PINEVILLE, Ky. — An election race like no other in eastern Kentucky ends with success for the mayor of Pineville. Scott Madon won a write-in election for State Senate in the 29th District after an 11-day campaign following the death of the incumbent, Johnnie Turner.

What You Need To Know

  • Scott Madon won election to the Kentucky Senate as a write-in candidate 

  • Madon will represent the 29th Senate district in eastern Kentucky 

  • Madon, the mayor of Pineville was one of 11 write-in candidates to file for the spot following the incumbent, Johnnie Turner's death 

  • Senate President Robert Stivers, Congressman Hal Rogers and the Turner family endorsed Madon in the 11-day race

Residents in Kentucky’s 29th District; which includes Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott and Letcher counties overwhelmingly wrote in Mayor Scott Madon, R-Pineville, as its new state senator. Madon received 6,825 votes according to the Secretary of State’s results page. Madon said it made for a unique experience at the polling booth as he had to explain to voters how to vote for him instead of voting straight party.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever written a candidate in my life. I’m 62 years old and been voting for 44 years and I don’t know that I’ve ever missed an election and I’m sure that was probably a lot of people’s first write-in,” Madon said.

As mayor of Pineville, Madon has worked to make the town a tourist attraction with a $100 million elk restoration project and an $8 million renovation of downtown. Madon said he wants Pineville to be an attraction.

“We buried all our overhead lines, new sidewalks, $1.6 million worth of brick paving is going around our courthouse. We’re increasing our parking downtown, new lighting,” Madon said.

A few years ago Madon said family visited him and asked about the state of the downtown and since then he was inspired to spruce it up. According to Madon, Pineville’s Main Street has a 100% occupancy.

Madon said the downturn of Kentucky’s coal industry led to the downfall of downtown. According to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Bell County has seen a -52.8% decrease year over year in coal production. In his soon-to-be role as state senator, Madon wants to help other small town mayors revitalize their communities.

“We stacked a lot of grants, and we bonded money, but it took me a long time to put it together and I want to tell people hey here’s how I did and how you can do it,” Madon said.

Madon was asked by the State Senate Republican Campaign Caucus to run following the untimely death of Johnnie Turner. Turner was running unopposed and seeking reelection. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Machester, endorsed Madon.

“The family was feeling he was ready to come home when he had a dramatic downturn the Monday before he passed away. Nobody could say a bad word about Johnnie, he was just a super good member, very kind,” Stivers remarked about Turner.

It was an 11-day sprint ending in victory for the man endorsed by Turner’s surviving family.

“Naturally, I want to carry on some of the things that were near and dear Johnnie’s heart and some of those same issues are near and dear to me also,” Madon said.

U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset also endorsed Madon. Pineville’s mayor got 35.2% of the vote between the five counties. 

Madon said he will resign from his role as mayor in the last few days of the year. Then, the Pineville City Council will select his successor.

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