Lexington council hires familiar face to lead the city’s law department
After more than a year with a temporary commissioner, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government has hired a permanent lead for the city’s law department.
Dave Barberie, who has served as the interim commissioner of the law department since August 2024, was approved by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council to lead the city’s attorneys and internal legal services at a Thursday closed-session confirmation hearing.
“I have been here through five mayors, and I think this is my 13th council. I’ve been exposed to probably every issue that we’ve ever had come up here,” Barberie told the council. “I enjoy doing this, and I’d like to continue doing this.”
The law department provides legal counsel and assistance to the city government. That can involve helping the council ensure ordinances comply with state and federal laws, representing the city in lawsuits and negotiating legal contracts with other entities.
Barberie has worked in the law department since 2000 and earned his law degree at Florida State University. He practiced in Florida and Alabama before moving to Lexington.
His salary as commissioner will be $178,000.16.
Barberie replaces Susan Speckert, who left the role in 2024 to become the chief operating officer of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corp., a state body which regulates horse racing and sports gambling industry across the commonwealth.
The biggest change Barberie said he wants to make in the office is building institutional knowledge among newer staff, as several experienced attorneys could retire soon.
