Councilwoman Angela Evans announces resignation to pursue Master’s in Public Policy

Sixth District Councilwoman Angela Evans announced her resignation from office Wednesday to pursue her Master’s Degree in Public Policy. She will be studying at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

Evans’ resignation is effective July 31, 2020. After that date, Mayor Linda Gorton said the charter gives her 30 days to appoint a replacement and the City Council 10 days to approve or veto her choice. The replacement will only serve for a short period of time, since the 6th district seat is up for election in November. Gorton said she does not currently have anyone in mind.

Councilwoman Evans began her service on the Urban County Council in 2015, before which she held government positions at several levels, including General Counsel for Kentucky’s Secretary of State, Assistant Attorney General, Assistant Public Defender and Chairperson of the Ethics Commission.

During her years as councilwoman, she said she worked to move forward on a project to widen Liberty Road, develop and reestablish neighborhood associations and forge relationships with students in the district’s schools and businesses.

Evans said she ran for office to make change in Lexington, making it a place where everyone could work, play and live.

“I wanted to help connect citizens to government and help empower my constituents to help create the community in the neighborhood that they wanted,” she said. “I hope I’ve achieved that goal.”

Gorton declared June 8, 2020 as “Angela Evans Day” in honor of her five years of service, highlights of which included representing Lexington on MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson to discuss the removal of downtown Confederate statues, coordinating the first Mary Tom Clark celebration and maintaining high quality constituent services, she said.

Evans began the application process for Princeton’s program in fall of 2019. Once she learned she was accepted, Evans said it was an opportunity she couldn’t resist. She said big society issues, such as racial disparities in the healthcare system and the importance of dispelling mental illness stigmas, are what she wants to help solve most.

“All of them require changes to our political policy,” Evans said.

Evans thanked all of her supporters, fellow councilmembers and colleagues within city government.

“Serving as the 6th District Councilmember has been an amazing and humbling experience,” Evans said. “As former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, ‘Public service truly is the greatest challenge and the greatest honor.’”

After she earns her Master’s degree, Evans said she isn’t sure what her next steps will be but she hasn’t ruled out running for the 6th district council position again.

“I’m open to every possibility,” she said. “I’ve served in all kinds of different elected offices . . . I am confident I can do a lot of elected positions.”

Those interested in the interim 6th district council seat can contact Mayor Gorton at mayor@lexingtonky.gov