MonticelloNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Monticello Mayor & City Council Election 2026

6 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 12 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 · 12 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
In-person no-excuse absentee 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 from three candidates and up to six of the nine City Council candidates.

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 spending4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe 3% restaurant tax that funds the Monticello Tourist Commission stays in place after the council voted 4-1 in August 2026 against an ordinance to end it.

What's on the tableWhether to keep the tax, and what the tourism money is spent on, including a proposed 79-acre land purchase.

  • In April 2025 the council voted 4-2 to fund a new Tourism Commission and enact a 3% restaurant tax to pay for it. WKYM · Apr 29, 2025
  • In June 2026 the tourism director asked the council's blessing to buy 79 acres in the city for $1.25 million for Wayne County Fair events, an amphitheater and an agricultural section for the schools. Z93 Country · Jun 9, 2026
  • In July 2026 the council was told it was not legal to proceed with the ballot issue tied into the repeal ordinance. Z93 Country · Jul 14, 2026
  • By a 4-1 vote in August 2026, the council struck down an ordinance that would have ended the 3% restaurant tax, with Alan Vaughn the lone no vote. Z93 Country · Aug 11, 2026
02A.J. Lloyd and Provalus building projects3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council voted to rebid the A.J. Lloyd and Provalus projects, which its architect said were each over $300,000 above original estimates.

What's on the tableWhether to accept construction bids and how to cover the city's share of the cost.

  • In April 2025 the council voted 6-0 to move the A.J. Lloyd project to the bidding phase; the city would pay an estimated $800,000 beyond $4 million in grants. WKYM · Apr 29, 2025
  • The architect told the council the A.J. Lloyd project is over $4 million and the Provalus project is $6 million. WKYM · Jun 10, 2026
  • The June 2026 vote was for bids only, not approval to move ahead with construction. WKYM · Jun 10, 2026
03Natural gas project2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council passed the second reading of an ordinance setting up a 20-year franchise bid for a $20 million project to bring natural gas to Monticello.

What's on the tableWhich company gets the franchise and on what terms.

  • The council agreed in August 2026 to proceed with the natural gas franchise after a presentation by State Representative Ken Upchurch. Z93 Country · Aug 11, 2026
  • The council voted in June 2026 to open a checking account for an expected $5 million in grant money for a gas line project. WKYM · Jun 27, 2026
04Budget, tax rates and audits4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted a roughly $3.2 million budget for 2026-27 and lowered the real estate tax rate to 11.3 cents per $100 of assessed value.

What's on the tableFuture tax rates and budgets, and how to bring the city's overdue audits up to date.

1 note on these statements

Z93 Country reported that incumbent Mayor Kenny Catron is being challenged by Mike Anderson and Valerie Gregory, and that nine people filed for six council seats, including three incumbents. Z93 Country · Jun 3, 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 Monticello levy a 3% restaurant tax to fund its tourism commission?

  2. 2. Should the city keep moving ahead with the A.J. Lloyd building renovation?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted9 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 6 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

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