Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Lexington Mayor & Urban County Council Election 2026

15 of 15

council seats up

14 contests

27 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Find a candidate

Urban County Mayor · 1 seat

Urban County Council At-Large · Vote for up to 3

James BrownIncumbentAt-large Urban County Council member; Chair of the Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee13sourced
Herbert LynnHe has worked for the past decade as a dispatcher and service coordinator in the skilled trades, mostly in the industrial HVAC field. Earlier jobs include research librarian, EFL teacher and road construction.6sourced
William Tate OhmerHe is a third-generation restoration and preservation contractor in his family business. He serves on the Northside Neighborhood Association board.6sourced
Christopher ShaferHe has more than 10 years of experience working for the City of Lexington. As a supervisor, he oversees contractors, budgets, operations and service delivery across city facilities.6sourced
Stephanie Aschmann SpiresShe is the CEO and founder of Spires Strategies, an educational consulting firm. She served on the Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education from 2017 to 2022.6sourced
Dan WuIncumbentVice Mayor and at-large Urban County Council member13sourced

Urban County Council District 1 · Unopposed

Tyler MortonIncumbentDistrict 1 Urban County Council member13sourced

Urban County Council District 2 · Unopposed

Shayla LynchIncumbentDistrict 2 Urban County Council member, first elected in 202213sourced

Urban County Council District 3 · 1 seat

Urban County Council District 4 · 1 seat

Urban County Council District 5 · 1 seat

Urban County Council District 6 · 1 seat

Urban County Council District 7 · Unopposed

Joseph HaleIncumbentDistrict 7 Urban County Council member, elected in 202410sourced

Urban County Council District 8 · 1 seat

Urban County Council District 9 · 1 seat

Urban County Council District 10 · Unopposed

Chris WoodallHe was Lexington's Manager of Long-Range Planning and, before that, Director of Planning for Jessamine County and the City of Wilmore. He is President of the Moondance Foundation, a non-profit for the Moondance Amphitheater.6sourced

Urban County Council District 11 · 1 seat

Urban County Council District 12 · Unopposed

Hilary BooneIncumbentDistrict 12 Urban County Council member, serving his first term11sourced

Voters across Fayette County elect the mayor and pick up to three at-large council members (the top vote-getter becomes Vice Mayor); voters in each of the 12 districts elect one council member.

3 notes on these statements

Mayor and council races are nonpartisan, so no party appears next to candidates' names on the ballot. CivicLex · Sep 26, 2026

Nicholas Wolter's name appears on the District 5 ballot, but the county clerk lists him as withdrawn. Fayette County Clerk · Sep 3, 2026

Tray Hughes and Whitney Elliott Baxter had not responded to the CivicLex Vote Local Lexington questionnaire when CivicLex published its guide. CivicLex · Sep 26, 2026

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, Solar on farmland, Housing costs Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsThe council paused data center development until at least Oct. 31, 2026, and is reviewing zoning rules recommended by the Planning Commission.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt the data center zoning rules, including a ban on data centers larger than 40,000 square feet.

The council voted unanimously in June 2026 to pause data center development until October 31, 2026. CivicLex · Jun 9, 2026
The Planning Commission recommended banning data centers larger than 40,000 square feet anywhere in the county. Lexington Herald-Leader
Under the recommended amendment, smaller data centers would face other standards and none could operate in agricultural zones. Lexington Herald-Leader
Both mayoral candidates have said they oppose hyperscale data centers in Fayette County. Lexington Herald-Leader

Solar on farmland

Where it standsThe council voted 8-7 in September 2026 to allow large-scale solar in agricultural zones, and Mayor Gorton vetoed the ordinance.

What's on the tableWhether to override the veto, which takes 9 of 15 votes, or revise the rules for solar on farmland.

The council approved the solar zoning amendment 8-7 on September 10, 2026. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council · Sep 10, 2026
The amendment would allow large-scale solar as a conditional use in agricultural zones, capped at 1% of county land, about 1,800 acres. CivicLex · Sep 18, 2026
Mayor Gorton vetoed the ordinance, saying it opens farmland to industrial use. City of Lexington · Sep 18, 2026
Overriding the veto takes 9 votes on the 15-member council. CivicLex · Sep 18, 2026

Housing costs

Where it standsThe fiscal 2027 budget puts $5 million into the city's Affordable Housing Fund.

What's on the tableHow much city money goes to affordable housing and what the city does to speed up home building.

The FY2027 budget includes $5 million for the city's Affordable Housing Fund. CivicLex · Jun 11, 2026
The city faces a shortage of 22,000 housing units, and the affordable housing need stands at 17,000 units. WKYT · May 6, 2026

Streets and the budget

Where it standsThe council approved an $847 million FY2027 budget unanimously and adopted the Complete Streets Design Manual in September 2026.

What's on the tableHow the city funds paving and snow response and how Complete Streets standards are applied to street projects.

The FY2027 budget totals $847 million, and the council approved it with all 15 members voting yes. CivicLex · Jun 11, 2026
The budget includes $13 million for street paving and maintenance and $5.1 million for winter storm response. CivicLex · Jun 11, 2026
The council adopted the Complete Streets Design Manual as an engineering manual for infrastructure development, 15-0. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council · Sep 10, 2026

Charter amendments

Where it standsThree proposed Charter amendments are on the Nov. 3 ballot: council pay, attendance and accountability standards, and regular Charter review.

What's on the tableIf the amendments pass, the council will set attendance and accountability standards and convene a Charter Review Assembly.

Charter Amendment 1 would set council members' salary at $59,987 per year, effective for the term beginning January 6, 2031. Fayette County Clerk · Aug 3, 2026
Charter Amendment 2 would require the council to adopt attendance and accountability expectations for its members. Fayette County Clerk · Aug 3, 2026
Charter Amendment 3 would require a Charter review at least every eight years by a body selected by representative lottery. Fayette County Clerk · Aug 3, 2026
The council voted 13-2 to place the council pay amendment on the ballot, and 15-0 for each of the other two. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council · Jun 18, 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. Should large (hyperscale) data centers be allowed in Fayette County?
2. Should large-scale solar be allowed in Lexington's agricultural zones?
3. How much city money should go to affordable housing?
4. How should Lexington design its streets?

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 mail-in absentee ballot request portal closesKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 20, 2026
Excused in-person absentee voting beginsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 21, 2026
No-excuse early in-person voting begins (through Oct. 31)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 29, 2026
Election DayKentucky State Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 15 on this ballot

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

The Urban County Council has 15 members: 12 elected from single-member districts and 3 elected at-large. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter (Municode)
District council members serve two-year terms and at-large members serve four-year terms; council elections are nonpartisan. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter (Municode)
The Mayor presides at council meetings but votes only in the case of a tie. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter (Municode)
The Vice-Mayor is the at-large member who received the most votes in the last at-large election. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter (Municode)
The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and may serve no more than three consecutive full terms. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter (Municode)
An ordinance the Mayor vetoes takes effect only if three-fifths of all council members vote to adopt it again. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter (Municode)
The Nov. 3 ballot lists candidates for Urban County Mayor, Urban County Council At-Large and Urban County Council Districts 1 through 12. Fayette County Clerk · Sep 3, 2026
Six candidates are competing for three at-large seats, and six district candidates are running unopposed. CivicLex · Sep 26, 2026

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