To be an effective citizen, you have to be a knowledgeable one.
You might have asked yourself these questions before: How does our local government work? Where can I have a say? Who can I go to if I have a problem?
Well, class is in session, Lexingtonians. We’re teaching LEX GOV 101, where we break down different aspects of our local government to become engaged citizens that create healthier (and more effective) communities.
How does it work?
In short, the Mayor and City Councilmembers develop policies and enact laws.
Who’s who?
Let’s start at the top. We’ll give you a peek into our City Councilmembers, but strongly encourage you to get to know them by clicking on their names and exploring each member’s bio page on the City of Lexington’s website.
- The Mayor
- The Vice Mayor
- Council District members (12)
- At-Large Council members (3)
Mayor
Linda Gorton | Mayor Gorton is serving her second term. Read the highlights from her State of the City address in 2024, we can expect another speech later this month.
Vice Mayor
Dan Wu | Vice Mayor Wu is also considered an at-large councilmember and was elected to the city government for the first time in November 2022. He is also a former board member of LexArts and The Human Rights Commission, among others. Fun fact: The at-large councilmember who receives the most votes becomes the vice mayor.
At-Large Councilmembers
James Brown | Councilmember Brown is a Lexington native and has been a member of the city government since 2015. His bio states that he is passionate about the school system and service to neighborhoods.
Chuck Ellinger II | Councilmember Ellinger is also a Lexington native and was re-elected as an at-large council member in November 2022.
District Councilmembers
Tyler Morton, District 1 | Morton is a former council aid + entering his first term as councilmember. His district covers parts of downtown, the East End, and corridors like North Broadway and North Limestone.
Shayla Lynch, District 2 | Councilmember Lynch is in her second term representing her district which includes Citation Boulevard and Masterson Station areas. She has worked with various nonprofits, and is currently an active group fitness instructor.
Hannah LeGris, District 3 | Councilmember LeGris has represented the third district — which includes UK’s campus and sections of downtown — since 2020. She serves on the Sister Cities Commission and the Tree Board, among others.
Emma Curtis, District 4 | Councilmember Curtis’s election is a historic one, as she is the first transgender person elected to a city office in the state. Her district extends along Nicholasville Road from New Circle to the Jessamine County border.
Liz Sheehan, District 5 | Councilmember Sheehan has been representing the historic neighborhoods of the 40502, 40505, and 40517 zip codes since 2020. She is also a faculty member in UK’s Department of Psychology and an active member of numerous boards.
Denise Gray, District 6 | Councilmember Gray was elected in November 2022 and has worked closely with the Fayette County Public Schools system. She’s been active on numerous boards, including the Autism Society Bluegrass. The major corridors in her district include Paris Pike, Winchester Road, and schools like Bryan Station and Frederick Douglass High Schools.
Joseph Hale, District 7 | Councilmember Hale’s district represents neighborhoods including Andover Hills, Woodhill, and EJ Hayes Elementary. This is his first term and according to his campaign site, he’s passionate about housing affordability + public safety.
Amy Beasley, District 8 | Replacing the retired five-term councilmember Fred Brown, Beasley noted that important issues for her include affordable housing, food security, and youth-focused mental health support. Her district covers the neighborhoods surrounding Tates Creek schools.
Whitney Baxter, District 9 | Councilmember Baxter’s district covers the many residents and businesses from New Circle Road — between Harrodsburg and Nicholasville Roads — right on the border of Jessamine County. She also serves on the board of the Lexington Children’s Museum, the City Employees’ Pension Fund, and the Internal Audit.
Dave Sevigny, District 10 | Councilmember Sevigny’s bio states that he has a passion for community and small business stewardship. He’s served on the board of Commerce Lexington, CASA, and other nonprofits. This district runs along South Broadway + Harrodsburg Road, inside New Circle from Versailles to Nicholasville Roads, and outside New Circle in the Beaumont area.
Jennifer Reynolds, District 11 | Councilmember Reynolds has served city council since 2018. She is fluent in Spanish, is a certified medical interpreter, and says that she takes pride in community outreach and service. One of the city’s most diverse districts, it includes roads such as Versailles + Red Mile and neighborhoods surrounding Lane Allen Road, Southland Drive, and Leestown Road.
Hilary Boone, District 12 | Councilmember Boone is serving his first term in the district that makes up 70% of Fayette County’s landmass and includes Keeneland, The Kentucky Horse Park, and Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.
