Tara Mahan O'Donnell
Candidate Magistrate District 6
Oldham County Kentucky
Listening. Serving. Leading.
Some of the Issues I support:
• No data center in Oldham County to protect our land, water, and rural quality of life
• Protect seniors, support aging in place with dignity and without overtaxation.
• Regulate Flock‑style surveillance cameras with transparency, oversight, and community consent
• Protect and expand Oldham County parks for families, seniors, and future generations
• Support working families with more child enrichment opportunities after school and during school breaks
• Increase teacher pay to strengthen our schools and support the educators who shape Oldham County’s future
• Make cannabis and hemp products safe, regulated, and accessible for Oldham County residents and add revenue
• Increase local retail options to strengthen our economy and give residents more choices
• Listen and respond to residents of District 6 and all of Oldham County with accountability and compassion
Candidate Biography
Tara O’Donnell is a healthcare professional, cannabis science specialist, and community advocate who has called Oldham County home for the past decade. Inspired by her late father’s lifelong service as a doctor who treated every patient with dignity, Tara has built her own path rooted in compassion and fairness.
As a single parent with no safety net, Tara experienced firsthand how invisible working families can feel. She balanced caregiving, unstable work, and constant trade‑offs — all while raising her daughter, who graduated Valedictorian of Oldham County and earned a full scholarship to Centre College.
Professionally, Tara worked at Norton Healthcare supporting cancer patients and urgent clinical needs before expanding her training into cannabinoid science through Bellarmine University’s Cannabis Science & Therapeutics program. She is now a certified cannabis healthcare and product development specialist, educator, and policy writer focused on patient rights, public health, and consumer protection.
Tara is running for Magistrate to bring fairness, compassion, and common‑sense problem‑solving to county government. She believes every resident of Oldham County deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued.