Democrat Cathy Richards says she’s ready to hit the ground running as Boone County’s new public administrator.

Richards

Richards, who coasted to victory in the August primary election, easily outpolled Republican John Sullivan with 57 percent of ballots yesterday in the general election.

"I didn’t do it by myself," she said last night at Billiards at 514 E. Broadway. Richards credited the "grassroots support" of friends and family. Talking over the din of excitement of fellow Democrats watching president-elect Barack Obama’s victory speech, Richards vowed to do her best to fill the shoes of 16-year Public Administrator Connie Hendren, who did not seek re-election.

It was the second time Sullivan has lost a bid for the public administrator’s post. He unsuccessfully challenged Hendren in 2004.

"I’m disappointed with the outcome, but it is what it is, so we move forward from here," Sullivan said today. A self-employed insurance agent, he said he is not inclined to make another run for the position.

"The political demographics were just against me," Sullivan said. "And I’m not going to change my party affiliation just to get in a position."

Like Richards, Sullivan also thanked his supporters. "I appreciate the confidence they showed in me," he said.

Richards, meanwhile, plans to use some vacation time to attend upcoming public administrator training meetings and to ride with Hendren to meet some of the clients served by the office "so they aren’t as startled when I just show up," Richards said.

The public administrator is assigned custodial and administrative responsibility for the estate and personal care of minors as well as incapacitated and disabled individuals who have no legal guardian.

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