Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Henderson Mayor & Board of Commissioners Election 2026

5 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

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.

Mayor · Unopposed

Brad StatonIncumbentBrad Staton is the mayor of Henderson and owns Staton Investment Management. He was a city commissioner from 2017 through 2022.6sourced

City Commissioner · Vote for up to 4

Isaac ChurchIsaac Church is the owner of Firedome and a youth sports coach.3sourced
Kelsey HargisIncumbentKelsey Hargis is a Henderson city commissioner and mayor pro tem with 15 years in community banking.5sourced
Robert PruittIncumbentRobert Pruitt is a Henderson city commissioner first elected in 2008 and a real estate investor. He worked for Gamco Products for over 30 years.8sourced
Kristie RandolphKristie Randolph is the executive director of The Chloe Randolph Organization.3sourced
Chris ThomasChris Thomas is a commercial insurance producer at Davis Insurance Group in Henderson.3sourced
Tom WilliamsTom Williams is a civil engineer and former general manager of the Henderson Water Utility.3sourced

Voters choose up to four commissioners citywide and the mayor separately; the top four commissioner vote-getters win seats, and the mayor's race has one name on the ballot.

2 notes on these statements

The Hendersonian reported that Cindy Weaver withdrew from the mayor's race, leaving Brad Staton unopposed. The Hendersonian

Austin Vowels was appointed on July 28, 2026 to fill the remainder of the vacant commission term, which expires December 31, 2026; he is not a candidate in the November 2026 election. City of Henderson · Jul 28, 2026

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesCity budget and taxes, Housing, Building and business codes Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and taxes

Where it standsThe proposed 2026-2027 budget kept the property tax rate at 47 cents per $100, and the commission adopted the budget in June 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, lower or raise tax rates and how to fund projects and employee raises in the next budget.

Finance Director Chelsea Mills told the May 2026 work session that in the proposed budget the property tax rate remains .470 per $100 assessment. Henderson Board of Commissioners work session minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
Ordinance 14-26, the 2026-2027 budget and appropriation ordinance, was adopted on second reading 5-0 on June 23, 2026. Henderson Board of Commissioners minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
The May 2026 work session listed inflation, the city landfill closure, health insurance costs and Parks Master Plan funding among the challenges facing the city. Henderson Board of Commissioners work session minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026

Housing

Where it standsCity staff are researching an ordinance to allow tiny homes, and the city lists a partnership with Habitat for Humanity among its housing goals.

What's on the tableWhether and how the city partners, rezones or changes codes to add housing.

The May 2026 work session said the City Attorney is working with Code Enforcement to create an ordinance allowing tiny homes, anticipated to support affordable housing and homelessness initiatives. Henderson Board of Commissioners work session minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
The city's budget goals for housing and cost of living include supportive affordable housing initiatives and a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Henderson Board of Commissioners work session minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026

Building and business codes

Where it standsThe Codes department asked for a temporary seasonal position to help review city codes against those of similar municipalities.

What's on the tableHow the city changes its codes and permitting for new businesses and builders.

Code Administrator Steve Davis asked at the May 2026 work session for a seasonal position to assist with modernization and comparative review of city codes. Henderson Board of Commissioners work session minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
The city's budget goals include codes modernization and business services under economic development. Henderson Board of Commissioners work session minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026

Economic development

Where it standsCommissioner Kelsey Hargis said Henderson Economic Development is working on incentive packages to attract developers and chains, with the I-69 corridor as an opportunity.

What's on the tableWhat incentives and support the city offers to attract jobs and retail.

Kelsey Hargis listed growing and strengthening the local economy, citing the I-69 corridor, as one of her top three goals. WSON · Apr 13, 2026
Hargis said Henderson Economic Development is working on incentive packages to entice developers and chains to locate in Henderson. The Hendersonian · Apr 7, 2026

Meeting times and access

Where it standsThe commission holds regular meetings at 3 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, with work sessions on the third Tuesday.

What's on the tableWhether to change meeting times and how much discussion happens in public.

The city says regular Board of Commissioners meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 3:00 pm. City of Henderson
The Hendersonian reported that Tom Williams wants one meeting a month moved to 5:30 p.m. The Hendersonian · Apr 7, 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 the city help more housing get built?
2. What should the city do about its building and business codes?
3. How should Henderson compete for new employers?
4. When should the commission hold its regular meetings?

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
Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballotKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 20, 2026
Excused in-person absentee voting beginsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 21, 2026
No-excuse early in-person voting beginsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 29, 2026
Election Day (polls 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 5 on this ballot

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

The Henderson Board of Commissioners has a mayor and four commissioners, and the mayor votes on roll calls with the commissioners. Henderson Board of Commissioners minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
The county ballot lists the city commissioner contest as vote for up to four and the mayor contest as vote for one. Henderson County Clerk
The Hendersonian reported that winners of the commission seats take office in January 2027 for the next two-year term. The Hendersonian · Apr 7, 2026

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