Following the unexpected death of Senator Johnnie Turner last week, Pineville Mayor Scott Madon is one of several candidates to declare a write-in campaign for the seat.

Madon officially filed his paperwork to run as a write-in candidate for the seat in Frankfort on Friday morning. The write-in deadline was Friday at 4 p.m.

Even before his paperwork was in, Madon received the endorsement of the Senate Republican Campaign Caucus Committee

“Scott Madon is a proven leader who shares Johnnie Turner’s passion for standing up for the people of this region,” said Senate President Robert Stivers of Manchester. “He has a deep connection to the district and a track record of delivering results for his community. Scott will carry on Johnnie’s legacy of strong leadership in Frankfort, ensuring the people of the 29th District continue to have a trusted voice.”

Madon has also been endorsed by U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers.
Madon has been the mayor of Pineville since 2015. He serves as the Second Vice President of the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) and Chairman of the Cumberland Valley Area Development District (CVADD), representing Bell, Harlan, Clay, Knox, Laurel, Rockcastle, Whitley, and Jackson counties.

“Scott Madon has been an unwavering advocate for the values of southeastern Kentuckians,” said Senator Phillip Wheeler (Pikeville). “He’s a conservative mountain leader with a clear vision for economic progress, who will carry on my dear friend Sen. Johnnie Turner’s legacy as a fearless advocate for the working men and women of the mountains and will never waver in the fight against misguided policies from Washington, D.C., that have hurt our coal miners and small towns. I strongly urge voters in the 29th District to write in Scott Madon’s name. He’s the leader that the families of southeast Kentucky need.”
Voters in the 29th Senate District will see the names of Turner and Independent candidate Davis Suhr on their ballots, which have already been printed. However, votes for neither of those candidates will count, as Turner is deceased and Suhr withdrew from the race on Oct. 15.

Under Kentucky law, voters can cast a write-in vote for any candidate who has filed the necessary paperwork by the deadline.

In addition to Madon, Craig E. Blackburn of Prestonsburg, John Clem of Cranks, Willie Crase of Garrett, Leonard Hendrickson of Pine Top, James Richard Tanner Hesterberg of Prestonsburg, Valerie Ison Horn of Whitesburg, Justin Wade Noble of Emmalena, Andrew Thomas Saylor of Wallins Creek, James Tyler Ward II of Whitesburg, and Paul Williams of Prestonsburg have filed as write-in candidates for the seat.
The Senate district includes Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott and Letcher counties.