Meet the candidates in the 2026 race for Lexington’s city council districts
All 15 seats on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council are on the ballot in November, and while five incumbents have opted not to seek reelection, a number of newcomers have entered the race.
The filing deadline to run for the council and other races across Kentucky is Friday, Jan. 9.
Multiple candidates have already filed paperwork with the Fayette County clerk’s office, while others have filed notices with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, or KREF, needed to raise money to run for various seats.
The five incumbents that announced they will not seek reelection are District 3’s Hannah LeGris, District 5’s Liz Sheehan, District 10’s David Sevigny, District 11’s Jennifer Reynolds and District 6’s Lisa Higgins-Hord.
The council has 12 district seats who serve two-year terms. The council’s three additional slots are at-large seats. The highest vote-getter in the at-large race becomes vice mayor, while the other two serve as at-large council members. The at-large seats are four-year terms. A mayoral race is also on the ballot.
All local races are nonpartisan, and races with more than two candidates will have a primary in May.
Incumbents have filed in Districts 1 & 2
Council member Tyler Morton has filed to run for reelection for the District 1 seat that represents much of the city’s East Side and parts of downtown. Morton, an anesthesia technician, bested incumbent Councilwoman Tanya Fogle for the position in 2024.
No other candidates have filed with the county clerk or KREF for the position as of Jan. 5.
Council member Shayla Lynch, a lawyer who has served as executive director for various nonprofits, including the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, has also filed to run for another term. District 2 is one of the city’s fastest-growing and most diverse, and includes the Georgetown Road corridor and neighborhoods like Masterson Station and McConnell’s Trace.
Lynch was first elected in 2022. She easily defeated Jacques Wigginton, a pastor and former council member, in the 2024 election.
Open seats in Districts 3, 5, 6, 10 & 11
Council will have five open seats after LeGris, Sheehan, Sevigny, Reynolds and Higgins-Hord announced they would not run again.
In the 3rd District race, Griffin VanMeter has filed paperwork. VanMeter founded several companies and most recently helped push a ballot initiative, Yes to Parks, which voters passed in 2024. That initiative created a separate tax for the city’s parks, estimated to generate $8 million annually.
“I’m excited to continue to work with neighbors and the community to create a healthier, joyful, and connected city,” VanMeter said in his campaign announcement. “I believe cities are for people, and the best policies are people-centered!”
In the 5th Council District, Stephenie Hoelscher, a public policy professional and former journalist, announced her run in December and has since filed.
Hoelscher has worked in public policy and communications for the past decade, including a focus on bipartisan issues like justice for sexual assault survivors and criminal justice reform.
“Public policy, especially at the city level, directly affects lives,” Hoelscher said. “As your councilwoman, I will balance the work of solving long-term problems with the important day-to-day concerns of citizens. From timely snow removal to home and vehicle break-ins, I will listen, respond, and take action.”
Nicholas Wolter, a small business owner and a longtime Lexington resident, has also filed to run in District 5.
“I’m running for city council because I care deeply about this district and believe it deserves practical, thoughtful representation,” Wolter said. “Through my work and daily life in the community, I’ve seen how city decisions affect neighborhoods at a very real, street-level scale. I want to bring a grounded, solutions-oriented perspective to council, with a focus on listening to residents, protecting neighborhood character, and planning responsibly for the future of the district.”
Michael McLaughlin, a tech services executive and longtime resident of the 5th District, is also seeking the seat.
“Recent district representation has not listened to what the people of the Fifth District wanted in their neighborhoods,” McLaughlin told the Herald-Leader. “I promise to bring local solutions that are pragmatic and have the support of the people in my district to the Council, not outsider academic policy making.”
In the 10th Council District, Chris Woodall, who formerly oversaw long-term planning for the city, has filed. Woodall has said he is running “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.”
A familiar face is attempting a return to city hall in Fayette County’s District 11. Richard Moloney, who served more than 20 years on council, including two terms as an at-large member and seven terms representing that district, has filed to run again. Moloney ran unsuccessfully in the at-large race in 2024.
“Experience matters,” Moloney said in a November Facebook post. “I’m running again for the 11th District seat because I’ve spent my career fighting for the hard-working families of Lexington.”
