Mayor Todd Alcott was reelected as Bowling Green mayor Tuesday evening.
According to WBKO, Alcott defeated former Patti Minter, state representative and WKU history professor, by a 5.4% margin.
Alcott was first elected Bowling Green mayor in 2020 when former mayor Bruce Wilkerson chose not to run for reelection and endorsed Alcott’s campaign.
Alcott ran on a platform centered around his previous accomplishments as mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 tornado, as well as his continuous work on Bowling Green’s infrastructure supporting police, firefighters and homeless populations.
In his acceptance speech at his election party at the White Squirrel Brewery, Alcott thanked the people behind his campaign and looked forward to the next four years.
“Many, many people have put their time, their effort, their wallet into this campaign, their prayers, their love and their support,” Alcott said. “Bowling Green, we have got a beautiful four years ahead.”
Alcott continued by sharing his love of the Bowling Green community and recognizing his victory with reelected commissioners Dana Beasley-Brown, Carlos Bailey, Melinda Hill and Sue Parrigin.
Alcott then shared his thoughts on what the win meant to him, promising to serve Bowling Green.
“I want people to know that I’m here to serve all, and I have been serving all, and I love this community, and I will do anything just to help continue to keep this community forward,” Alcott said.
Alcott said he wants supporters of Minter to know he would still do his best to serve them.
“For Patti’s voters and Patti’s supporters, what I want to say to them is I love them and I care for them,” Alcott said.“I support them. We have equality, and I will serve as a mayor to all of Bowling Green.”
At Minter’s election party at One Roof Event Space, supporters listened to her concession speech after the results were confirmed.
Minter acknowledged her loss in the mayoral race while expressing her gratitude for her supporters along the way.
“To our volunteers and our generous donors, you poured your heart and your soul into this campaign and I am forever grateful for your dedication,” Minter said.
Minter’s platform focused on “leading by listening,” “smart growth,” and the implementation of a Bowling Green fairness ordinance.
Minter said she is a public servant, not a politician, and considered her campaign a “public service journey.”
She referred to her success in lowering insulin costs for tens of thousands of Kentuckians and rapid response and disaster management as testaments to her role as a public servant.
“I ran for mayor because I believe Bowling Green deserves leadership that truly listens and leads, that embraces smart growth and that isn’t beholden to any special interests, and equality is not a special interest,” Minter said.
She commended Dana Beasley-Brown and Carlos Bailey for their victories as City Commissioners and Jennifer Kash for being appointed to the Warren County Board of Education.
“Even though all of tonight did not turn out the way we hoped, I am so proud of everything that this team has accomplished together,” Minter said.
Minter thanked Bowling Green for backing her journey and promised that hopes for a better future would not end after tonight.
“I’ll continue advocating, I’ll continue working alongside you, I’m absolutely not going to be a stranger,” Minter said.
Now that the campaign is over, Alcott said it is time to get to work.
“I’m going to go pick up signs, because I don’t like litter in Bowling Green, I don’t like seeing my name all out there,” Alcott said. “I like doing the work, and the campaign’s over, and now it’s time to get to work.”
News Reporter Anthony Clauson can be reached at [email protected].
News Reporter Kane Smith can be reached at [email protected].
