Lexington’s new 15-member council one of most diverse, youngest in history
Five new members of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council were sworn in Sunday, joining 10 returning council members.
The 15-member council — which includes 12 district representatives and three at-large members — is one of the most diverse in the merged government’s history, said Vice Mayor Dan Wu during Sunday’s official swearing-in ceremony at the Lexington Senior Center.
The 12 council district members were elected in November. They serve two-year terms. Wu, James Brown and Chuck Ellinger II, the at-large members, were elected in 2024 and serve four-year terms.
“This incoming council continues to be the most diverse council this city has ever seen with representation from the LGBTQ+ community, communities of color, our first transgender council member, not to mention maintaining a majority woman council,” Wu said.
It’s also possibly one of the youngest councils. Two new members sworn in Sunday include Tyler Morton and Emma Curtis, who are both under 29. Curtis is the first transgender person to be elected to a city council in Kentucky.
The council has five Black members — Brown, Morton, Joseph Hale, Shalya Lynch and Denise Gray.
There are eight women — Lynch, Gray, Curtis, Hannah LeGris, Liz Sheehan, Jennifer Reynolds, Amy Beasley and Whitney Elliott Baxter.
The new council members include Hale, Morton, Beasley, Curtis and Hil Boone IV.
Other returning council members include David Sevigny and Ellinger.
Wu said the council is set to tackle a host of issues this year, including new rules regarding the 2,800-acre expansion area, traffic safety and affordable housing. The diversity of its council will help it tackle those issues and continue to represent Lexington’s diverse population, he said.
“I know this past election cycle has been rough for a lot of us. We’ve seen a lot of divisiveness, partisanship, and uncivil discourse and it’s caused a lot of stress, anxiety and fear in some of our vulnerable communities. But as your vice mayor, I’m pledging to you today, Lexington will remain a safe, welcoming and inclusive home for everyone,” Wu said.
The council’s swearing-in ceremony was delayed one week after Winter Storm Blair dumped 7 inches of snow and ice in the area Jan. 5, the original swearing-in date.
Mayor Linda Gorton said the city’s 15-member council and local government work because of servant leadership — when people work together for a common good rather than seek individual recognition or credit.
“I look forward to working together with you and to meet every challenge that comes before us. Again, I offer my deepest congratulations and welcome aboard,” Gorton said.
The council resumes meetings Tuesday.
