PENDLETON COUNTY, Ky. — A northern Kentucky town is getting attention for its mayoral race. The election took place in the City of Butler and resulted in a tied number of votes. And by state law, a coin toss decided the next mayor.

What You Need To Know

  • The mayor of Pendleton, Kentucky won the election after a coin toss

  • State law calls for a coin toss to break a tied election

  • In Nov. 2020, a coin flip determined the winner of a Butler City Council race

In the race, Mason Taylor challenged incumbent Greg McElfresh to the seat. After all the votes were counted, both Taylor and McElfresh earned 55 votes. Kentucky State law says, “In the event of a tie vote, the tie shall be broken by a coin toss in the presence of the candidates receiving the tie vote.”

The Pendleton County Clerk’s Office brought in Pendleton’s County Sheriff, Eddie Quinn, to break the tie. 

“My opponent was already sitting there, waiting. The sheriff, the current sheriff Mr. Eddie Quinn, came out and told us the incumbent was going to be heads and the challenger, which is me, was going to be tails,” Taylor said.

The sheriff conducted the proceedings.

“He flipped the coin in the air. It landed on the ground, rolled about for three times, and finally spun and hit tails,” Taylor said.

That’s how Taylor became the City of Butler’s mayor-elect. He’s also an EMS first responder and firefighter.

“I exhaled, big huge sigh of relief. So much stress had come off my shoulders but it’s a hard-fought victory and I’ll take the victory in any way,” Taylor said after the coin toss was over.

With tails landing in his favor, the 25-year-old said he has plans for the town of 600-plus people.

“Butler’s right on the cusp,” Taylor said. “They can be either thriving, by inviting businesses in expanding out into the county and one of the major highways that runs north to south US 27. Kind of growing us out to that level, bringing in hard-earned tax dollars for people, to where I want to just have a good vision forward. So that way there’s a good base, so people can truly see like they can bring their families here. They can develop a family and grow a family for the future.”

The Pendleton County Clerk’s Office said this isn’t the first time a coin toss decided an electoral race in Kentucky. In Nov. 2020, a coin flip determined the winner of a Butler City Council race.

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