Joseph Hale wins District 7 seat on Lexington council, representing Richmond Road corridor
Joseph Hale on Tuesday defeated Heather Hadi to win the race for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council’s 7th District.
Unofficial results indicate that Hale got about 55% of the vote.
Hale, 45, an IT coordinator for state government, has said he’s interested in addressing neighborhood issues, including traffic concerns, and is especially eager to help the city tackle affordable housing issues.
The 7th District encompasses the areas of Richmond Road and Athens-Boonesboro Road, including neighborhoods around Woodhill and Codell drives, Squires Road and Hays Boulevard.
Preston Worley, who did not run for re-election, has held the seat since 2017.
This was Hale’s second run for office, having previously run against Worley in 2022.
Hale said he wants to hear from all areas of the district, and he said getting out and talking to people was an important part of his campaign.
“District 7 is a broad district,” he said, noting that safety might be a top concern for one part of the district, while another area might be more interested in parks and bike trails. “One issue isn’t bigger than the other.”
He said one of his first efforts will be honing in on the R-cut project intended to improve safety and traffic flow on Richmond Road and ensuring that neighborhoods are heard on the project.
Hale said he is also glad to have a seat at the table for Lexington’s discussion of affordable housing.
“That is huge,” he said. “I really want to be a voice and an advocate for the people.”
Hale was celebrating the win with a watch party Tuesday night.
“I’m excited,” he said in an interview. “It feels so surreal. ...I’m just taking it in and preparing my mind for the work at hand.”
“I give all glory to God,” he said.
In addition to his work for the Emergency Response and Preparedness Branch of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Hale is active in leadership at The Gate Church and runs his own mentoring program, Boys to Men.
All Fayette County council races are nonpartisan.
