Lexington voters chose diversity on Tuesday.

Come January, the 15-member Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council will be the most diverse since the merged government began in 1974.

Dan Wu, a chef, refugee and immigrant activist, was elected vice mayor in the six-way at-large council race. He is believed to be the first Asian American on council.

James Brown, who currently sits on the Urban County Council, came in second and will serve as an at-large member for four years. Brown is the first Black person to win a city-wide at-large race.

Brown is currently the only Black person on the council, but that will change when the new council is sworn in.

Come January, there will be four Black people on council, three of them women — a new record. There has never been four Black people on council, according to city records.

Brown, who has served on council since 2015 representing the First Council District, said one of the reasons he chose to run in the at-large race was to encourage more candidates of color to seek office.

It worked.

“I think people didn’t like having only one racially diverse person on council,” Brown said. “I think people want more people at the table to give their input.”

Brown credits door-to-door canvassing and a targeted, diverse advertising strategy for his historic win on Tuesday.

“We were very strategic on how we used our money,” he said.

The three new Black members include: Tayna Fogle, who defeated Rahsaan Berry in the First Council District race; Shayla Lynch who defeated incumbent Josh McCurn in the 2nd Council District; and Denise Gray who defeated Charlie Rowland in the 6th Council District race.

Another first — Brenda Monarrez.

Monarrez, who defeated Brack Marquette in the 4th Council District race, is believed to be the first Latina elected to the council.

In a tweet Monarrez said: ”I am truly honored to be the first Latina elected to council. I’m excited to bring my voice and experience to the table.”

Monarrez did not immediately return calls asking for comment.

Wu said the increase in diversity can be linked to another reason — more diverse candidates running for office this year than in the past. There also were four open council seats, which makes it easier for non-incumbents to get elected. Only one incumbent, McCurn, was defeated on Tuesday.

“The number of candidates of color was phenomenal,” Wu said. Voters are also looking for not just racial or ethnic diversity but different lived experiences and different viewpoints, he added.

“I think people are ready for change,” Wu said. “It makes me super excited to work with this council. They are open to new ideas. I couldn’t be more optimistic.”

The new council will also have more women than men.

There will be nine women on the council come January, another record. The previous record was eight in 2016, city records show.

That’s a big change from the first merged Urban County Council in 1974. The only female member was Pam Miller, who later became a two-term mayor.

Female council members include new faces of Fogle, Lynch, Gray, Monarrez, and incumbents Whitney Elliott Baxter, Liz Sheehan, Hannah LeGris, Jennifer Reynolds and Kathy Plomin.

Plomin, who was first elected in 2016, will be the most senior woman on the council. Plomin said an amendment to the state constitution that would prohibit the right to an abortion, which Lexington voters overwhelmingly voted against, may have played a part in the diverse slate of candidates elected Tuesday.

“I do think the amendment may have been a factor,” Plomin said. “Women did come out to vote, maybe more so than ever before.”

Plomin said nine women on council could also change how the group works come January.

“I think we are going to see a different chemistry,” she said.

There will be a total of six new members on council: Wu, Fogle, Lynch, Gray, Monarrez and David Sevigny, who defeated Ross Mann in the 10th Council District.

Other returning members include Chuck Ellinger II, who came in third in the at-large race and will get a second four-year term, Fred Brown and Preston Worley.

The incoming council will also more closely reflect Fayette County’s demographics.

More than 30% of Fayette County’s population is non-white, U.S. Census data shows.

Fayette County’s Black population is still the largest minority accounting for 14.7% of the population. The Hispanic population is now 9.2%, a jump from 6.2% in 2010. The county’s Asian American population is the fastest growing of the past decade. It is now 4.2% compared to 3.2% in 2010, U.S. Census data shows.

The most diverse council district is the First: 55% of that district is Black or Hispanic.

How Wu, a political newbie, became vice mayor

Wu finished the six-way at-large race with 21% of the vote, making him the next vice mayor despite not having previously served on council. As vice mayor, Wu will oversee the day-to-day operations of the council, appoint the committees and chairs of those committees, and can appoint or create special work groups and task forces.

It was Wu’s first race as a candidate, yet he got more votes than better-funded candidates and longtime council members.

Councilman Richard Moloney, who finished fifth, raised the most funds with $126,431, according to Kentucky Registry of Election Finance reports filed on Oct. 26. Ellinger, who finished third, raised $91,616, Former Councilman Bill Farmer Jr., who finished fourth, raised $77,489. Brown, who finished second, raised $71,360.

Wu raised $59,762.

He credits old-fashioned foot work as the key to his success — Wu said he and his team of volunteers knocked on 24,000 doors.

That door knocking paid off, he said.

After the May primary, Wu said he looked at all the precincts and areas where he or his team had knocked on doors. In May, Wu came in second behind Ellinger.

“The correlation was astonishing,” Wu said of the overlaps between his performance and door-to-door meet and greets. “Canvassing absolutely works.”

Many people are focused on national or state politics. Few know who was running for council, he said.

“I’m the only person that had ever come to their door,” Wu said.

Wu also has deep ties to the community. He attended Henry Clay High School and the University of Kentucky. He is known for his appearance on “MasterChef” and for his former restaurant, Atomic Ramen. He’s also been an advocate for immigrants and refugees. He is known in lots of different circles, which helped with his name recognition.

“I think people know that I am not just some random person who popped out of the woodwork and decided to run for council,” Wu said. “I have been engaged in the community.”

As far as Wu’s priorities as vice mayor, top on his to-do list is meeting with key players at city hall.

He has asked for meetings with outgoing Vice Mayor Steve Kay and Mayor Linda Gorton, who recently won a second term.

He plans to talk to all 14 new and current council members, the council administrator, all the various commissioners and directors in city government.

“I realize it’s a very steep learning curve,” Wu said.

Wu said he wants to talk to council members about issues they feel are the most pressing. With six new council members, the council’s top priorities may change, he said.

“This is not about me putting forth my agenda,” Wu said.

This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 5:00 PM.

Beth Musgrave

Lexington Herald-Leader

Beth Musgrave has covered government and politics for the Herald-Leader for more than a decade. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has worked as a reporter in Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois and Washington D.C. Support my work with a digital subscription