Mayor in Western Kentucky Dies on Eve of Reelection Bid

DIXON, Ky. -- Officials say an 81-year-old mayor in western Kentucky who was seeking reelection has died, hours before voters were to cast ballots.

Colin E. Todd, mayor of Dixon in Kentucky's Webster County, died Monday night, The Henderson Gleaner reported. The cause of death wasn't immediately disclosed.

County clerk Valerie Franklin Newell told the newspaper that Todd's death stuned county residents as he had been active and had appeared at events in the past week.

The newspaper says votes for Todd will not be counted. Two other candidates are on the ballot in Tuesday's nonpartisan race for mayor.

Franklin says Todd took office in 1982 and had served until 1989, then was re-elected in 1994 to the post he held until his death.