Lexington councilman announces he won’t seek re-election in 2026
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- Councilman David Sevigny will not seek re-election in 2026
- Sevigny led solar and street-safety policy efforts and will serve through 2026.
- Planner Chris Woodall filed to run for District 10
A Lexington councilman who has helped shepherd and make changes to the city’s energy and safe streets policies has announced he won’t seek re-election.
David Sevigny, who was first elected to represent the 10th Council District in 2022, announced Friday he would not run for a third term in 2026. The 10th Council District includes neighborhoods around the University of Kentucky, south to the Beaumont area.
Sevigny, an engineer who later started an information technology company, said the decision not to return to city hall came after he recently hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a popular hike and pilgrimage in Europe.
“There is a stretch on the Camino where the road winds between golden fields, and the only certainty is the horizon ahead,” Sevigny said. “On that walk, I learned to listen — to the rhythm of my own steps, to the quiet encouragement of family, friends, and other pilgrims, to the subtle voice within that knows when it is time to move forward and when it is time to pause.”
In his time on council, Sevigny did a lot of heavy policy lifting, often behind the scenes. The small business owner and Councilwoman Liz Sheehan have co-chaired task forces and groups working on solar policy and improving street safety.
Sevigny said he will continue that work until the end of his current term in December 2026.
“I’ll continue to work hard on items that I’m passionate about and advocate for constituent issues. Thank you for allowing me to walk this part of the path with you all,” Sevigny said.
The filing deadline to run for council offices is Jan. 9. All 10 council district and the three at-large seats are up for re-election in 2026.
Chris Woodall, a former long-term planner for the city, has filed paperwork with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance to start raising money for the seat, according to KREF records. In addition to working for the city’s planning department, Woodall has also worked for Jessamine County and Wilmore’s planning departments.
He also serves as chairperson of the Moondance Foundation, which oversees the Moondance Amphitheater in Beaumont.
Woodall said his experience as a planner make him an ideal candidate for council. He already understands some of the city’s most pressing issues and he has experience gathering and soliciting public input, he said.
“Lexington is at a pivotal moment, and the choices we make today will determine the kind of city we become tomorrow,” said Woodall. “I’m running for city council to offer forward-thinking leadership, a commitment to collaborative problem-solving, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build a thriving and sustainable community for all residents of District 10.”
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM.
