MAYOR GORTON RE-ELECTED FOR SECOND TERM
Mayor Linda Gorton enters the General Election this fall, fresh off a dominating victory in the Primary that saw her win with 71% of the vote.
In the Primary, Gorton won every precinct in the city except one.
Even so, the Mayor plans a vigorous fall campaign. “I am honored by the support voters gave me in the Primary, and I will work very hard to keep their support in the fall. We still have work to do for our City.”
In endorsing her candidacy, the Lexington Herald-Leader said Gorton has laid out an “impressive blueprint for another term.”
Gorton said, “We’re off to a good start, but there’s more to do in affordable housing, violence prevention, to address homelessness, and to finally get the pandemic behind us. I’m ready to meet those challenges head on.”
In her recent budget proposal, and in making recommendations to the Council concerning federal American Rescue funding, the Mayor called for an unprecedented investment in city parks, affordable housing, police and fire vehicles, One Lexington violence prevention, economic development, trails, infrastructure investment, and the bread and butter of government, basic services.
Gorton’s first term was dominated by the global pandemic and its impact on our city. Gorton kept Lexington moving forward, despite the economic upheaval caused by COVID-19.
Citing her “calm and effective leadership,” The Lexington Herald-Leader said Gorton’s career as a nurse “helped provide a reassuring hand when our infection numbers spiked. Lexington endured much less pain than other cities, and under the steady direction of Mayor Linda Gorton seems better poised to meet future challenges.”
Lexington comes out of the pandemic as the most vaccinated city in the state. And as a result of her careful, conservative fiscal management, our city is emerging from the pandemic financially healthy. Key economic measures have surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The cost of living remains low, while the city has continued to invest in quality of life.
Even during the pandemic, Gorton brought hundreds of new jobs to Lexington, including a new Amazon facility that recently opened on the north side of town, and a new Baptist Health medical campus near Hamburg, now under construction.
Gorton continues her emphasis on managed growth and protection of the working farms that surround the city. “They are home to hundreds of jobs,” she said.
Before her election as Mayor in 2018 with 63% of the vote, Gorton served 16 years on the Urban County Council.
“Gorton has that seasoning, diplomacy and wisdom to know when and how to fight for Lexington,” said the Herald-Leader.
MAYOR GORTON RUNS FOR SECOND TERM
Mayor Linda Gorton enters the General Election this fall, fresh off a dominating victory in the Primary that saw her win with 71% of the vote.
In the Primary, Gorton won every precinct in the city except one.
Even so, the Mayor plans a vigorous fall campaign. “I am honored by the support voters gave me in the Primary, and I will work very hard to keep their support in the fall. We still have work to do for our City.”
In endorsing her candidacy, the Lexington Herald-Leader said Gorton has laid out an “impressive blueprint for another term.”
Gorton said, “We’re off to a good start, but there’s more to do in affordable housing, violence prevention, to address homelessness, and to finally get the pandemic behind us. I’m ready to meet those challenges head on.”
In her recent budget proposal, and in making recommendations to the Council concerning federal American Rescue funding, the Mayor called for an unprecedented investment in city parks, affordable housing, police and fire vehicles, One Lexington violence prevention, economic development, trails, infrastructure investment, and the bread and butter of government, basic services.
Gorton’s first term was dominated by the global pandemic and its impact on our city. Gorton kept Lexington moving forward, despite the economic upheaval caused by COVID-19.
Citing her “calm and effective leadership,” The Lexington Herald-Leader said Gorton’s career as a nurse “helped provide a reassuring hand when our infection numbers spiked. Lexington endured much less pain than other cities, and under the steady direction of Mayor Linda Gorton seems better poised to meet future challenges.”
Lexington comes out of the pandemic as the most vaccinated city in the state. And as a result of her careful, conservative fiscal management, our city is emerging from the pandemic financially healthy. Key economic measures have surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The cost of living remains low, while the city has continued to invest in quality of life.
Even during the pandemic, Gorton brought hundreds of new jobs to Lexington, including a new Amazon facility that recently opened on the north side of town, and a new Baptist Health medical campus near Hamburg, now under construction.
