Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Mount Washington Mayor & City Council Election 2026

6 of 6

council seats up

2 contests

20 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.

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Mayor · 1 seat

Layne AbellMount Washington councilman and former school board member, circuit court clerk and property valuation administrator. He served as school board chairman for seven years.8sourced
Greg GentryMount Washington councilman who has worked in banking for more than 33 years.8sourced

City Council · Vote for up to 6

Voters choose the mayor in one citywide vote and up to six council members in another, from 18 council candidates.

3 notes on these statements

Mayor Stuart Owen is not seeking a second term; council members Greg Gentry and Layne Abell, who sit on the council, are the two candidates for mayor. The Pioneer News

Sandra Hockenbury and Dustin Armstrong are the incumbent council members seeking re-election, and the Pioneer News reported four open council seats. The Pioneer News

The Bullitt County Chamber of Commerce and The Pioneer News scheduled a forum for Mount Washington mayor and council candidates at Fick Hall; each candidate receives the same questions. The Pioneer News

Start here

Match quiz4 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData center moratorium, Housing growth and rezonings, Highway 44 and road projects Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to vote (online by 4 p.m. local time)

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Data center moratorium

Where it standsThe council passed a 24-month moratorium on data centers on second reading on August 24, 2026, with 5 in favor and 1 abstention.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, change or lift the moratorium, and what the city's research on data center impacts shows.

Council Member Layne Abell asked on July 13 whether the city could look into a 24-month moratorium on data centers. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, July 13, 2026 · Jul 13, 2026
The draft moratorium was modeled on the Fiscal Court ordinance, would hold data centers for 24 months and asks the Building, Housing and Construction department to research their impacts. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, July 27, 2026 · Jul 27, 2026
At the August 10 first reading, resident Katherine Garza spoke in favor of the moratorium. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, August 10, 2026 · Aug 10, 2026
On August 24 the second reading passed by a roll call vote of 5 in favor and 1 abstention (Troy Barr). Mt. Washington City Council minutes, August 24, 2026 · Aug 24, 2026

Housing growth and rezonings

Where it standsThe council has approved a series of 2026 rezonings while candidates and residents raise infrastructure and traffic concerns.

What's on the tableWhich rezonings and developments to approve, and what conditions, such as turn lanes, to attach.

On February 23 the council approved on second reading the rezoning of 19 acres at 457 Bleemel Lane from R-3 to AG by a roll call vote of 5 to 0. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, February 23, 2026 · Feb 23, 2026
On August 10 the council approved by 5 to 0 the rezoning of 2.406 acres on Morning Glory Ave from R-2 to B-2. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, August 10, 2026 · Aug 10, 2026
The mayor said the city's written restrictions on the Twin Eagles development bar construction until turn lanes on Highway 44 are complete, and the developer objected to that provision. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, May 11, 2026 · May 11, 2026
In December 2025 the council voted 6-0 to reject a Planning Commission recommendation that would have allowed temporary transitional housing by right in R1 to R4 zones. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, December 8, 2025 · Dec 8, 2025

Highway 44 and road projects

Where it standsState improvements to Highway 44E are on a long timeline while the city works on its own road projects and how to pay for them.

What's on the tableHow the city finances its road projects and how hard it presses the state on Highway 44E.

In December 2025 the mayor asked the council how to fund the Highway 44E and Bardstown Road projects, and the council voted 6-0 on a resolution authorizing a state Infrastructure Revolving Fund (Fund B) loan application. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, December 8, 2025 · Dec 8, 2025
In March 2026 Council Member Abell said the area senator had said the Highway 44E work would be in 2030, and the mayor said he had no updates. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, March 9, 2026 · Mar 9, 2026
In August 2026 the mayor said the city was still acquiring right-of-way along N. Bardstown Road for the roundabout project and that legislation had paused right-of-way acquisition. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, August 10, 2026 · Aug 10, 2026

Flock license-plate cameras

Where it standsA resident asked the council on July 13, 2026 to review Flock camera data and consider canceling the city's contract.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, limit or cancel the city's Flock camera contract.

Katherine Garza told the council her records request showed the police department's Flock cameras captured over 2.5 million vehicles from June 7 to July 6. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, July 13, 2026 · Jul 13, 2026
Chief Dan Kelty said the cameras have helped solve crimes and a recent Golden Alert through Flock helped find a missing senior citizen. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, July 13, 2026 · Jul 13, 2026
A Flock Safety public affairs representative gave a presentation to the council on the cameras and their role with the police department. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, July 13, 2026 · Jul 13, 2026

Downtown and Main Street

Where it standsThe council is amending the Downtown Commercial Exterior Improvement grant ordinance and the city is seeking proposals for a corner property at Highway 44 and N. Bardstown Road.

What's on the tableWho is eligible for facade grants, how reimbursements work, and what is built on the city-owned corner property.

On July 27 Council Member Bruce Gooden said he wants the facade grant eligibility area opened to the entire city limits. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, July 27, 2026 · Jul 27, 2026
On August 24 the council held first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 160, the Commercial Downtown Exterior Improvement Program, sponsored by Gooden. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, August 24, 2026 · Aug 24, 2026
On June 8 the mayor spoke about a request for proposals for the corner property at Highway 44 and North Bardstown Road and presented a preliminary plan. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, June 8, 2026 · Jun 8, 2026
In April 2026 the mayor said the city had received the deed for North Bardstown Road and would move forward with renaming it Main Street. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, April 27, 2026 · Apr 27, 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 treat large housing developments?
2. What should the city do first about Highway 44 traffic?
3. What should the city do with its Flock license-plate cameras?
4. How much priority should downtown revitalization get?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Last day to register to vote (online by 4 p.m. local time)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 5, 2026
Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot (11:59 p.m. Eastern)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 20, 2026
In-person excused absentee voting beginsKentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 21, 2026
No-excuse early in-person voting begins (October 29-31)Kentucky State Board of ElectionsOct 29, 2026
Election Day, polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local timeKentucky 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.

The Pioneer News lists a six-seat city council race (voters pick up to six) and a separate mayor race on the November 3 ballot. The Pioneer News
The Pioneer News described the mayor's office as a four-year office. The Pioneer News
The top six vote-getters on the nonpartisan council serve two-year terms. The Pioneer News
Council roll-call tallies in the 2026 minutes count six council members, and the mayor presides at regular meetings. Mt. Washington City Council minutes, August 24, 2026 · Aug 24, 2026

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