The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Pamela Goodwine was elected Tuesday as Fayette County's first female black circuit judge.

Goodwine, who was appointed district judge in 1999, drew more than 56 percent of the votes to beat former state Sen. Tim Philpot.

Goodwine, 43, said that she would be happy to retire as a circuit judge, but also could imagine running for a seat on the Court of Appeals or state Supreme Court one day. "I have my eyes set on the stars," Goodwine said.

Philpot, 52, had said that his long career gave him the maturity to be a good judge. He has been a trial lawyer and a legislator.

"I don't look at it as losing an election, I look at it as reconnecting with hundreds of friends over the last few months," he said.

On the campaign trail, Goodwine regularly recounted a life story that included a remarkable rise from an inner city neighborhood in Youngstown, Ohio. She was given up for adoption at birth. She won a college scholarship but gave it up to be with her adoptive father, who was dying of lung cancer.

Goodwine worked as a court reporter and legal secretary, and eventually graduated from law school. Before becoming a judge, she worked with one of the state's largest law firms, Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs.