The first mayor of Lexington’s combined city-county government was decided by 54 votes
Editor’s note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history – some funny, some sad; others heartbreaking or celebratory; and some just downright strange.
Jan. 1, 1974: The combined Lexington Fayette Urban County Government begins after voters overwhelmingly approve combining the two governments. Who would serve as mayor of the combined government was less clear, however, with just a handful of votes separating the two candidates – Foster Pettit, Lexington’s last mayor and one of five men who led the charge to combine the city and county governments, and James Amato.
Initially, it appeared Amato won by 112 votes until one of Pettit’s campaign workers noticed a discrepancy. The vote totals in the Aylesford neighborhood were the exact opposite of the votes in all of the neighborhoods around it. The case went to court, which ultimately found the voting machines in that neighborhood had not been calibrated correctly.
In a recount, Pettit won by a mere 54 votes – the closest margin of any city election.
This story was originally published January 1, 2025 at 4:30 AM.
