Incumbent Owen Wins Democratic Nod for Eighth District Council Seat

Louisville Metro Councilman Tom Owen has won the Democratic party's nomination for re-election.Owen has served on the council since its inception and was an alderman before that. In many races, he faced little or no opposition. He had two primary challengers this year, including Jefferson County Judge-Executive Bryan Mathews.The Judge-Executive's office has been ceremonial since the city-county merger, but Mathews says he will now focus on ideas for reforming the office. He's also prepared to work with Owen going forward.“We're going to get together soon and see what we can't do together for the future of the district,” Mathews said. “I've got Tom's back going into the fall and thereafter.”Owen will face Republican candidate Kirt Jacobs in the general election. While Owen won his three-way primary by a significant margin, he says his opponents have prepared him for a competitive race in the fall.“By discussion and by challenge and by criticism, they have helped me focus on my game,” Owen said.Owen is 72 and says rumors that he is considering making this his last campaign are not true.