HazardNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Hazard Mayor & City Commission Election 2026

5 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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In-person no-excuse absentee voting begins (Oct 29): the election office's notice

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The candidates

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

Voters citywide choose one mayor from two candidates and up to four City Commissioners; four candidates are running for the four commission seats.

In-person no-excuse absentee 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

01Restaurant tax and tourism funding4 sourced facts

Where it standsHazard cannot charge a restaurant tax after the Kentucky Supreme Court declined in September 2026 to review the case, and the city attorney said only a change in state law would allow it.

What's on the tableWhether to keep seeking the legal authority for a restaurant tax, and how to fund tourism and quality-of-life projects without it.

  • The restaurant tax was approved by the city in 2024 to fund the Hazard–Perry County Tourism Commission. Hazard Herald · Dec 30, 2025
  • On Dec. 30, 2025 the commission unanimously approved an ordinance repealing the 3 percent restaurant tax, with commissioners Paul Olinger and Susan Brotherton absent. Hazard Herald · Dec 30, 2025
  • On Sept. 16, 2026 the Kentucky Supreme Court denied discretionary review, leaving in place a Court of Appeals decision that the city could not impose the tax. Hazard Herald · Oct 15, 2026
  • The Kentucky League of Cities supports legislation allowing all cities to generate consumption-based restaurant revenue. WYMT · Oct 15, 2026
02Water reliability and the Buckhorn water plant3 sourced facts

Where it standsA new water plant is being built at Buckhorn, and winter freezes in early 2026 left parts of the water system without service.

What's on the tableHow to finish the new plant and transmission lines, and how to keep water running during freezes.

  • In February 2026 the city manager reported outages in several service areas, starting Jan. 29 at the Airport due to low tank level. Hazard Herald · Feb 6, 2026
  • Perry County Judge-Executive Scott Alexander said the new plant will pull from the Middle Fork and take 40 percent off the Hazard plant during the winter. Hazard Herald · Feb 26, 2026
  • Mayor Mobelini said in June 2025 that the Buckhorn plant costs $20 million and the transmission lines another $23 million, all through grants. Hazard Herald · Jun 26, 2025
03Utility rates and the city budget4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn February 2026 the commission raised water, sewer and gas rates by 2.7 percent, based on the Consumer Price Index.

What's on the tableFuture utility rate increases and the yearly budget and property tax rate.

04Jobs, downtown and new retail2 sourced facts

Where it standsHobby Lobby and TJ Maxx are coming to Hazard, and the city runs a Hazard Downtown Incentive Program for small businesses.

What's on the tableWhich businesses the city recruits and how it supports downtown and small businesses.

05Public safety cameras2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the commission approved a master service agreement with Flock Group Inc. for public safety cameras in the city.

What's on the tableHow the cameras and their data are used.

2 notes on these statements

The City Commissioner contest is uncontested: Paul Olinger, Luke Glaser, Susan Martin Brotherton and Fitz Steele are the only four candidates for four seats. Kentucky Secretary of State · Nov 3, 2026

At an April 23, 2026 forum before the May 19 primary, mayoral candidates Donald "Happy" Mobelini, James Logan Fields and Christian McGilton spoke, and candidate Howard Sumner was absent. Hazard Herald · May 10, 2026

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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. 1. Should Hazard keep seeking the authority to levy a restaurant tax for tourism?

  2. 2. Should finishing the Buckhorn water plant be the city's top priority?

  3. 3. What should Hazard's main jobs strategy be?

  4. 4. Is recruiting national chain stores good for Hazard?

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): 5 on this ballot

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

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