Changes

In 1964, Pettit was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives for District 53 (Fayette County). He served three two-year terms.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.e-archives.ky.gov/Pubs/LRC/infobull/IB175b.pdf|title=Membership of Kentucky General Assembly, 1900-2004|publisher=E-archives.ky.gov|accessdate=July 8, 2015}}</ref> In 1971, Pettit was elected as the mayor of Lexington, a non-partisan position which he held from 1972 to 1978. he municipal and county governments in Lexington were consolidated in 1974, through the joint effort of Mayor Petit and Fayette County Judge Robert Stephens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentucky.com/2014/10/18/3488579/former-lexington-mayor-h-foster.html|title=Former Lexington mayor H. Foster Pettit in critical condition after fishing trip accident|author=Karla War|date=October 18, 2014|publisher=''The Lexington Herald-Leader''|accessdate=July 8, 2015}}</ref>

In 1964, Pettit was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives for District 53 (Fayette County). He served three two-year terms.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.e-archives.ky.gov/Pubs/LRC/infobull/IB175b.pdf|title=Membership of Kentucky General Assembly, 1900-2004|publisher=E-archives.ky.gov|accessdate=July 8, 2015}}</ref> In 1971, Pettit was elected as the mayor of Lexington, a non-partisan position which he held from 1972 to 1978. he municipal and county governments in Lexington were consolidated in 1974, through the joint effort of Mayor Petit and Fayette County Judge Robert Stephens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kentucky.com/2014/10/18/3488579/former-lexington-mayor-h-foster.html|title=Former Lexington mayor H. Foster Pettit in critical condition after fishing trip accident|author=Karla War|date=October 18, 2014|publisher=''The Lexington Herald-Leader''|accessdate=July 8, 2015}}</ref>

While Pettit was mayor, the Commonwealth Stadium opened, and the Lexington Ballet was founded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lexingtonballet.org/ |title=Lexington Ballet |accessdate=October 6, 2012}}</ref> The Federal Medical Center in Lexington was designated a federal prison in 1974. That same year, the Festival of the Bluegrass was launched. Opening in the Pettit years were the [[Lexington Mall]], which closed in 2005; the [[Lexington Center]], an entertainment, convention, and sports complex, a new modern airport terminal at Blue Grass Field, and the 23,500-seat Rupp Arena.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ground to Be Broken for Lexington CC|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rI9DAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ia4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1783,5839806&dq=en|publisher=''Williamson Daily News''|date=June 29, 1974}}</ref>

While Pettit was mayor, the Commonwealth Stadium opened, and the Lexington Ballet was founded.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lexingtonballet.org/ |title=Lexington Ballet |accessdate=October 6, 2012}}</ref> The Federal Medical Center in Lexington was designated a federal prison in 1974. That same year, the Festival of the Bluegrass was launched. Opening in the Pettit years were the Lexington Mall, which closed in 2005; the Lexington Center, an entertainment, convention, and sports complex, a new modern airport terminal at Blue Grass Field, and the 23,500-seat Rupp Arena.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ground to Be Broken for Lexington CC|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rI9DAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ia4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1783,5839806&dq=en|publisher=''Williamson Daily News''|date=June 29, 1974}}</ref>

Pettit was succeeded as mayor by his former election rival, James Amato. From 1979 to 1981, he was the Secretary of Public Protection and Regulation during the administration of Democratic [[Governor]] John Young Brown, Jr. He was of counsel with the prestigious Lexington law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, named for Kentucky Democrat politicians Wilson W. Wyatt and Bert T. Combs.<ref name=bio/>

Pettit was succeeded as mayor by his former election rival, James Amato. From 1979 to 1981, he was the Secretary of Public Protection and Regulation during the administration of Democratic [[Governor]] John Young Brown, Jr. He was of counsel with the prestigious Lexington law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, named for Kentucky Democrat politicians Wilson W. Wyatt and Bert T. Combs.<ref name=bio/>