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

Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

Early in-person 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 the mayor and up to six City Council members; the mayor and all six council seats are on the ballot.

Early in-person 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

    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): 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.

    Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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