Paducah Mayor Brandi Harless’ re-election bid ended after failing to advance in June’s mayoral primary election, leaving businessman George Bray and Mayor Pro Tem Richard Abraham vying to be the city’s next mayor this fall.
Unofficial results from the State Board of Elections show Harless finished third in the primary election with 1581 votes, or about 25% of the vote. Only the top two finishers advance to the general election. Businessman George Bray finished first in the primary with 2992 votes, or about 47% of the vote. Mayor Pro Tem Richard Abraham finished second with 1851 votes, or about 28% of the vote.
Harless in a statement on Facebook said she ran to become Mayor to make changes in Paducah, not for a career in politics. She also said she plans to serve in other roles once her term ends.
Harless unseated then-incumbent Gayle Kaler to become mayor in 2016, overseeing the passage of afairness ordinance and the implementation of a curbside recycling program, among other events during her tenure.
George Bray thanked supporters on social media and said there’s “more work to do in order to set Paducah on the right course.”
Paducah voters also chose which candidates for city commission advanced to the general election, with Washington Street Baptist Church Pastor Raynarldo Henderson recieving the most votes with 2854, or 14% of the vote. Paducah Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilson garnered the second most votes with 2590, or 13% of the vote. Eight candidates will advance from that race.
Correction: This article previously stated that Sandra Wilson recieved the most votes in the city commission primary. She recieved the second most votes in that race. This story has been updated.
See unofficial primary election results for McCracken County below:
6-30 McCracken Unofficial by Liam Niemeyer on Scribd
