A farmer, he currently serves on the Parksville Water District board and has served on the Perryville City Council and Boyle County Agricultural Extension Board.
He also has been a Boyle County and Perryville firefighter.
Mayes said he has thought about seeking countywide office before and actually discussed with Harmon the possibility of running for the District 1 seat shortly before the last election when Harmon, who was battling cancer, gauged his interest in holding the office.
"I told Mickey there wasn't any sense in ever running when he was going to, but he said this would be the last time he did it and he just wanted to know whether I would think about it," Mayes said.
One of Mayes' primary reasons for seeking the office is the opportunity to represent the agricultural communities in what is the largest geographical district in the county.
Although he hasn't identified a long list of objectives for a term on the court, Mayes said he wants to maintain the progress the county has made in improving infrastructure, especially roads and bridges, in the western part of the county.
"I remember 40 years ago when on our farm you could barely get anything in or out," Mayes said. "I'm kind of amazed at what has been done since then, when you can get whatever it may be, a tractor, a tractor-trailer, across bridges to most anywhere."
Mayes said he has started to gain an understanding of the millions of dollars the court is responsible for during his short time in the seat. He said he now has a new appreciation for what goes into the job.
Elliott, a Realtor who was born in Perryville and has lived for many years in Forkland, is in her third term on the Boyle County Board of Education. She touts her conservative spending philosophy and reluctance to raise taxes as major reasons to choose her on Election Day.
A Boyle County High School and Eastern Kentucky University graduate, Elliott has served the community in various capacities over the years, including her work with the Forkland Festival, as well as belonging to the Kentucky School Boards Association and the National School Boards Association. She also points out that, unlike Mayes, she was elected to serve in her current post on the Board of Education multiple times.
Elliott said her almost nine years of work on the Board of Education gave her first-hand training with one of the largest budgets in the county. She said one of her top priorities will be to make sure the county controls its spending, especially as the economy remains in neutral.
"I want to be a strong voice for fiscal responsibility and will work hard to stand up for the taxpayers of western Boyle County,” Elliott said. “I will oppose any unnecessary tax increases.”
One of Elliott's other goals will be to continue to expand broadband Internet access and cell phone service to the entire western part of the county. While some people can access higher speed Internet, she said there are many in rural areas who cannot and getting cell phone service, particularly in the Forkland area, is almost impossible.
Without being specific, Elliott said she would propose and support any policies that would promote economic development in a county that continues to struggle with lagging employment.
“I’ve been elected three times, and I have experience in my eight years working with budgets and with constituents,” Elliott said. “I am committed to serving and representing the community.”
