Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Union Mayor & City Commission Election 2026
5 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
In-person, no-excuse early 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.
Mayor
1 seat- Chris CourtneyChris Courtney is a U.S. Navy veteran who has worked in local and regional government in Northern Kentucky. He was Boone County's director of government and community relations for seven years.4sourced
- John J. MeffordJohn Mefford has served on the Union City Commission since 2006 and is its mayor pro tem. He taught chemistry at Ryle High School for 19 years before retiring.7sourced
City Commissioner
Vote for up to 4- Doug BineIncumbentDoug Bine is a retired firefighter and EMT who served 24 years with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. He was reappointed to the commission in February 2025.7sourced
- Eric DulaneyEric Dulaney was first elected to the Union City Commission in 2016.2sourced
- George E. EldridgeIncumbentGeorge Eldridge is an Air Force veteran who spent 32 years in the aerospace industry with Hughes and Boeing. He was appointed to the commission in February 2025.8sourced
- Christopher ReevesChristopher Reeves is director of scientific communications for Procter & Gamble's Family Care business.5sourced
- Larry King SolomonLarry Solomon has been Mayor of Union since 2015 and was earlier president of his homeowners association.10sourced
The mayor's office and all four commission seats are on the ballot. Voters may choose up to four commission candidates.
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
01Growth and the Union Town Plan4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is updating the Union Town Plan, which sets development rules, and in September 2026 chose to pursue text and map amendments to the Boone County zoning regulations for areas inside city limits.
What's on the tableThe commission has the final say on approving or denying the zoning amendments, including density limits.
- Under the updated plan's density requirements described in July 2026, individual houses are limited to four per acre and patio homes, condominiums or multi-family houses to six per acre. Union City Commission minutes, July 20, 2026 (caucus) · Jul 20, 2026
- The amendments would go to a public hearing before the Boone County Planning Commission makes a recommendation, and the City of Union will then have the final say. Union City Commission minutes, September 9, 2026 · Sep 9, 2026
- Union's population grew from 2,893 residents in 2000 to 7,416 in 2020, according to U.S. Census data cited by LINK nky. LINK nky candidate profile
- The commission approved the Drees Homes Union Acres rezoning on Old Union Road by a 3-1 vote in July 2026. Union City Commission minutes, July 27, 2026 (special meeting) · Jul 27, 2026
02License plate reader cameras3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn September 2026 the commission passed a resolution opposing automated license plate reader (Flock) cameras in Union. The Boone County Sheriff, who patrols the city under contract, makes the final decision.
What's on the tableHow the city responds if the Sheriff's Department moves ahead with license plate reader cameras.
- Resolution 2026-04 opposing the installation, deployment and use of automated license plate reader systems in Union passed 5-0. Union City Commission minutes, September 21, 2026 (caucus) · Sep 21, 2026
- The City of Union contracts with the Boone County Sheriff's Department for patrol services. Union City Commission minutes, September 21, 2026 (caucus) · Sep 21, 2026
- Sheriff Les Hill signed a contract with Flock in June 2026 but decided to delay it to do more research and get public opinion. Union City Commission minutes, September 9, 2026 · Sep 9, 2026
03Taxes and the city budget3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe commission adopted the FY 2026-2027 budget 4-1 in June 2026 and set 2026 property tax rates at the compensating rates in September.
What's on the tableThe commission sets property tax rates and adopts a budget each year.
- The 2026 rates are 0.196 for real property and 0.195 for personal property, the compensating rates recommended by the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. Union City Commission minutes, September 9, 2026 · Sep 9, 2026
- Ordinance 2026-12 setting the 2026 tax rates passed 5-0 on September 21, 2026. Union City Commission minutes, September 21, 2026 (caucus) · Sep 21, 2026
- Payroll tax revenue goes into the City Growth fund, which pays for the Union Town Square project. Union City Commission minutes, March 2, 2026 · Mar 2, 2026
04Union Town Square and the new city building3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is finishing Union Town Square, including a new city building and park, with change orders still coming to the commission.
What's on the tableRemaining change orders, the commissioning contract and a new landscaping contract that includes Union Town Square.
- The commission voted 5-0 in September 2026 to spend $18,800 to hire Shrout Tate Wilson for Union Town Square commissioning. Union City Commission minutes, September 9, 2026 · Sep 9, 2026
- Discussion of Change Order Sixteen was carried over to the October 5, 2026 meeting. Union City Commission minutes, September 21, 2026 (caucus) · Sep 21, 2026
- The plan is to award the new landscaping bid at the commission meeting on November 2, 2026. Union City Commission minutes, September 21, 2026 (caucus) · Sep 21, 2026
05Access to commission meetings2 sourced facts
Where it standsUnion does not currently livestream its meetings or post recordings online, according to LINK nky.
What's on the tableWhether the city offers video of commission meetings online.
- Union does not currently livestream its meetings or post recordings online. LINK nky candidate profile
- Regular commission meetings are held on the first Monday of every month and caucus meetings on the third Monday, at 6:00 pm in the Union City Building. City of Union
3 notes on these statements
Five candidates are on the ballot for the four commission seats. Kentucky State Board of Elections · Nov 3, 2026
A Boone County Circuit Court judge ousted all Union commissioners except the mayor after wrong ballots were distributed at two Union precincts in the November 2024 election. LINK nky · Feb 4, 2025
After the ruling, John Mefford, Doug Bine and George Eldridge were appointed to the commission in February 2025. LINK nky · Feb 4, 2025
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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. Should Union keep opposing license plate reader cameras such as Flock in the city?
2. Should Union cap new housing at the updated Union Town Plan densities (four houses or six attached units per acre)?
3. How fast should new residential development in Union go?
4. Should the city offer video of commission meetings online?
Key dates
The seat math
0 stay (not up this year): 5 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- Union is a home rule city organized under the commission form of city government. City of Union
- The commission is made up of the mayor and four elected city commissioners. City of Union
- The mayor acts as a voting member of the commission and presides at its meetings. City of Union
- The mayor serves a four-year term and commissioners serve two-year terms, beginning in January. City of Union
- The Boone County ballot lists the Union City Commissioners contest as vote for up to four. Kentucky State Board of Elections · Nov 3, 2026
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