Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Frankfort Board of Commissioners Election 2026

4 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 4

7 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Commissioner · Vote for up to 4

Fred DeatonRetired Frankfort Police Department major with nearly 35 years in the department.2sourced
Brennan LippertOwner of Kentucky Digital Notary Services in Frankfort and an Advanced EMT since 2021.3sourced
Kelly MayIncumbentCo-partner of Bourbon on Main and Sig Luscher Brewery in Frankfort and a city commissioner. He is a Frankfort native who attended Western Hills High School.9sourced
Rob RichardsonIncumbentRetired Frankfort assistant police chief and law enforcement liaison for the Kentucky Association Chiefs of Police.9sourced
Katima Smith-WillisIncumbentFrankfort mayor pro tem and city commissioner who joined the affordable housing and public works committees.8sourced
Leesa UngerIncumbentFrankfort native and Berea College graduate who served as president of the Frankfort Striders running club.8sourced
Katrisha WaldridgeFormer Frankfort city commissioner who served from 2019 until January 2025.3sourced

All four commission seats are on the ballot. Seven candidates are running for four seats, and the mayor is not on this year's ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Incumbent commissioners Kelly May, Rob Richardson, Katima Smith-Willis and Leesa Unger are running with challengers Fred Deaton, Brennan Lippert and Katrisha Waldridge. The State Journal · Apr 9, 2026

A Board of Commissioners candidate forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 at Kentucky State University. The State Journal · Sep 15, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Layne WilkersonMayor of Frankfort; term ends January 1, 20298sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesTrash and recycling pickup, Downtown and riverfront development, City budget and property tax rate Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Trash and recycling pickup

Where it standsIn March 2026 the commission voted 4-1 to direct staff to outsource solid waste pickup to a private company, with the city paying for it.

What's on the tableWhich company the city hires, what the contract costs, and how the service is funded after the change.

The city spends more than $3.6 million a year on in-house waste management from its general fund. The State Journal · Mar 26, 2026
The motion directed staff to proceed with one of the companies to outsource solid waste, with the city paying for it. Frankfort Board of Commissioners minutes, Mar. 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026
Curbside recycling was suspended for a year and then restarted every other week instead of weekly, according to the mayor. The State Journal · Mar 26, 2026

Downtown and riverfront development

Where it standsThe commission is funding riverfront planning and design and has approved an agreement on the Capital Plaza Hotel renovation, while the meeting and event center plan is being resubmitted to the P3 Board.

What's on the tableHow much city money and tax relief goes into downtown and riverfront projects, and how the Parcel B and C plans proceed.

The Capital Plaza Hotel agreement covers an industrial revenue bond not to exceed $33 million and a city abatement of $11,800 a year in property tax. The State Journal · Jan 28, 2026
The Sasaki riverfront visioning and strategic plan agreement was $333,853, and the plan was due by July 31, 2026. Frankfort Board of Commissioners minutes, Jan. 26, 2026 · Jan 26, 2026
Staff described a 7% price increase on the meeting and event center and said the price should be locked in until December construction. Frankfort Board of Commissioners work session minutes, Aug. 10, 2026 · Aug 10, 2026
The Parcel C linear park design agreements total $75,920 with Sasaki and $15,000 with Strand Associates, to support an ORLP grant application in October 2026. Frankfort Board of Commissioners minutes, Aug. 24, 2026 · Aug 24, 2026

City budget and property tax rate

Where it standsThe commission adopted the fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation ordinance in June 2026 and is setting the 2026 property tax rate this fall.

What's on the tableHow the city balances services, growth and the tax rate in the next budgets.

The fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation ordinance was adopted 5-0 on June 24, 2026. Frankfort Board of Commissioners special meeting minutes, June 24, 2026 · Jun 24, 2026
The finance director proposed lowering the property tax rate from 19.5 cents to 18.8 cents per $100 of assessed value. The State Journal · Sep 22, 2026
The proposed rate would bring in $3,949,181, an increase of $162,620 from last year. The State Journal · Sep 22, 2026

City ethics code

Where it standsIn March 2026 the commission amended the ethics code to set a four-year limit on starting ethics proceedings.

What's on the tableWhether the next commission revisits the time limit or other parts of the ethics code.

The amendment establishes a four-year statute of limitations measured from the date of the alleged violation. Frankfort Board of Commissioners minutes, Mar. 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026
The Board of Ethics had recommended a five-year term. The State Journal · Mar 25, 2026
The earlier ordinance said action must be brought within one year after the complainant becomes aware of the violation. The State Journal · Mar 25, 2026

Growth, sewer capacity and housing

Where it standsThe commission is approving sewer extension and capacity agreements that let new housing and commercial projects connect to the system.

What's on the tableWhere sewer service is extended and what housing development the city supports.

The June 22 minutes list a sanitary sewer extension contract for a proposed development of 72 two-bedroom and 16 one-bedroom apartments at 207 Copperleaf Drive. Frankfort Board of Commissioners minutes, June 22, 2026 · Jun 22, 2026
An agreement for 827 Cardwell Lane reimburses the sewer department for pump station upgrades and allows additional customers into the system. Frankfort Board of Commissioners minutes, June 22, 2026 · Jun 22, 2026

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. How should Frankfort handle trash and recycling pickup?
2. How much should the city invest in downtown and riverfront projects?
3. How long after an alleged violation should an ethics complaint be allowed?
4. Should Frankfort and Franklin County merge into one government?
5. What should the city do with its property tax rate?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Online absentee ballot request portal closesFranklin County ClerkOct 20, 2026
Election Day (polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

1 stay (not up this year): Layne Wilkerson4 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The Board of Commissioners ballot lists seven candidates for four seats on November 3, 2026. Ballotpedia
Four commissioners and the mayor each vote on motions; city minutes record roll calls of five. Frankfort Board of Commissioners minutes, Mar. 23, 2026 · Mar 23, 2026
Commissioners serve two-year terms. The State Journal · Mar 25, 2026
The mayor was re-elected in November 2024 and his term ends January 1, 2029. Ballotpedia

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