Patrick Kelley ran as the incumbent having not been elected to the seat he held. So he campaigned around Milford asking residents if they acknowledged the promise the city has shown over the past nearly two years.
The residents of Milford responded favorably on Election Day, voting for Kelley to return as mayor.
Kelley won the Milford mayor's race with 538 votes, enough to comfortably defeat former city council member Scott Bashore. Those results were unofficial before certification earlier this week.
“I want to thank the citizens of Milford for entrusting me with their vote,” Kelley said in an Election Night statement. “I look forward to the road ahead as outlined through my campaign and can't wait to get to work on the next four years. There is so much to accomplish. Thank you so much.”
Kelley assumed the mayorship on Nov. 12, 2018, following former mayor Nick Glanzer's resignation.
Glanzer citied his family's move beyond city limits, which made him ineligible to hold office, as his reason for resignation.
Kelley was a Ward 2 representative on the city council before moving to fill the remainder of Glanzer's term, per state law.
Under the past two year's of Kelley's service as mayor, Milford has received a $252,000 housing grant, a new subdivision, new businesses opening along Fifth Street and new discussions regarding possible industrial developments outside the city. The city was also denied a downtown revitalization grant but has partnered with the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership to improve its bid for that grant the upcoming year.
