Central CityNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Central City Mayor & Council Election 2026

8 of 8 council seats are on the ballot, with 15 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

See who is on your ballot
Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
In-person no-excuse early voting begins (Oct 29): the election office's notice

These 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.

Voters citywide choose one mayor and may vote for up to eight City Council candidates; the top eight vote-getters win.

In-person no-excuse early voting begins · Oct 29

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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.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

What the next council decides

01City Hall investigation4 sourced facts

Where it standsAfter Mayor Tony Armour resigned in June 2026, the council asked the state auditor and the Kentucky State Police to look into allegations involving city government; the investigation is ongoing.

What's on the tableHow the council handles the findings when they arrive and what oversight it puts on city contracts and staff.

  • In a letter to the city, Armour said he agreed to complete roofing repairs at the Convention Center and a city-owned rental building for a price totaling $41,376. Messenger-Inquirer · Jun 18, 2026
  • The council asked the City Attorney to seek an immediate state audit investigation from the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts and said any findings will be made public upon receipt and review. City of Central City · Jun 19, 2026
  • In June 2026 the council approved a municipal order asking the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Kentucky State Police to investigate allegations of possible wrongdoing at City Hall. Messenger-Inquirer · Jun 26, 2026
  • Mayor Malcolm West said in August 2026 that the investigation could take several months to complete. Messenger-Inquirer · Aug 13, 2026
02Mayor and city staff4 sourced facts

Where it standsAn appointed interim mayor and an interim city administrator are running city government after the mayor and city administrator left in June 2026.

What's on the tableWho fills the city's top staff job permanently and how the council works with the next mayor.

03Water system2 sourced facts

Where it standsCentral City supplies water to the whole area; a valve failure there put all of Muhlenberg County under a boil advisory in September 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city maintains and upgrades its water plant.

  • In September 2026 Central City Municipal Water & Sewer issued a boil water advisory for all Central City Water, Muhlenberg County Water District 1 and Muhlenberg County Water District 3 customers. WFIE 14 News · Sep 4, 2026
  • The advisory was issued because an automated valve malfunctioned at the Central City Water Treatment Plant, resulting in a bad reading on one filter. WFIE 14 News · Sep 4, 2026
04Homelessness2 sourced facts

Where it standsVolunteers in Central City have been helping people without housing, and in 2025 a nonprofit began turning a former pool supply store into a resource center.

What's on the tableWhat role, if any, the city plays in services for residents without housing.

1 note on these statements

Fourteen candidates are on the ballot for eight Central City City Council seats, and Malcolm West is the only candidate on the ballot for mayor. Kentucky Secretary of State

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    Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

    Key dates

    The seat math

    0 stay (not up this year): 8 on this ballot

    8 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

    Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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