Three longtime Lexington council members won’t seek re-election. Here’s who’s running
Three Lexington council members who have long been fixtures at city hall will not run in 2024.
That means at least three new faces on the 15-member Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council in the next two years.
Twelve district seats are up for re-election in 2024. The filing deadline is Jan. 5. Council district representatives serve two-year terms. Three at-large members — Vice Mayor Dan Wu, James Brown and Chuck Ellinger — have four-year terms. District council members can serve six terms.
Preston Worley, who was first appointed to council by former Mayor Jim Gray in 2017, announced Friday he would not be running for re-election in the 7th Council District seat. That seat includes areas and neighborhoods around Richmond Road and Hayes Boulevard.
Worley, a lawyer, said he hasn’t ruled out future runs for office but ultimately opted to not to run again because he wanted to spend time with his family. Worley, on his third term in council, has a 2-year-old and a busy law practice.
“I wanted to announce I was not going to run to give others who may be thinking about running the opportunity,” Worley said. “It’s a great job.”
Worley said he’s learned a lot during his tenure on council.
“I have been privileged to serve with two mayors, two vice mayors, and 27 council members. I am incredibly grateful to Mayor Jim Gray for appointing me, and especially grateful to the people of Lexington’s 7th District for three times electing me,” Worley said.
Also not appearing on the ballot after years at city hall: Kathy Plomin, who represents the 12th District, much of Fayette County’s rural area; and Fred Brown, who represents the 8th District, which includes neighborhoods around Tates Creek school campus.
Plomin is currently in her fourth term on council. Plomin and Brown had previously announced they would not seek another term. Brown, a retired accountant, is in his fifth term on council. He previously served on council from 1994 to 2004. Brown did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Brown said he was proud of what he has accomplished in office and opted not to seek his last and final term. He had previously served 10 years in office.
Some of those accomplishments including increasing the amount of paving on local roads, supporting increased spending on parks through federal coronavirus relief funds and multiple improvements at Gainesway Park.
Brown, Plomin and Worley will serve until Dec. 31, 2024. Brown said there’s still a lot he would like to see completed in the next year.
“One of things that I want to be involved in is a new city hall. I’m hopeful we get that going,” Brown said. The city recently announced a request for proposals for developers for a new city government center. The city has been searching for a new location on and off for decades.
Plomin said, she, too is proud of her accomplishments.
“Since being appointed by Mayor Jim Gray in October 2016 I have spent my last seven years passionately supporting the non-expansion of the urban service boundary and representing the many interests and issues impacting our rural assets. In addition, I have championed infill and redevelopment as a smart growth alternative,” Plomin said.
Who’s filed to run so far
Multiple people have shown interest in council district seats. Some have filed with the Fayette County Clerk to run or have filed paperwork with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance to raise money.
Candidates must file with the county clerk to appear on the ballot.
Here’s who has filed to run with the Fayette County Clerk’s office, as of Dec. 18:
- 1st District: Tyler Morton
- 2nd District: Shayla Lynch
- 4th District: Brack Marquette
- 6th District: Denise Gray
- 10th: District: Dave Sevigny
A possible re-match in the 4th, and a candidate for the 12th
Councilwoman Brenda Monarrez, who beat Brack Marquette in the 4th District in 2022, said she plans to run again and has filed paperwork with KREF to start raising money. Marquette has also filed with KREF.
Emma Curtis, a community activist, is also mulling a run for the district seat. Curtis sought the Democratic nomination for the open 93rd House District Seat. The nomination went to Adrielle Camuel, who won the seat in November.
Curtis said she hopes to make an announcement soon. If Curtis runs and is elected, Curtis will become the first openly transgender person elected to the Lexington council.
“I’ve spent a lot of this year in this community and talking to my neighbors in south Lexington about where I can best be a service to them. I love this place with all of my heart and I look forward to continuing to serve my community in whatever form that might take,” Curtis said.
The 4th district was altered substantially in the 2020 redistricting. It now includes neighborhoods south of New Circle Road between Nicholasville and Tates Creek roads.
Another interesting match-up will likely be in the 1st District.
Councilwoman Tayna Fogle has filed paperwork with KREF to raise campaign funds and said she plans to run again. Fogle, a community activist who was first elected in 2022, will face her former council aide, Tyler Morton, for the council district seat that includes many neighborhoods on the city’s east side.
Plomin said multiple people have expressed interest in her seat.
Only one has filed paperwork for an intended campaign.
Hilary “Hil“ Boone IV, owner of Wimbledon Farm and Boonedogs Restaurant and Bar, has filed paperwork with KREF for the 12th Council District seat.
Boone said he hopes to file with the county clerk by the end of the week.
Boone said as a horse farmer and business owner, he wants to ensure that growth in the new expansion area does not destroy valuable green space and agricultural land in the 12th District. The planning commission recently voted to expand the city’s urban service boundary by more than 2,700 acres. An expansion area master plan,which will determine what types of development go where, will be completed by the end of 2024.
Other incumbent council members who have filed paperwork with KREF but have not yet filed with the county clerk include:
- 3rd District: Hannah LeGris
- 5th District: Liz Sheehan
- 9th District: Whitney Elliott Baxter
- 11th District: Jennifer Reynolds
This story was originally published December 18, 2023 at 5:25 PM.
