Berea City Council · Nov 3, 2026
John
Payne
John Payne, the incumbent, is running for Berea City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 13 candidates are running for 8 seats.
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The race · City Council
- 01Mike BarnettIncumbent
- 02Allison "Ali" Blair
- 03Steve CaudillIncumbent
- 04Regina Hudson
- 05Brooke King
- 06John PayneYou’re reading
- 07Barry PoynterIncumbent
- 08Alex Sipple
- 09Dan Sipple
- 10Katie StartzmanIncumbent
- 11Ronnie Terrill
- 12Leah Van Winkle
- 13Teresa L. Wren
Background
- About
- John Payne is a Berea City Council member and Berea College graduate who works as an assistant director.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Nonpartisan
- Campaign website
- johnpayneforberea.wixsite.com/4bcc
On the record: John Payne
8 sourced01City budget1 sourced position
Voted yes on Ordinance #07-2026 adopting the fiscal year 2026-27 city budget (second reading, passed 8-0, June 2026).
Council voteBerea City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026LinkHow the council voted
02Employee pay2 sourced positions
Voted yes on Ordinance #08-2026 adding a 4% cost-of-living adjustment and separate hazardous duty pay scales for police and fire (second reading, passed 8-0, June 2026).
Council voteBerea City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Lists support for fair wages and hazardous duty pay among his council accomplishments on his campaign site.
Supported fair wages and hazardous duty pay to improve retention of quality staff.”
Own statementJohn Payne for Berea City Council (campaign site)Link
03Property tax1 sourced position
Voted yes on Ordinance #14-2026 setting the city property tax levy (second reading, passed 8-0, September 2026).
Council voteBerea City Council minutes, September 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026LinkHow the council voted
04Housing1 sourced position
Voted yes on Ordinance #10-2026 allowing qualified manufactured homes as a permitted use in all residential districts (second reading, passed 8-0, July 2026).
Council voteBerea City Council minutes, July 7, 2026 · Jul 7, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Flock cameras1 sourced position
Said he has skepticism of Flock cameras and wants strong restrictions on their use.
I have a very strong, healthy skepticism of Flock cameras.”
Forum answerThe Edge · Oct 2, 2026Link
06Restaurant tax1 sourced position
Said at a candidate forum that the city has improved how the restaurant tax is used and that the task is finding the best use of it, as reported by The Berea Citizen.
it’s just a matter of finding and encouraging the best use of the tax.”
Forum answerThe Berea Citizen · Sep 30, 2026Link
07Parks and infrastructure1 sourced position
Named parks and public infrastructure as his greatest policy focuses in his Ballotpedia candidate survey.
Parks and public infrastructure are my greatest focuses.”
Own statementBallotpedia · Sep 23, 2026Link
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