Crime, affordable housing are top priorities for Lexington’s District 7 council candidates

Two men are vying for the candidacy of the District 7 council race in Lexington: incumbent Preston Worley and challenger Joseph Hale.

Both candidates said crime, public safety, affordable housing and infrastructure are at the top of their priority lists to address.

District 7 includes areas near Athens Boonesboro, Hays Boulevard, Squires Road, Woodhill and Palumbo drives.

Who are the candidates?

Hale, 43, grew up in Lexington and lives in the Chilesburg area. He works with the Kentucky Department of Public Health emergency preparedness and response branch, is a pastor at the Gate Lexington Church, and is the founder of a mentoring program called Boys to Men.

He and his wife of 19 years share six daughters together. He said he has a heart to serve the community and wishes to do so on city council.

Worley is from Richmond and graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2010. He works at McBrayer Law Firm where he has a diverse practice including affordable housing. He was appointed to the council in 2017, and has served two terms.

He is a member of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital Executive Development Council, the Golden Matrix Fund Advisory Council, the Ellerslie at Delong Homeowners Association Board of Directors and Coaches for Kids Inc., among other organizations.

What are the issues?

The two candidates aim to address crime — particularly gun violence across the city.

“One of the things is I will be a resounding voice against gun violence that is always bringing it to the forefront,” Hale said. “When we are talking about everything else but gun violence, I don’t want to hear that it is something that just happens. What policies are we going to put into place? What actions are we going to put in place about it from the judicial level down to law enforcement?”

Hale said a focus needs to be put on the younger generation to help deter them from violence.

Worley said that with a police force down 115 sworn officers, the city needs to work to recruit and retain more police to help address crime.

“We have well-trained police officers, but they are stretched too thin,” Worley said.

Worley also stressed strengthened partnerships with non-profits for gun violence intervention will be essential.

“There is a need for a holistic approach that involves trauma counseling and trauma intervention,” Worley said. “So many involved in gun violence were exposed to it before they became a participant (in gun violence) and we need to address that need to cope in a way that they want to get away from gun violence, and not get into it.”

Improved infrastructure and affordable housing are also big focuses for both candidates.

“We want to focus on some of these communities in District 7 that need affordable housing, and beautification,” Hale said. “You can go to the Chilesburg area, it is beautiful and we have walkways and things like that. But when you go to the Woodhill area, it is like night and day. So how can we help make that area better? Infrastructure.

“And again, affordable housing, because even in areas like that, the rent has skyrocketed.”

Worley said housing scarcity has made home affordability worse.

“We are at such a scarcity that developers have to pay so much to buy the land, they can’t afford to build anything other than expensive homes,” Worley said. “We have to make land available to build something more affordable, and if we can’t, we will see people living in surrounding communities that would prefer to be here.”

Joseph Hale

Age: 43

Job experience: Kentucky Department of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch

Offices held: None

Family: Wife of 19 years share six daughters together

Preston Worley

Age: 38

Job experience: Real estate and development attorney with McBrayer Law Firm

Offices held: Worley has been on the council since 2017. He is a member of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital Executive Development Council, the Golden Matrix Fund Advisory Council, the Ellerslie at Delong Homeowners Association Board of Directors, and Coaches for Kids Inc., among other organizations.

Family: Wife and 1-year-old son

Taylor Six

Lexington Herald-Leader

Taylor Six is the criminal justice reporter at the Herald-Leader. She was born and raised in Lexington attending Lafayette High School. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2018 with a degree in journalism. She previously worked as the government reporter for the Richmond Register.