Kay wins race for Lexington vice mayor. Moloney and Ellinger take at-large seats.

Fayette County voters returned Steve Kay to his post as vice mayor Tuesday, giving him a decisive win over the five other council at-large candidates. With the win, Kay will begin his second four-year term in January.

Voters also elected two other experienced candidates to the council’s three at-large seats: Richard Moloney, a current at-large councilman, and former councilman Chuck Ellinger, who won second and third place, respectively. They will also serve four-year terms.

The three men defeated political newcomers Adrian Wallace, Connie Kell and Lillie Miller-Johnson, all of whom had emerged out of a crowded field of 10 candidates in the May primary.

Kay said he thought his stance on preserving Fayette County’s green space made an impression on voters. Last year, he was one of the major opponents of a move to change the rules on development outside the Urban Service Boundary.

“I think people recognize we need to preserve our green space for the long term,” Kay said. “I’m really pleased to be returned to office, grateful to the people who worked so hard, and looking forward to working with Mayor Gorton and the new council.”

The city-wide race is nonpartisan. The vice mayor makes $34,451. All other council members receive an annual salary of $31,606.

Outgoing Mayor Jim Gray took the unusual step of endorsing Kay for the top at-large seat, something he has not done in eight years as mayor. Gray did not seek re-election after two four-year terms.

The race turned into an expensive one, with candidates raising $379,378 by Oct. 7, according to a Herald-Leader analysis of campaign finance reports filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. The biggest backing was from developers, real estate and construction business employees, who donated $63,695 to Kay, Moloney, Ellinger and Wallace. That sector gave twice as much as any other special interest donor category.

Council At-Large

Top three win

• Steve Kay 48,649
  
  
• Richard Moloney 41,835
  
  
• Chuck Ellinger II 40,824
  
  

• Adrian Wallace 31,788

• Connie Kell 22,428

• Lillie E. Miller-Johnson 28,919

This story was originally published November 6, 2018 at 9:22 PM.