LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB-TV) -- Metro Council's first district has seen more than its share of problems in recent years -- from an ousted councilperson to ongoing gun violence. But despite those issues, people are still fighting for the job of representing the troubled district.
This week, there were six people vying for the first district seat on council. And although voters decided to stick with the person who already had the job, this really only provides a little bit of breathing room for Councilwoman Attica Scott.
These days, Scott is staying pretty busy. Whether it is the office line or cellphone, she's trying to stay connected to people in district one.
"I want to be a presence that folks know that that's their councilwoman and they see me walking down the street, on my way to church, on my way to the store, see my kids out hanging out playing -- they know who I am," says Scott.
If they didn't know her before, district one voters certainly do now. That was crystal clear after the election. Scott says, "It's a clear message from the community that they support my leadership. They know that I have their backs, and that they were showing me that they have my back."
After being appointed by metro council last year, Scott did it the old-fashioned way this week. She beat out five other candidates for the seat. "I wasn't surprised because folks saw it as an opportunity to step in and present themselves as leaders."
And leadership might be exactly what district one needs. That's after the previous councilwoman's ethics problems, mounting abandoned properties and the kinds of gun violence we saw last week.
"We need someone who's building bridges, who's making connections, who's bringing us together and who is also fighting and standing up for the neighborhoods in the district. And I'm that person."
But it hasn't been and won't be easy because district one has baggage. Scott says, "I know that I am under a microscope, but I also know that Tuesday's vote said the people believe in and support my leadership."
Scott is trying to lead by example with volunteer cleanups like one at the sight of last week's triple murder. "To say to folks we care about the neighborhood, we care about the community. And part of the way that we show that is making it someplace that's fun and a place where kids can come out and play and not have to worry about glass on the ground or anything like that."
Scott won the election, but she only has two years before she has to run again. That's because she is completing the term vacated by former councilwoman Dr. Judy Green.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
