Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Carlisle Mayor & City Council Election 2026
6 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 12 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
In-person no-excuse absentee voting begins (Oct 29): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
UnopposedCity Council
Vote for up to 6- Dennis AllisonIncumbentIncumbent member of the Carlisle City Council, seeking another term in 2026.2sourced
- Robbie BiddleIncumbentIncumbent member of the Carlisle City Council, seeking another term in 2026.2sourced
- Erica BussellIncumbentIncumbent member of the Carlisle City Council, seeking another term in 2026.2sourced
- Debby EctonIncumbentIncumbent member of the Carlisle City Council, seeking another term in 2026.2sourced
- Darrell "Baha" FaulconerCandidate for Carlisle City Council on the 2026 nonpartisan city ballot.1sourced
- Doug GarrettIncumbentIncumbent member of the Carlisle City Council, seeking another term in 2026.2sourced
- Timmy JeffersonCandidate for Carlisle City Council on the 2026 nonpartisan city ballot.1sourced
- James KenneyCandidate for Carlisle City Council on the 2026 nonpartisan city ballot.1sourced
- Kenneth "Smootie" SmootCandidate for Carlisle City Council on the 2026 nonpartisan city ballot.1sourced
- Guy TurnerIncumbentMember of the Carlisle City Council, appointed in October 2025.1sourced
- Timothy Layne WilsonCandidate for Carlisle City Council on the 2026 nonpartisan city ballot.1sourced
Voters may vote for up to six City Council candidates; the six with the most votes win. Ronnie Clark is the only candidate for Mayor.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- U.S. Senate
- Andy Barr · Republican Party
- Charles Booker · Democratic Party
- Christopher Campbell · Kentucky Party
- Statewide measures1 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
What the next council decides
01Water plant and waterline4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council voted in March 2025 to build a new water intake and pump station, and in July 2026 approved a $1.4 million agreement for a city waterline project.
What's on the tableHow the waterline and water plant projects are bid, paid for and carried out.
- A study found it would be cheaper to build a new water plant and pump station than to buy water from other entities. The Carlisle Mercury · Mar 12, 2025
- In August 2025 the council approved a resolution to apply for Kentucky WWATERS funding for the waterline project. The Carlisle Mercury · Sep 3, 2025
- In July 2026 the council approved a professional service agreement with Bluegrass ADD for $1.4 million for the city waterline project. The Carlisle Mercury · Jul 15, 2026
- Mayor Clark said the city would have $2 million for the waterline project when it is ready to bid out. The Carlisle Mercury · Jul 15, 2026
02City budget and property tax3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council approved the budget for July 2026 through June 2027 on second reading on June 15, 2026.
What's on the tableEach year's budget, including property tax and spending on city services.
- The council approved the first reading of the budget on June 8, 2026. The Carlisle Mercury · Jun 17, 2026
- The budget included $2 million in grant money for the Main Street waterline project. The Carlisle Mercury · Jun 10, 2026
- Mayor Clark said there was to be no change on projected property tax. The Carlisle Mercury · Jun 10, 2026
03New fire department building3 sourced facts
Where it standsCity leaders broke ground on a new Carlisle Fire Department building in April 2026.
What's on the tableHow the city finishes and pays for the new fire building and its equipment.
- In October 2025 the mayor discussed boring for the foundation at the new fire department site at a cost of $14,000. The Carlisle Mercury · Oct 8, 2025
- The groundbreaking was held at the city barn location. The Carlisle Mercury · Apr 8, 2026
- In March 2025 the mayor said he and the council could discuss the possible future purchase of a new fire truck. The Carlisle Mercury · Mar 12, 2025
04Dilapidated houses and land use3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city has torn down dilapidated houses and placed liens on the lots, and the mayor has discussed annexing nearby land.
What's on the tableWhich properties to clear or annex, and how the city recovers its costs.
- After the tear-down of a dilapidated house on Locust Street, the mayor said the lot would be leveled, a lien placed on it, and the property eventually sold. The Carlisle Mercury · Oct 8, 2025
- In March 2026 the mayor said the development of the old trailer park to housing is a go. The Carlisle Mercury · Mar 11, 2026
- In March 2025 the mayor said customers on Old Paris Pike pay two bills, one for county water and one for city sewer. The Carlisle Mercury · Mar 12, 2025
05Speeding and traffic2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council has discussed speed bumps, barricades and a one-way street to deal with speeding and traffic in town.
What's on the tableWhich traffic changes to make on city streets.
- In March 2026 the council discussed turning the end of Locust Street and Broadway into a one-way street because of ongoing traffic concerns. The Carlisle Mercury · Mar 11, 2026
- The mayor said in November 2025 that barricades placed at Green Valley have made a difference in traffic flow. The Carlisle Mercury · Nov 12, 2025
2 notes on these statements
All six sitting council members are on the ballot: Dennis Allison, Doug Garrett, Robbie Biddle, Guy Turner, Erica Bussell and Debby Ecton. The Carlisle Mercury · Jun 3, 2026
Guy Turner was appointed in October 2025 to the seat Alice Hughes resigned; the council voted 4-1 for him over Chris Allison. The Carlisle Mercury · Oct 8, 2025
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. Should Carlisle annex nearby areas, such as Old Paris Pike, into the city?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 5, 2026
- Online mail-in absentee ballot request portal closesKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 20, 2026
- In-person no-excuse absentee voting begins (through Oct. 31)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 29, 2026
- Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026
The seat math
0 stay (not up this year): 6 on this ballot
6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The ballot lists 'Vote for One' for Mayor and 'Vote for up to Six' for City Council, City of Carlisle, on the nonpartisan city ballot. Kentucky Secretary of State · Nov 3, 2026
- Carlisle has a mayor-council form of government. Kentucky Department for Local Government
- In September 2025 the mayor did not break a 2-2 council tie on filling a vacant seat, and the council voted again the next month. The Carlisle Mercury · Sep 17, 2025
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