Longtime Versailles mayor steps down. ‘I leave without regrets’
The longtime mayor of Versailles is stepping down to take a position with the Kentucky League of Cities.
Brian Traugott, who has served as mayor for 11 years, announced his decision on Tuesday at a council meeting and social media. He will leave office Oct. 1.
Traugott, a former councilman, was picked by the Versailles City Council to succeed former Mayor Fred Siegleman, who resigned to take a position in state government, in July 2013.
The council will pick a successor for Traugott. If a consensus can’t be reached by the council, Gov. Andy Beshear will appoint the mayor of the largest city in Woodford County.
Versailles is a nonpartisan city government.
“I feel like I’m leaving the city in better condition than when I took office and am proud of all that we have been able to accomplish,” Traugott said in a Facebook post. “With the help of so many, we have embarked on a record number of capital projects, grown our economic base, promoted a sense of community and improved our internal operations.”
Traugott will serve as of chief member services officer for the Kentucky League of Cities, which advocates for Kentucky cities in Frankfort and Washington D.C.
Traugott said he knows as mayor not every decision he made had unanimous community support, but he tried to serve the interest of the entire community and improve the quality of life for all citizens of Versailles.
“I’m able to leave without regrets,” he said.
In an interview, Traugott said he is excited to step into the new position with the Kentucky League of Cities, an organization he has long worked with and admires.
He’s proud of what Versailles has been able to accomplish in his decade in office including building a new police station, a $4 million entertainment district in downtown, other downtown beautification efforts and millions of dollars in park improvements.
As far as advice for the next mayor of Versailles: “You need to listen,” he said. It’s impossible for elected officials to be knowledgeable about every issue that comes before them. Those experts are out there, listen to them, he said.
Prior to his stint as a city councilman and mayor, Traugott also served on the Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning and Zoning Commission. He was previously a staffer in the Kentucky legislature, working for former Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo and other Democratic leaders.
This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 8:56 AM.
