Sarah Martin Announces Candidacy for County Attorney
Raises more than $50,000 in first week of campaign and earns endorsements from prominent local leaders.
April 3, 2025 – Sarah Martin, Second Assistant Jefferson County Attorney and Civil Division Director, begins her candidacy for Jefferson County Attorney with the support of current County Attorney Mike O’Connell and other community leaders. Martin starts her campaign with an impressive fundraising haul of more than $50,000 in just a week.
“I have proudly served this community for nearly 17 years as an Assistant County Attorney as both a prosecutor and a civil attorney,” Sarah Martin said. “This experience makes me uniquely qualified to run this important office. I love this job and see every day how the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office impacts our community. I am encouraged by the incredible support I have already received as I undertake my first run for elected office.”
Martin joined the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office as an Assistant County Attorney in October 2008, prosecuting criminals in district court. She served as lead attorney for Louisville Metro Council and as a Civil Rights Attorney for the Human Relations Commission where she tried the first hate crime case under Louisville’s anti-discrimination ordinance. Martin now leads a team of more than 40 lawyers as Director of the Civil Division.
“My proudest courtroom experience was arguing before the Kentucky Supreme Court where I defended Louisville's minimum wage increase,” Martin said. “I promise to earn the trust and support of the people of Jefferson County during this campaign.”
Martin announced endorsements from three prominent local leaders as she starts her campaign.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell said, “The County Attorney’s Office is too important to retire without a sound path forward. This is not a position that can be filled by just any attorney. It requires a specific skill set and our community understandably has high expectations of professionalism and hard work that I know Sarah Martin can meet. That is why she has my full support to lead this office into the future.”
Former 3rd District Congressman John Yarmuth also offered his strong endorsement, “Sarah served as my Treasurer for 14 years, handling the fundraising and financial reporting during my time as Louisville’s Congressman. Sarah is smart, dependable, and indefatigable. Louisville will be lucky to have such a dedicated public servant.”
Lonita Baker, past president of National Bar Association, added, “I have known Sarah for years, as a colleague, a supervisor, and a friend. She is a dedicated, hardworking public servant with the ability to get things done. When Sarah and I have clients adverse to each other, she is always fair, transparent, and a strong advocate in working towards the best interests of the entire city. Sarah Martin is exactly the leader we need representing our community as the Jefferson County Attorney.”
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