2024 Election Results: Emma Curtis wins contentious, historic 4th council race
Challenger Emma Curtis beat incumbent Lexington Councilwoman Brenda Monarrez Tuesday in a hotly contested race to represent Lexington’s 4th Council District.
According to unofficial results, Curtis received 52% of the vote compared to Monarrez’s 48 %, with 285 out of 286 precincts reporting.
Curtis, 28, an independent filmmaker and organizer for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, made history with her victory Tuesday night. She becomes the first transgender person to be elected to the 15-member Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.
Curtis is also believed to be the first transgender person in the history of Kentucky to be elected to a city office.
Curtis said she was grateful, humbled and honored to serve the people of the 4th District. She pledged to increase transparency and accountability on council as well as try to tackle problems plaguing traffic-clogged Nicholasville Road.
“Our people are sick and tired of pettiness and drama and they cast their votes to put that behind us,” Curtis said. “I’m beyond humbled and am ready to get to work on their behalf.”
The district includes neighborhoods south of New Circle Road between Nicholasville Road and Tates Creek.
The race to represent the people of the 4th Council District has been overshadowed by allegations of sexual assault.
Fayette Circuit Judge Traci Brislin entered a three-year protection order against Monarrez on Oct. 16, barring her from entering city hall and contacting fellow Councilwoman Denise Gray.
Gray accused Monarrez of sexually assaulting her two times over three years, most recently in August.
In her Oct. 16 ruling, Brislin sided with Gray, saying the sexual assault occurred.
Protection orders are civil orders. No criminal charges have been filed.
Monarrez, 53, has denied the allegations and appealed the protection order barring her from entering city hall. A judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals denied her appeal on Nov. 1.
Curtis called for Monarrez to step down from her seat after the Oct. 16 decision. Monarrez refused and has maintained her innocence.
On the campaign trail, Monarrez touted her ability to tackle longstanding issues in the 4th District. That includes the completion of the Wilson Downing Road sidewalk project, which had long been stalled, as well as a host of other traffic improvements around Nicholasville Road.
Monarrez also said she has been aggressive in addressing odor complaints stemming from the city’s West Hickman sewage treatment plant that is near many 4th District neighborhoods.
Curtis has said she would focus on fixes to issues involving Nicholasville Road, develop more options for affordable housing and supports proposed changes to city rules regarding short-term rentals. That would allow city officials to reject potential short-term rentals if there are too many Airbnb or VRBO operators in certain neighborhoods.
In the May primary, Monarrez had the lead, receiving 48% of the vote compared to Curtis’ 30%. Third-place finisher Brack Marquette received 22%. The top two vote-getters in the primary move on to the general election.
Curtis out-raised and outspent Monarrez, campaign finance reports show.
Curtis raised $9,455 and spent nearly $6,000, according to Kentucky Registry of Election Finance Oct. 23 reports.
Monarrez raised $2,378, almost $1,000 of that coming from the Kentucky Realtors Political Action Committee.
Council members serve two-year terms. Council races are nonpartisan.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 9:02 PM.
