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MORGANTOWN - Julie Knight admitted to being "very shocked" back on May 12 when she soundly defeated incumbent Jeff Arnett in the Democratic primary for the Eastern District seat on the Monongalia County Commission.
Knight, a newcomer to elected politics, did it again on Tuesday, defeating Republican Ron Lytle 16,183 to 11,797 to claim the seat.
"I'm just very excited to work for the people of Monongalia County. I want to hit the ground running and just be a conduit for the people," she said shortly after the county's unofficial election results were posted.
"I plan on doing what I said I was going to do, listen and make decisions based on the interests of the people of Monongalia County. I want to move this county forward in line with the interests of the people. So, making sure their tax dollars are really being used, again, on things like infrastructure and having government be a service to the people it serves."
Asked if she was as surprised this time around, Knight said she was not.
When she takes office in January, Knight will be the first woman to hold a commission seat since 2000 according to information shared by the Monongalia County Democrats.
"I was a little more prepared this time, but honestly I still wondered if the good 'ol boys were going to work really hard to keep me out. I know that sometimes that type of power can be very effective. So I was not going to take anything for granted," she said. "So I was, again, very pleasantly surprised that the people were able to win. That doesn't always happen in government, especially nowadays. So I was really excited that the people got to win."
Lytle, who previously served 12 years on the Monongalia County Board of Education, said he is relieved the race is over.
"I have relief in my stomach that I don't have to do that for the next six years. I was signing up to serve the community, and the community decided they wanted to go another route, so I'm okay with that. I'm 100% okay with that," Lytle said. "There was a big blue wave that took out all the surfers. I just happened to be on a board that day."
Lytle said he appreciates everyone who helped with his campaign and supported him at the polls.
"I would have done it right, and I would have served everyone, but the community wanted different leadership. So that's what we're going to have and we're going to see how it works out," he said.
Knight led the entire evening, jumping out to a 3,096-vote lead based on early voting and absentee returns. The lead grew to just over 4,300 with 19 of 43 precincts counted. She ended up receiving 57.6% of the 28,058 votes cast in the race.
As for total election turnout, 28,614 ballots were cast, representing 42.5% of the county's 67,332 registered voters.
All results are unofficial until certified through canvassing, which will take place Monday at the county's election headquarters in the Mountaineer Mall.