Lynch said the veto is something that “should never be done loosely,” but he cited overwhelming reaction in the community to changing the city’s system of elections — especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
In November, eight of the 12 city council wards will have a contested race in addition to the mayor's contest in which Republican James R. Knight Jr. and Independent Walter Shamble will challenge Interim Mayor Wendell Lynch, a Democrat.
Beshear appointee Chris McNeill, the directing attorney of Paducah’s public defender office, will face Air Force veteran Jenny Hines in the general election.
State Rep. Charles Booker garnered a majority of votes in the state’s two most populous counties, Jefferson and Fayette. But McGrath cobbled together statewide support, winning a majority of Kentucky’s mostly rural counties.
Local election officials will continue scanning and tabulating absentee ballots. Results will be reported to the Kentucky Board of Elections by June 30.
Final results of the election will be released in coming days as officials count mail-in ballots, which all Kentucky voters had the opportunity to cast this year in an effort to reduce exposure to the coronavirus.
In-person voting will continue until 6 tonight at the county's one polling place, the James E. Bruce Convention Center. Mail-in ballots must have a June 23 or earlier postmark, and voters can also turn in their mail-in ballots at the Christian County Courthouse until 6 p.m.
