Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Owensboro Board of Commissioners Election 2026

4 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 4

8 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Commissioner · Vote for up to 4

Voters choose up to four commissioners citywide, and the top four vote-getters win seats; the mayor is not on the ballot this year.

3 notes on these statements

Nine candidates were on the May 19, 2026 primary ballot, and eight advanced to November. Owensboro Times · May 20, 2026

All eight November candidates, Bob Glenn, Tyler Goad, Steve Johnson, Curtis Maglinger, John Ross Martin, Sharon NeSmith, Jeff Sanford and Pamela Smith-Wright, took part in the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce city commission forum, according to the Messenger-Inquirer. Messenger-Inquirer

The Daviess County Clerk lists Pamela Smith-Wright as Pamela L. Smith-Wright and Sharon NeSmith as Sharon Gail NeSmith. Daviess County Clerk · May 19, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Tom WatsonMayor of Owensboro; re-elected November 20245sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, Homelessness and city parks, Housing 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 standsA one-year Daviess County moratorium on data center applications applies inside Owensboro, and the city says no data center project is before it.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt city rules on data centers or leave the county moratorium in place while it lasts.

Daviess Fiscal Court unanimously approved the one-year data center moratorium in late May 2026. Owensboro Times · Aug 19, 2026
City Attorney Mark Pfeifer told the commission on August 18, 2026 that the county moratorium applies in the city unless the city passes an ordinance allowing or regulating data centers. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
The City of Owensboro states there are no active data center projects being considered by the City. City of Owensboro
On July 14, 2026 the commission approved rezoning the 121.605-acre Massie site to I-1 light industrial by unanimous roll call vote, after the planning commission voted against I-2 rezoning by one vote. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, July 14, 2026 · Jul 14, 2026

Homelessness and city parks

Where it standsThe city's one-year pause on new group housing and treatment facilities ended in August 2026, and commissioners say they support extending it.

What's on the tableWhether to extend or replace the pause with new zoning rules, and how to respond to activity in city parks.

In September 2025 the commission enacted a one-year moratorium on new group housing and treatment-related facilities, including rehabilitation centers and transitional homes. Owensboro Times · Sep 14, 2025
The Messenger-Inquirer reported that the one-year moratorium ended in August and that three of the five members of the commission said they support extending it. Messenger-Inquirer
The Messenger-Inquirer reported that residents near Kendall-Perkins Park complained of vandalism, alleged drug use and other inappropriate activity in the park. Messenger-Inquirer

Housing

Where it standsOn August 18, 2026 the commission adopted zoning rules that allow accessory dwelling units in residential areas.

What's on the tableWhether to take further steps on housing supply, such as separate rules for standalone tiny homes.

Ordinance 16-2026, adding accessory dwelling unit regulations to the zoning ordinance, was approved unanimously by roll call vote on August 18, 2026. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, August 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
Before the change, accessory dwelling units were allowed only in the business, industrial and professional zoning classifications. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, August 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026
The City Manager said standalone tiny homes on smaller lots would require a separate text amendment. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, August 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026

City taxes and budget

Where it standsThe 2026-27 budget is in effect and the city proposed keeping the real estate rate at 25.6 cents per $100 and lowering the personal property rate.

What's on the tableNext year's budget and whether to change city tax rates.

The commission adopted the 2026-27 city budget, Ordinance 10-2026, by unanimous roll call vote on June 2, 2026. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
On September 1, 2026 the first reading of the property tax ordinance proposed no change to the real estate rate of 25.6 cents per $100 and no change to the vehicle rate of 30.3 cents. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, September 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
The same ordinance proposed lowering the personal property rate to 28.44 cents from 30.91 cents per $100. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, September 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026

Economic development and the Massie site

Where it standsThe city owns the 121-acre Massie site on West Parrish Avenue, which it bought for industrial development and rezoned to I-1 in July 2026.

What's on the tableHow to prepare and market the Massie site and whether to buy more land for development.

City Manager Nate Pagan said the Board of Commissioners approved purchasing the Massie site in August 2025. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
City Manager Pagan said the Airpark has only approximately 30 acres of publicly controlled land remaining. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
On August 4, 2026 the commission unanimously approved a grant agreement for $1,000,000 for infrastructure improvements to the Massie site, with a 20 percent city match. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, August 4, 2026 · Aug 4, 2026
In October 2025 the commission approved buying 34.798 acres on Pleasant Valley Road for economic development by a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Watson and Commissioner Sanford voting no. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, October 21, 2025 · Oct 21, 2025

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. What should Owensboro do about data centers?
2. How should Owensboro respond to homeless camping in city parks?
3. What is the best way to make housing more affordable in Owensboro?
4. If the city needs more money, what should it do first?
5. Where should the city focus its job-creation effort?

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

1 stay (not up this year): Tom Watson4 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

The Owensboro Board of Commissioners has a mayor and four commissioners. City of Owensboro
The mayor votes with the commissioners: on a 3-2 vote in October 2025, Mayor Watson and Commissioner Sanford voted no. Owensboro Board of Commissioners minutes, October 21, 2025 · Oct 21, 2025
Commissioner races are nonpartisan, and a primary is held only when more than eight candidates are running. Messenger-Inquirer
Eight candidates advanced from the May 19, 2026 primary, and the top four vote-getters in November win seats. Owensboro Times · May 20, 2026

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