two years as well
as working for a nonprofit consumer»
protection agency.

“l‘\e served the public good for

my adult life." Hood said, “When the
opportunity came to scr\e the 75th
District. the most liberal district in
Kentucky. l pumped at the chance."

Ward campaign has tough time
With

loss
Ward moved nervously from a

cornprrter to a TV in the bar of Lev
irigton (‘ireen's Hilton Suttes. Her co-
campargn manager and boyfriend
Randy Kaplan rocked back and limb

tapping his feet as l‘uesday‘s electron
results started rolling in.

The consensus among the largely
Republican onlookers was that Ward.
a Republican. ran in a district that
would be nearly impossible for a Re-
ptibltcan to win Much to their disv
pleasure. the onlookers were right
when Ward fell to Flood.

“You‘re lucky you got it)” votes
in that district Stan Lee. a Republi-
can state representative. said to Ward
after the results came in,

Still. Kaplan had a hard time
making sense of the loss.

“This is totally upside down and
I‘m haung a hard time wrapping my ,
head around it." Kaplan said.

The 75th District seat was held
previously by Democrat Kathy Stein.
who vacated the seat to run for the
lﬁth Distnct state Senate seat.

By Laura Edelon and Danielle Pritchett

nestkykernel ruin

Amid balloons. banners and high»
spirited suppoiters. Kath) Stein JUIHL‘tl
other Democrats in her election wm.

Stein won the Distiict [3 state
Senate seat o\er (‘liiick ltllingei II and
made hei acceptance speech alongside
fellow Democrats at Victorian Square
\hoppes in Lexington.

Stein recen ed 65.8 percent of the
\ote. or 26.59} total \otes. to secure
the win.

"I believed in )ou. and you he—
lies ed in me. and l sincerel} thank you
tor that." Stem said in her acceptance
speech.

Stein WI“ take the seat currently
held b_\ Sen. lirnest Scorsone. a De
inocrat who stepped down to take a
spot as a judge in Fa} ette Count) (‘ir-

1 ttﬁiiiitﬁi

l3'l‘ll l)l$'l‘Rl( I'l‘ S’l‘Xl‘li Slt).\'.\'l‘lf.

After win, Stein thanks believers for support

Ellinger

curt Court.

Democrat Kell} Hood \\lll rc-
place Stein in her curiciit position as
the state representatne tor the 75th
District. a seat Stem held ha [3
years

Before and after the results came
in. Stem was higlivfi\ ing. cheering and
thanking her contributors and voliur
teers. ,

Stein's tamil} and campaign sup—

poitcrs attended the election night event.

"li‘s gieai tSteiii) is a terrific can
did-ate." Stein s campaign advertiser.
Doug (iaberi a UK graduate. said.
"l)ciiiociac_\ is tea”) a great thing to
w arch ”

Alter loss, Ellin er pledges to
improve Lextng on

lullingei said the lamil} and
friends who awaited election results
with him at the Lexington (ireeii
llilton Suites fueled his campaign.

lillingei lost. but said he will liti-
isli his term as an at-lai'ge cit_\ council
member and will continue to serve as
an attorne} in Lexmgton.

He said ll was too soon to decide
if he would run for the state Senate
again

In his concession speech. lzllinger
said he called Stem to wish her luck

and to thank her for running a posi-
(MC. issue oriented campaign.

[illinger said he hoped to work
with Stein through the cit) council to
improve Lexington.

“I‘m disappointed. of course. All
_\ou can do is work hard and wait for
the results." lilhnger said after 86 per-
cent of precincts had been reported.

llis supporters remained proud of
the effort put forth b) everyone iii—
\ole in the campaign.

[illinger‘s father. Chuck Ellinger l.
was disappointed with his son's loss
but said e\ er) one had worked hard.

The campaign focused on
lillinger‘s positive qualities. rather
than his opponent‘s negative ones.
said Stac} Siege]. Ellinger's sister.

“We don't care about winning if
we lose our integrity in the process."
she said.

“I hollowed
In you. and
iron believed
in me. and I
sincerelii
tnanlt iiou
tor that."

maximum
mum-Him

)l'NCIL

3R1) l)lS'l‘Rl(1'l‘ l'RB.\.\'W(WI()t'.\”_l\7' (.35

Lawless aims to be IﬁXllt‘OTOl] voice for UK students

“I reallv want
to tie a voice
for Illt
students
because I teel
like they have
been let out
at the loan at
times."

-I. I“. 3rd Illstﬂet
III‘IIIII County Bennett

By Rochelle Halibunon and Katie
Perkowski

nestkykerneTcom

Calm. confident and all smiles.
Democratic candidate Diane Lawless
entered the atrium of Victorian Square
Shoppes looking like a winner. She
walked around meeting. greeting and
thanking supporters. \lthough she
seemed confident because her numi
hers were high. she was also ready to
embrace what might not be good
news.

"I have done everything I can pos—
sibly do.“ Lawless said. “I‘m relieved
that this is almost o\ er."

Lawless did not lime to wait long
She was victorious in her efforts. de—
feating fellow Democrat liric Thoma
son for the 3rd District seat on the

Lawless Thomason

"l ne\er could have done this
without all of m} supporters." Lawless
said in her acceptance speech. “I am
ohonored b_\ the output of support and
gL‘llL’l‘USII} from e\er_vbo«.l_v and I
promise to work as hard as 3rd Dis»
trict council representative as I did as
a volunteer."

Among those present were former
Lexington .\la_\oi' l’am Miller and cure

"What a great night for Democrats
in Lexington and all over the world.
We can be proud." Mongiardo said.
"Let‘s rally and celebrate tonight. and
get to work tomorrow.”

In her acceptance speech. Lawless
said she wanted to help UK students.
who she said have been silenced in re—
cent )ears.

"I reall_\ want to be a voice for
UK students." Lawless said. "l want to
be that representati\e for them be»
cause l feel like they have been left
out of the loop at times. 1 want to be
their voice."

Lawless. a community activist
who is currently on the Democratic
National (‘omention ('redcntials
Committee. wants to focus on provid—
ing affordable housing. protecting
Lexington‘s neighborhoods. enforcing

services for citizens of Lexington.

Despite loss, Thomason
promises to stay active

On Tuesday night as the results
for the 3rd District seat came out. the
27-year—old Thomason was enjoying
drinks and pizza at Pazzo's Pizza Pub
with close friends and supporters.

When neWs that Lawless had won
appeared on TV around 7:30 p.m..
Thomason looked disappointed but
said his race was just bad timing be-
cause both candidates were so strong.

While the results were being
counted. Lawless called Thomason to
congratulate him on a good race.

Thomason said he ran to help im-
plement "great plans" that Lexington
had but never pushed. He said he will
run again for something. but he is un-

moment-elect
Council.

Lexingtonil‘ia) ette

llrban Count)

giardo.

rent Kentuck} l.t (iov. Daniel Mon-