County Judge Executive

A County Judge/Executive is typically the head of a county’s executive branch and a part of the county’s governing body (the fiscal court, which passes laws and budgets for a county). This is a partisan race, so you will see political parties on your ballot.

However, because Lexington has a merged city/county government, much of this responsibility is passed to Council, the Mayor, and boards and commissions. But the Fayette County Judge/Executive still has a few responsibilities:

  • Fill vacancies in the office of Sheriff, Coroner, Surveyor, County Clerk, County Attorney, Jailer and Property Valuation Administrator

  • Help advise on some roads funded under the State Rural Secondary Highway Fund and the State Rural Highway Fund 

  • Impose, collect, and assess property taxes that are for public schools as specified by the Fayette County School District

Mary Diane McCord Hanna (D)

Mary Diane McCord Hanna is the President of the Old Richmond Road Neighborhood Association, owner and property manager at Fully Furnished Rental Properties, and manager at Silvacola Farm. She has an educational background in Dental Hygiene and Business and Family Economics and was elected the office of County Judge/Executive in 2022.

Information:

Campaign Finances:

Vote Local Questionnaire responses:

Candidate responses have not been edited.

  • My degrees (BS) are in family and health science, cum laude, and in dental hygiene, sums cum laude. I have worked as an insurance clerk quoting rates for people for Home, Auto, motorcycle and boat. I have worked in a retail gift store as the assistant manager. I have worked as a Dental Hygienist. I’ve worked as an assistant in oral surgery. I’ve worked as a hostess at a gourmet restaurant in Massachusetts. I have worked as a Text chemist and colorist at a manufacturing company.

  • I 've held this office 1-4-23. Multiple faceted, it includes selecting some of the Tax Board of Appeals members, swearing all of them into office, being on the Metropolitan Planning Organization, being a member of the Bluegrass Area District Development, being the primary person who administers a scholarship for Fayette County School Students, being head of Fiscal Court which debates & prioritizes the repaving & repairing of "country roads", appointing certain others to office if needed.

  • Lack of money for road repair and repaving, trying to protect the roads in the rural areas from urban sprawl & development, people spreading rumors that my office is in charge of snow removal (it is not), narrowing down scholarship applicants to only 3 who will receive the scholarship each year,

  • Safer streets and roads for pedestrians, bikers and drivers, finding a way to repave country roads more often (but $800,000-$900,000 per year purchases almost nothing with regard to roads), good communication with officials of neighboring counties, continuing to have great people volunteer for the Tax Road of Appeals. Thank you ALL who have said YES to my request!

  • Participating in local government is hard by almost any standard. Attending multiple meetings, finding parking downtown to attend the meetings, inserting yourself into various processes takes initiative & determination because it is much easier to not get involved and let someone else do it. I don't think anything I can do makes it easier for people to get involved in local government but I do encourage those who have road problems to speak their mind and come to Fiscal Court meetings.