Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Mount Sterling Mayor & City Council Election 2026
6 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
How to vote · 12 days left
Early in-person voting begins (Oct 29): the election office's noticeThese 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.
City Council
Vote for up to 6- Roger D. BarnesIncumbentMt. Sterling City Council member1sourced
- Crystal Dempsey-GillumCandidate for Mt. Sterling City Council.1sourced
- Laura GraysonCandidate for Mt. Sterling City Council.1sourced
- Danielle KingIncumbentMt. Sterling City Council member2sourced
- Scott MurphyIncumbentMt. Sterling City Council member, appointed September 16, 20251sourced
- Philip TardivoCandidate for Mt. Sterling City Council.1sourced
- Steve TrimbleIncumbentMt. Sterling City Council member1sourced
Voters citywide choose the mayor and up to six City Council members; the mayor and all six council seats are on the ballot.
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.
- U.S. Senate
- Andy Barr · Republican Party
- Charles Booker · Democratic Party
- Christopher Campbell · Kentucky Party
- Statewide measures1 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
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 parks funding4 sourced facts
Where it standsIn April 2026 the council approved first reading of an ordinance raising the city restaurant tax from 2 percent to 3 percent.
What's on the tableWhether the higher restaurant tax stays in place and how the money for parks and recreation is used.
- In March 2026 the council voted 5-1 to move forward with an ordinance raising the restaurant tax from 2 percent to 3 percent, after four public hearings. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Mar 18, 2026
- The measure requires two readings before it is formally adopted. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Mar 18, 2026
- The council approved first reading of the restaurant tax increase in April 2026. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Apr 23, 2026
- The Kentucky Legislature allocated $2.5 million to the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Dept. as a one-time expenditure. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Apr 23, 2026
02Blighted and abandoned houses2 sourced facts
Where it standsSince 2019 the city's BAD program has removed 48 blighted, abandoned and dilapidated houses inside city limits and cleared the lots.
What's on the tableHow fast the city keeps buying, demolishing or selling BAD properties, and what happens to the cleared lots.
- The city says 48 BAD houses have been removed within city limits since the program started in 2019. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Feb 6, 2026
- The city's BAD list tracks each property by year, status, whether it is city or privately owned, and whether the lot was cleared. City of Mount Sterling · Jul 1, 2026
03Police license-plate cameras3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe police department uses Flock license-plate cameras, and the police chief addressed public concerns about them at council meetings in July and August 2026.
What's on the tableWhether the city keeps funding and using the cameras, and what limits apply.
- Police Chief Aaron Noel said video from the cameras is stored for only 30 days. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Jul 31, 2026
- Noel said the cameras are funded with drug forfeiture money, which can only be used for law enforcement. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Jul 31, 2026
- Noel again addressed the cameras at the August 2026 council meeting. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Aug 28, 2026
04Downtown improvements3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe final phase of the downtown streetscape and sidewalk project began in April 2026, and the city gives small matching grants for building facades.
What's on the tableHow much more the city spends on downtown streets, lots and building grants.
- Resurfacing of Main Street and North Maysville Street in April 2026 was described as the final phase of the downtown streetscape and sidewalk project. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Apr 1, 2026
- Six businesses received a total of $8,316 in 2026 Small Business Facade and Exterior Improvement matching grants. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Jun 30, 2026
- In October 2025 the council awarded a bid to Walker Construction for a revitalization project for City Lot No. 1. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Oct 30, 2025
05Child care1 sourced fact
Where it standsIn January 2026 the City Council and the Montgomery County Fiscal Court voted to co-sign a loan for a new child care center.
What's on the tableWhether the city takes further steps to address the local child care shortage.
- The Fiscal Court and City Council each voted to co-sign a loan for a new child care center to address a local child care shortage. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Jan 22, 2026
1 note on these statements
Al Botts is the only candidate for mayor. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Jun 5, 2026
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Who matches you?
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Key dates
- Last day to register to voteKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 5, 2026
- Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballotKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 20, 2026
- Early in-person voting beginsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 29, 2026
- Early in-person voting endsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 31, 2026
- Election Day (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026
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.
- Mount Sterling has a mayor-council form of government. Kentucky Department for Local Government
- The nonpartisan city ballot lists Mayor (vote for one) and City Council (vote for up to six). Kentucky Secretary of State · Nov 3, 2026
- Incumbent Al Botts was the only candidate to file for mayor, and seven candidates filed for the six city council seats. The Mt. Sterling Advocate · Jun 5, 2026
- City Council meetings are held at City Hall on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. City of Mount Sterling
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