Crime, traffic, housing, more: What Fayette District 4 council candidates want to change

Crime, traffic, affordable housing and planning have emerged as the key issues for city council candidates who want to represent a district south of New Circle Road between Nicholasville and Tates Creek roads in Lexington.

J. “Brack” Marquette, Brenda Monarrez and Barry Saturday are running to represent the fourth district on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.

Incumbent Councilwoman Susan Lamb announced last year that she would not run for re-election. The race is non-partisan.

Here’s what each candidate says they’ll focus on if elected and what skills they have that will benefit residents.

J. Brack Marquette

Marquette said the major issues facing the district are crime and public safety, public transportation improvements, growth and planning, and racial justice and equity.

Marquette, who said he has worked in banking, education and for utilities companies in a governmental affairs capacity before retiring, wants to bring the Lexington police force to full staffing. He also said he would work to increase and improve public transportation options.

He wants to ensure that the 2023 Comprehensive Plan process is transparent and “does a first rate job of deep analysis into the data and facts about the use of existing land within the Urban Service Boundary.”

“Only a balanced approach that fully incorporates support for all economic sectors, old and new, will give us the future we need and deserve,” he said.

A “fact-based discussion and deep research” should be directed at affordable housing, he said.

Marquette said he would provide the fourth district the “most trusted, experienced and dedicated leadership possible.”

He cited his reputation and proven record of civic involvement and leadership over the last 30 years in Lexington.

“Trusted and open collaboration, not accusations and shouting, move us toward a strong future,” Marquette said. “My skills in those areas have already benefited many organizations in Lexington over the years.”

The latest Kentucky Registry of Election Finance report says that Marquette has raised $3,700 and last week, he said he had raised a total of $8,500. He is the only candidate in the race who reported raising money. Reports were not posted for Monarrez and Saturday.

Brenda Monarrez

Monarrez, who represented Council District 4 on the committee that redrew council districts, said the major issues facing the fourth district are traffic, affordable housing and safety.

She said she would listen to the concerns of people in the fourth district and propose well researched policies that ensure the best for Lexington.

“I am a committed, detail oriented, resourceful individual. I have been a successful small business owner for the majority of my adult life,” Monarrez said. “I’ve lived in Lexington for 30 years, in the fourth district for 26 of those years. I believe Lexington is a city where its residents can get an education, be professionally successful, raise a family and enjoy diverse forms of entertainment.”

She said she listens to opposing views and presents her own position in a diplomatic way, “offering information with regards to how I came to my conclusion, contributing more than just an opinion.”

She said her proposal is based on facts and figures. Her goal is to continue to address the issue of public safety.

Monarrez wants the city to have more police officers and ensure they are not only adequately trained, but that they also are supported and given the tools they need to be effective.

She wants to identify ways to minimize reoffending by criminals. That would mean rehabilitation systems, “real consequences and accountability,” and access to mental health programs to address issues that have been exacerbated by COVID shutdowns and long-term unemployment.

In 2013, Monarrez was sentenced to 14 days in jail after an alcohol intoxication charge was merged with two 2012 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol.

She said in response, “I regret the actions that took place approximately 10 years ago or more. I’ve moved forward and live a life of love, honesty, appreciation, kindness and strength.“

Barry Saturday

Saturday, a stockbroker, financial advisor and former high school teacher, believes traffic and housing in Lexington could improve with the right leadership. As his top priority, he says rewriting Lexington’s Comprehensive Plan, including the “Imagine Nicholasville Road” plan to remove car lanes along that artery, is critical, because fourth district voters tell him it will make driving in town more difficult.

Saturday said rewriting the Comprehensive Plan would mean focusing on increased housing supply to make Lexington affordable and aid in preventing gentrification. He said Lexington also must respect the integrity of neighborhoods.

“I’m on record advocating for new growth, both to increase housing supply, and also to prevent the gentrification inherent to the existing plan,” Saturday said.

He is an advocate for police reform, including the no-knock warrant ban, to protect civil rights and minority rights and rebuild trust in the police department, which he says will encourage more tips from the community and increase the Lexington Police Department’s ability to recruit quality officers. He also wants to create an independent Public Integrity Unit within the police department to prosecute officers who break the law. The current system, he says, doesn’t work.

Saturday says he understands both business and social issues and has the education and experience to make solid decisions for voters. He wants to help non-profits in overcoming food and housing insecurity, and said he is working with Black community leaders to recruit minorities to Fayette schools’ gifted and talented programming.

Saturday ran unsuccessfully for the fourth district seat in 2014 and 2018 and dropped out late in the 2016 race, citing his family’s new baby.

Last year as a member of the Fayette County Republican Executive Committee he disagreed with that group’s decision to pass a resolution supporting the stance of the Fraternal Order of Police Bluegrass Lodge 4, which opposed the ban on no-knock warrants.

“As a member of the committee, I opposed a resolution supporting no-knock warrants passed by the group, and wrote an Op-Ed because I wanted to ensure the public knew that many of us did not support no-knock warrants,” said Saturday.

“This was contentious, because some in the party believed that my freedom of speech in writing the piece applied, while others believed I should not speak out about it.”

Saturday said he believed transparency is a positive attribute and, if elected, he will ensure the public is aware of the issues facing Lexington.

Brack Marquette

Age: 68

Previous work experience: Retired higher education department chair, state government agency official, banking and utility public relations, economic development and government affairs executive.

Any offices currently or previously held: Marquette said he has been the president or on the board of directors of more than 40 Lexington groups, including the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Parks Advisory Board.

Family: Two sons.

Brenda Monarrez

Age: 50

Previous work experience: Small business owner

Any offices currently or previously held: Information not immediately provided

Family: Information not immediately provided

Barry Saturday

Age: 42

Experience: Stockbroker and financial advisor. Former teacher.

Any offices previously or currently held: Ashwood Townhouses of Laredo HOA board member. Former President of Ashwood Townhouses of Laredo HOA.

Family: Wife and two daughters

This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 6:00 AM.