Lexington voters will see a mayoral race, city council and school board contests on their ballots Nov. 3. Here's a last-minute guide for what to expect.
Candidates for three Urban County Council At-Large seats answered questions from residents about big topics facing Lexington during a CivicLex forum and ice cream social.
Of about $6 million left over from the previous year's budget, Council directed most to help cover street paving and vehicle fuel costs. Council also earmarked money for a new affordable housing program.
Heading to the polls in Lexington? What to know about local races, ballot questions and more
Lexington voters will see a mayoral race, city council and school board contests on their ballots Nov. 3. Here's a last-minute guide for what to expect.
Local voters headed to the polls on Election Day, November 3rd, will face a long ballot with races for mayor, city council, school board, county offices, judicial races, and three proposed amendments to Lexington's Charter.
If that sounds like a lot, don't fret! We've compiled this last-minute guide to help walk you through your local ballot this year.
Here's everything you need to know, with additional information available on CivicLex's Vote Local Lexington guide.
What's on the ballot in Lexington this year?
Mayor
As Lexington's chief executive, the mayor is responsible for overseeing city government, administering about 3,000 employees and proposing the city's annual budget.
This year, current office holder Linda Gorton is seeking a third term against challenger Raquel Carter.
The Urban County Council is Lexington's legislative body. It plays a central role in crafting the city's annual budget. It has also taken several consequential votes this year, including extending a local data center moratorium through October 31, 2027, and adopting new design standards aimed at making Lexington's streets safer and more efficient for all travelers.
This year, all 15 Council seats are up for election, although candidates in districts 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 are running unopposed.
Six candidates are competing for three Council At-Large seats, which represent Lexington as a whole. The top vote-getter in this race becomes the Vice Mayor, who leads the Council.
There are also six district races that are contested. Those include Council districts 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 11. District-based Councilmembers represent a specific area of Lexington. The race that you see on your ballot will vary based on where you live.
If you need help deciding who to vote for, we have information about each Council candidate's background and top issues here.
School Board
The Fayette County Board of Education sets policies for the school district, approves its budget, and hires and evaluates the superintendent.
This year, current board members Tyler Murphy and Amanda Ferguson are seeking reelection against challengers.
In Division 2, Murphy faces challengers Kathy Schiflett and R.J. Hijalda.
In Division 4, Ferguson faces challenger Rodney Allen Jackson.
You can learn more about all the candidates in this race here.
Other Local Races
You'll find several other countywide offices on your ballot, including County Judge-Executive, County Attorney, County Clerk, Sheriff and County Commissioner. There are also judicial races for District Judge and Court of Appeals Judge.
What to know about the 3 Charter amendments on your ballot
This year, there are three proposed amendments to Lexington's Charter, which you can think of as the city's Constitution.
These amendments were developed and debated by a group of 30 randomly-selected residents that participated in Lexington's first-ever Civic Assembly. They include proposed updates to Urban County Councilmember pay, accountability requirements for members, and a mandatory process for regular Charter review.
You can learn more about the Civic Assembly process here, but also break down what voting for or against each amendment would mean below:
Amendment 1 - Council Salary
You'll be asked to vote for or against updating Councilmember pay to $59,987 a year starting in 2031.
If passed, the number would be adjusted once a year according to the consumer price index, resulting in an annual cost of living adjustment.
If voters reject the amendment, it would keep the annual salary for Councilmembers at about $43,000; this number is also adjusted every year in line with the consumer price index.
Amendment 2 - Council Accountability
You'll be asked to vote for or against requiring Council to create publicly viewable attendance and accountability standards for Councilmembers.
The exact standards would be decided by an ordinance and not the Charter amendment itself. The Civic Assembly recommended making meeting attendance records publicly viewable and creating a clearly defined job description for Councilmembers.
Currently, there are no requirements for Councilmembers to show up to meetings. The Charter does set certain qualifications for Councilmembers, however, such as requiring them to live in the district they run for.
Amendment 3 - Charter Review
You'll be asked to vote for or against requiring Lexington's Charter to be reviewed at least once every eight years.
This review would be conducted by a randomly-selected group of Lexington residents, much like how the Civic Assembly works.
The amendment would also require the creation of a permanent advisory body that would track the need for potential changes to the Charter and prepare topics for the citizen body to deliberate and make recommendations on.
There is no current requirement for how often the Charter is reviewed, only that if it is reviewed by a group, it must include at least 20 citizens. Lexington's Charter was last reviewed in 1998.
You can learn more about each proposed Charter amendment on Vote Local Lexington.
When, where, and what you need to vote on Election Day
On Election Day, polling locations are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. You must be in line by 6 p.m. to cast your ballot.
You can vote at any of the six Lexington Public Library locations or at your specific precinct. Find your polling location here.
Remember to bring a valid ID. You can view of a list of all eligible IDs here.
Aaron covers the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council as a City Hall Reporter for CivicLex. His background is in Service Journalism, and he’s passionate about helping Lexington residents stay informed about happenings in local government.
Candidates for three Urban County Council At-Large seats answered questions from residents about big topics facing Lexington during a CivicLex forum and ice cream social.
The Urban County Council helps craft the city's budget and has taken several consequential votes this year, from safer streets to data centers. Your vote shapes those decisions.
Lexington voters will find races for Mayor, city council, school board, three charter questions, and many other offices on their ballots this fall. Here's how to make a plan to vote.
