Shayla Lynch narrowly defeats incumbent McCurn for District 2 seat

Newcomer Shayla Lynch will become the representative of District 2, defeating incumbent Josh McCurn, according to unofficial election results.

Lynch received 52% of votes with 3,151 votes cast. McCurn received 48% of votes with 2,954 votes.

Tuesday night when the results were announced, Lynch said she felt “elated and overjoyed.” Lynch hosted a watch party at her home with family and friends, who all screamed when the results came in.

“I am so appreciative and thankful to neighbors in District 2 who chose me to represent them,” Lynch told the Herald-Leader. “I am excited to partner with all of them to do wonderful things in the second district.”

“I am definitely ready to get started,” she said.

Lynch, 43, is the executive director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning and was formerly the executive director for the Ampersand Sexual Violence and Resource Center. Her goals to are to help address city-wide crime rates, the housing shortage, and contributing to more commercial growth in the district.

She faced incumbent Josh McCurn, who was elected to serve on council in 2018. McCurn works in real estate, in addition to being on the council. He also served on 13 city boards and committees.

McCurn said he was surprised by the results, and congratulated Lynch on her successful campaign, and wished her the best.

“For the past four years we have put every one of our best feet forward that we could, and we have had a lot of support in and out of the district and it was interesting year with some amendments that were on the ballot and different turnout,” he said.

“I have had the opportunity to represent Lexington in the district and as a whole altogether, and I feel that we have had a voice at the table for the past four years representing the second,” McCurn said. “As long as that can stay, I think that the district will stay the same way and I look forward to what the future entails.”

This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 8:51 PM.

Taylor Six

Lexington Herald-Leader

Taylor Six is the criminal justice reporter at the Herald-Leader. She was born and raised in Lexington attending Lafayette High School. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2018 with a degree in journalism. She previously worked as the government reporter for the Richmond Register.