Also running in the 11th District is Cassandra Vogl, a first-time candidate who has worked at the Bluegrass Area Development District as an aging and disability resource coordinator and has also worked in criminal defense, according to her website. She has served on the Lexington Environmental Commission.
“I will focus on keeping our neighborhoods safe, strengthening community accessibility, and advancing environmental projects to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls the 11th district home,” Vogl told the Herald-Leader.
Two new faces have filed to run for the now open 6th District seat.
Tyler Pyles, a representative for HVAC manufacturers, has filed.
“I’m running to ensure the voices of the 6th District are not only heard at City Hall but translated into real action that addresses challenges, advances our shared goals, and moves our community forward,” Pyles said.
Tina Bryson, director of communications for the Christian Appalachian Project, also filed in District 6.
“I’m running for City Council because local government should make life better for the people who live here. The 6th District has shaped my family’s story, and I want to ensure every resident has access to the opportunities that helped us thrive,” Bryson said.
Familiar faces file in Districts 4, 7, 8, 9 & 12
Council member Emma Curtis, who represents the 4th District, will seek reelection, though had not filed as of Wednesday. Curtis gained statewide notoriety for advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Frankfort before becoming the first openly trans person to be elected to Lexington’s council in 2024.
“We’re taking tangible steps towards making Lexington’s roads safer and more efficient, giving renters and young people a seat at the table in our local government, standing up to legislative overreach from Frankfort and Washington, and finding ways to make our city a more affordable place to live,” Curtis said. “I’m running for re-election to build on that work and make Lexington a city that works for all of us, because Lexington belongs to all of us.”
She will face former 4th District council member Brenda Monarrez, who Curtis unseated in 2024. Monarrez was banned from entering city hall during the last few months of her term after being served a three-year restraining order filed by then-6th District council member Denise Gray, who accused her of sexual assault. Monarrez filed paperwork with KREF to raise money for the seat Jan. 7.
Monarrez denied consistently denied Gray’s allegations.
District 4 covers neighborhoods outside New Circle Road, between Nicholasville and Tates Creek roads.
Incumbent Joseph Hale of District 7 will be seeking a second term, as well.
“My office has worked tirelessly to advocate for the needs of our residents, ensuring every voice is heard and every neighbor is kept informed,” Hale wrote in a November Facebook post. “Together, we will continue the progress, strengthen our community, and build on the momentum we’ve created.”
No other candidates have filed for the seat, which includes neighborhoods around Richmond Road, like Woodhill and Andover.
Amy Beasley, a pharmacy tech and labor organizer, announced her reelection bid in October serving the 8th District.
“I’m officially running for re-election, because our work building safer, stronger, more connected neighborhoods continues,” Beasley said in a Facebook post.
She ran unopposed in 2024, and no other candidates have filed for the seat as of Jan. 5.
The 8th District covers Southeast Lexington neighborhoods along Armstrong Mill and Centre Parkway.
In the 9th District, incumbent Whitney Elliott Baxter is seeking a fourth term. Baxter, a realtor, has represented the Palomar and Veterans Park neighborhoods since 2020.
“Representing Lexington’s 9th District has been the honor of my life, but there is still work to do,” Baxter said in a Dec. 8 Facebook post announcing her reelection bid.
Matt Miniard, who was removed from the Fayette Conservation District in 2023 after he was accused of harassing another member, has also filed to run in the 9th District. Miniard has a long history of legal problems, including stalking and harassment charges, which were ultimately dismissed. He has had multiple temporary protection orders issued against him for alleged aggressive behavior, court records show.
Miniard did not respond to emails asking for comment.
Hilary J. Boone IV, owner of Wimbledon Farm and the popular restaurant Boonedogs, will seek a second term representing Lexington’s rural 12th District. The area comprises the rural farmland outside Lexington’s urban service boundary, as well as some growing urban areas like Polo Club and the Lexington Sporting Club soccer stadium complex.
No other candidates have filed for District 12. Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:19 a.m. Jan. 16, 2026, with comments from 5th District candidate Michael McLaughlin, who filed before the Jan. 9 filing deadline.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
