Sharon Tyler had little trouble dispatching Democratic challenger Cindy Ellis for the 78th District state senate seat in Tuesday’s election.

At press time, she held 65 percent of the vote with 29 of 39 precincts reporting.

Tyler, who earns her second term, said the key to her re-election was the time she invested in talking with her constituents.

“I think it has to do with the many office hours I held,” Tyler said during her election party at Riverfront Cafe of her win against Ellis. “It’s about listening to the people. As Rick Synder said, he’s hired by the people.”

Tyler said the people she’s talked to are most concerned about government overspending and job creation, which will be priorities for her in her second term.

She also said she wants to “continue to lead the way in the bi-partisan office.”