Mark Hart is running against independent challenger Timothy D. Johnson of Walton for the House 78th District.
Hart has held the seat since 2017.
Since then, he has been re-elected three times and racked up several legislative wins, especially on issues involving emergency medical services. It’s a field that Hart – an experienced paramedic and firefighter – knows well.
The Falmouth Republican is both a captain with Pendleton County Emergency Medical Services and a founding member of Pendleton County Search and Rescue.
Hart also worked as a paramedic and firefighter with the Lexington Fire Department, retiring as a lieutenant.
That experience has worked its way into statute through recently passed legislation Hart has sponsored, including:
• 2023 House Bill 157, which created the Kentucky Urban Search and Rescue Program under the state Division of Emergency Management.
• 2022 House Bill 372 (now law), which involves administrative and budget reporting by fire districts and requires yearly financial review of both fire districts and nonprofit fire departments.
In addition to his legislative service, Hart also served from 1994 to 2003 in the Kentucky Army National Guard.
Hart is the House chair of the statutory Government Contract Review Committee responsible for legislative review of state agency memoranda of agreements and personal service contracts.
Outside of his current public service is past military service. According to his biography published by the Legislative Research Commission, Hart served in the Kentucky Army National Guard as an artilleryman, combat MP, and medic from 1994 to 2003.
LINK nky was unable to reach Johnson for this story. John does not have a website or Facebook with information about what he stands for or what he intends to do if he wins.
House district 78 is made up of parts of Alexandria, Independence and Walton.