Gorton continues her emphasis on managed growth and protection of the working farms that surround the city. “They are home to hundreds of jobs,” she said.
Before her election as Mayor in 2018 with 63% of the vote, Gorton served 16 years on the Urban County Council.
“Gorton has that seasoning, diplomacy and wisdom to know when and how to fight for Lexington,” said the Herald-Leader.
BACKGROUND / RESUME
I have built my life on family and service.
Service to my country:
- I worked as a nurse in an Army field hospital when my husband was stationed in Germany;
- Member of a military family:
- My husband, Charlie, is a retired Army Reserve Major General;
- My son is active duty Army;
- My son-in-law is active duty Air Force;
Service to my community:
- At church:
- As a homeroom mom, scout leader, youth soccer coach, and band parent;
- Member of the neighborhood council.
Service at City Hall:
- I served 16 years on the Urban County Council, including 4 years as vice mayor.
- I am the longest continuously serving councilmember in the history of the Urban County Government.
- I took office as Mayor in 2019. I was elected with 63% of the vote.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
BEATING BACK A PANDEMIC
I am the only Lexington Mayor who has faced a pandemic in modern history. Working calmly and decisively, I beat back the dangerous virus that sought to take our very lives. I brought our city together to face a common enemy, led testing and vaccine initiatives, headed up a public awareness campaign, took steps to protect seniors, and ensured underserved neighborhoods were included. Almost 70% of our citizens 18 and over are already vaccinated … a rate that exceeds state and national numbers. As new variants of COVID-19 threaten our City, Lexington needs the leadership of a healthcare professional.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Like most cities across the country, Lexington has seen an increase in violence on its streets. I have met the challenge head on by hiring additional neighborhood resource officers, reaching out to youth, and involving social workers, mental health professionals, and the faith community.
BRINGING BACK OUR ECONOMY
Fall-out from COVID-19 slowed economic activity in Lexington to a crawl. Relying on my experience, I held the line and helped our city regain its financial footing, without raising taxes and while keeping the cost of living low. Our economy is now soaring and hundreds of new good-paying jobs are coming on line.
RACIAL JUSTICE
Lexington faced fundamental questions of justice in 2019, with racial protests continuing for 59 days. I immediately formed the Commission for Racial Justice and Equality, involving 70 residents served on my Mayor’s Commission for Racial Justice and Equality. I challenged it to create empowering solutions that dismantle systemic racism in our City. Lexington is well on its way to implementing many of the commission’s recommendations, with more to come.
TAKING CARE OF OUR HOMETOWN
We invested in infrastructure, road paving, and parks in all corners of our community.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
BEATING BACK A PANDEMIC
I am the only Lexington Mayor who has faced a pandemic in modern history. Working calmly and decisively, I beat back the dangerous virus that sought to take our very lives. I brought our city together to face a common enemy, led testing and vaccine initiatives, headed up a public awareness campaign, took steps to protect seniors, and ensured underserved neighborhoods were included. Almost 70% of our citizens 18 and over are already vaccinated … a rate that exceeds state and national numbers. As new variants of COVID-19 threaten our City, Lexington needs the leadership of a healthcare professional.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Like most cities across the country, Lexington has seen an increase in violence on its streets. I have met the challenge head on by hiring additional neighborhood resource officers, reaching out to youth, and involving social workers, mental health professionals, and the faith community.
BRINGING BACK OUR ECONOMY
Fall-out from COVID-19 slowed economic activity in Lexington to a crawl. Relying on my experience, I held the line and helped our city regain its financial footing, without raising taxes and while keeping the cost of living low. Our economy is now soaring and hundreds of new good-paying jobs are coming on line.
RACIAL JUSTICE
Lexington faced fundamental questions of justice in 2019, with racial protests continuing for 59 days. I immediately formed the Commission for Racial Justice and Equality, involving 70 residents served on my Mayor’s Commission for Racial Justice and Equality. I challenged it to create empowering solutions that dismantle systemic racism in our City. Lexington is well on its way to implementing many of the commission’s recommendations, with more to come.
TAKING CARE OF OUR HOMETOWN
We invested in infrastructure, road paving, and parks in all corners of our community.