Lexington council member gets restraining order against another council member
One Lexington council member has filed a restraining order against another council member, according to court records.
Denise Gray filed the civil complaint and obtained the interpersonal protective order on Thursday against Brenda Monarrez. Gray alleged interpersonal violence, and a hearing in the case is scheduled for Aug. 20 before Judge Traci Brislin.
Court filings do not outline specific allegations in the case, but interpersonal protective orders are typically related to claims of dating violence, sexual harassment or stalking.
Gray declined to comment when contacted Friday by the Herald-Leader. Monarrez did not immediately return a request for comment.
The judge’s decision at the Aug. 20 hearing could determine if Monarrez is allowed to attend council meetings later this month.
The first council meeting after a nearly five-week summer break is scheduled for 1 p.m. the same day as the hearing.
The council is limited in what it can do when a council member runs afoul of the law or is accused of misconduct.
The merged government’s charter limits when council members can be removed or censured, and a harassment allegation is not one of the reasons why an elected official can be removed or disciplined.
Gray, who represents District 6 on the Lexington Urban County Council, was elected to the council in 2022. She is a former Fayette County Public Schools employee and ran unsuccessfully for state senate in 2018.
She is running unopposed in November’s general election.
Monarrez represents District 4 on the council after she won the general election in November 2022. She is a small business owner and the first person of Latin-American descent to serve on the council.
Monarrez will face Emma Curtis, an independent filmmaker and vice president for recruitment and expansion for the Kentucky Young Democrats, in this year’s general election.
Vice Mayor Dan Wu said he could not comment on the ongoing legal case.
This story was originally published August 9, 2024 at 3:37 PM.
