What you need to know about the candidates for this south Lexington council seat
The candidates vying for a south Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council seat differ on what the district’s most pressing problems are and how those problems should be addressed.
For Whitney Elliott Baxter, traffic — particularly school-related traffic — is the top concern in the 9th District.
“Clays Mill Road and Wellington Way are in desperate need of notification crosswalk signals similar to what is seen at Rosa Parks Elementary,” said Baxter, a real estate agent and one of four vying for the south Lexington council seat.
Colby Khoshreza, a lawyer, said strengthening neighborhoods within the district is his top priority.
“We need to continue funding for public safety, community mental health, and substance abuse programs,” Khoshreza said. Khoshreza said if elected, he would host districtwide forums and work to strengthen community policing in neighborhoods.
Willy Fogle, a former Lexington council member and insurance agent, said safety is also his chief concern.
“Ongoing, in-depth conversations with 9th District constituents and our public safety leadership will also be my primary focus,” Fogle said.
Jacob Glancy, owner of Jake’s Cigar Bar in Nicholasville, also filed to run for the seat soon to be vacated by longtime Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman Jennifer Mossotti, who announced late last year she would not be running for re-election.
Glancy did not respond to the Lexington Herald-Leader’s requests for comment for this story.
The top two vote-getters in the June 23 primary will move on to the general election in November. The 9th Council District includes neighborhoods in the Reynolds Road and the Clays Mill Road areas.
The race is nonpartisan.
Baxter and Khoshreza are first-time council candidates. Baxter’s grandfather, the late Bill Rice, served as 9th District councilman from 1978-1983. Glancy ran unsuccessfully against Mossotti in 2018. Fogle served as a council member from 1994 through 2002. He served as a liaison to the council under former Mayor Teresa Isaac from 2003 to 2007 and was a council staffer to late Councilman Julian Beard from 2009 thru 2015.
The primary election comes as the city is in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic that has decimated the city’s tax revenues. The recent police-involved killings of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis has prompted renewed calls for more police accountability and for city leaders to do more to address long-standing racial injustices.
The Herald-Leader asked the candidates questions about race, policing and what makes them the best candidate for the south Lexington council seat.
1. Do you think there needs to be more police accountability? If so, what specific changes do you support?
Baxter: We have a stellar police force that is made up of men and women that care deeply for our community. I think we all need more accountability from time to time. I would be in support of a civilian police review board simply to bring an unbiased point of view to any disciplinary hearings.
Fogle: Police should be held accountable to the highest professional standards and embrace transparency. Officers must be role models for other officers. I would support a comprehensive review of current police policies, practices, and procedures to consider what, if any, reforms may be warranted. Periodic assessments and evaluations are healthy and enlightening.
Khoshreza: The police do need to be more accountable and government more transparent. I favor establishing a citizen board to review police discipline and suggest that records of disciplinary actions be retained longer in personnel files. There must be a willingness to have open discussions about how our government can work better for all people.”
2. What specific steps would you take to address inequality in Lexington?
Baxter: To address racial inequality I would organize small round-table discussions where we can have the uncomfortable conversations that need to happen to see real change occur. These discussions could then be taken to a city level where city officials and the public can come together to create a plan for change.
Fogle: The first step is to keep an open mind and to seek out and listen to all voices. The message must be made clear that in Lexington, racism, intolerance, injustice, discrimination, and hate will not be tolerated. I will fight to ensure our policies, practices, and norms offer equal treatment, opportunity, and prosperity for all.
Khoshreza: Internally, local government should implement Undoing Racism workshops for employees to raise awareness and begin crucial conversations around race. In the community, more must be done to partner with, promote, and prioritize opportunities for black-owned businesses and organizations, including low-interest start-up loans and an increased percentage of city contracts going to qualified minority owned businesses.
3. What is Lexington’s most important infrastructure need in coming years and how should it be funded?
Baxter: With the expected influx in population over the next 20 years, we must consider our public transportation system and how we can improve the efficiency and reliability. To properly fund this improvement, we must designate funds to this area specifically.
Fogle: Transportation-related projects and maintenance. Our streets and roads connect people to others, to commerce, to work. When transportation infrastructure fails, everyday life suffers. Our roads and bridges continue to age and deteriorate, and we struggle to pay for improvements and upkeep. More flexibility for spending limited funds from the federal and state level would help.
Khoshreza: Maintaining roads as our population grows will be a challenge. We should be focused on building more walk-able communities to ease road congestion. We should improve the efficiency of our transit service by developing rapid transit lanes and continue to reevaluate turn lanes and traffic light timing.
Why are you the best candidate for the 9th Council District?
Baxter: I am the best candidate for the 9th because I care. I care about where we have come from and where we are going. I care for this city because I want my children to have an amazing city to call home just as I have been blessed to call Lexington home throughout my lifetime.
Fogle: My previous proven council experience and extensive record of community service is unmatched. I have been actively involved in creating positive change in Lexington for years. I will use sound,sensible judgment and be a strong, independent voice for our 9th District neighborhoods and work tirelessly to represent the views and values of the district.
Khoshreza: The combination of my legal education, professional experience, and community service helps me understand the issues facing our community and has prepared me to make policy that will have the most positive impact on our city. I am fair, independent and offer a fresh perspective to the issues facing our city.
Whitney Elliott Baxter
Age: 37
Occupation: Realtor
Education: B.A. Communications from Georgetown College
Address: 910 Granville Ct, Lexington,
Website: www.whitneyforcouncil.com
Colby Khoshreza
Age:32
Occupation: Attorney
Education: B.A. University of Kentucky; J.D. University of Kentucky College of Law
Address: 557 Newbury Way, Lexington,
Website: www.colbykforcouncil.com
Willy Fogle
Age: 59
Occupation: Life and Health Insurance Broker
Education : B.S. University of Kentucky in Business Administration
Address: 260 Bittersweet Way, Lexington
Website: www.FogleforCouncil.com
