QUESTION 1 & 2:

What should the city do about rising crime rates including homicide rates?
What is the city’s role in combating the heroin epidemic?

Even though Lexington’s crime rate remains relatively low, we have seen an uptick in the past few years and authorities have determined the problem is directly related to the opioid and other drug crises. So I will address your second question here as well.

It’s important that we support our police and other first responders, as my record as Vice Mayor and Council Member reflects. But we also need a multi-pronged attack to combat the drug problem.My plan focuses on three key areas: going on the offense against drug dealers and violent offenders, bring to bear all the resources and scientific breakthroughs Lexington has to offer to treat and rehabilitate the addicted, and identify those at risk in our community to prevent them from becoming addicted. To do this, my plan utilizes the University of Kentucky’s research into opioid/drug addiction; health care, including mental health, providers; rehab programs, the faith community; insurance providers and others, along with police to address the problem. Families need support, as do recovering addicts, and that includes job training and re-training. We also must mobilize as a community to prevent more of our citizens from becoming addicted. I will work with and call on every citizen to break down the barriers that addiction thrives behind to identify those at greatest risk before they become addicted.

I’m also a proponent of neighborhood policing and encouraging trusting relationships between citizens and police. We have to give our police the resources they need to focus on their primary responsibility and partner them with the expertise necessary to address the more complex issues we face.

QUESTION 3:

Where do you stand on the urban service boundary? Should it be expanded?

The Urban Service Boundary works well to preserve our unique brand – a thriving mid-size city surrounded by beautiful, working farms and countryside. Our brand makes Lexington a destination city for tourists. The Number One reason people come here is to see the beautiful farmland. And it protects our $2.3 billion agriculture industry, upon which one of every 12 jobs is dependent. So it is very important that we maintain that boundary.

At the same time, we know that smart growth is important for our vitality as a city. We currently have thousands of acres remaining within the boundary that, with careful planning, can be utilized for the growth we need.

QUESTION 4:

Occupational taxes — or taxes on jobs — are the city’s main source of income. What should the city to do to keep and attract more high-paying jobs?

Lexington’s unemployment rate is at a historic low, and our government has provided a financial catalyst to attract jobs. We need to take bold steps to build on this momentum to create a 21st Century economy that creates opportunities for all our citizens, leveraging our core industries and harnessing the power of our brand. To achieve this, we don’t necessarily need new government programs, we need smart government action.

I have a plan to put people first. To make sure no one is left behind, we must create opportunities for all our citizens, better aligning skills and education of our workforce with the needs of employers. We must create strategic collaborations between city hall, our regional and state partners, educational institutions, workforce and other agencies to effectively deliver training and education.

Whether preparing a student to enter the workforce for the first time, or retraining a worker who is underemployed, retired or been laid off, we must work together to develop creative solutions so that all our citizens are equipped with the skills and education they need to land and keep good jobs.

Further, we must embrace innovation, building on our core and emerging industries, including health care and health sciences, agriculture, biotechnology, software development and information technology.

We need high-speed internet. We need government agencies working together to create efficient, transparent processes that provide proper oversight but remove outdated regulations and unnecessary obstacles to business creation and development. As Mayor, I will ensure the transparent, efficient, effective and responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and assure citizens have the access they need to understand how and where their tax dollars are being spent.

QUESTION 5:

Do you support the proposed expansion of the Lexington Convention Center?

I served on the Lexington Convention Center Board for several years and am fully aware of the many benefits it brings to our city and the diverse offerings we would not be able to get anywhere else. I always maintained a critical eye when it came to the contribution of taxpayer funds to finance these projects, though, and this one is no different. To support the expansion, I would need to see solid evidence that it would be a net financial benefit to Lexington and I will reserve my support until I do.

QUESTION 6:

Should the city move from its five downtown buildings to a new city hall?

Our city hall is quite old and is costing the city millions in repair and upkeep. I’m hopeful that it can be restored by a creative investor. We currently are analyzing three proposals for a new city hall. However, no money has yet been budgeted for a new facility, so it is likely to be some time before a permanent solution can be found. This consideration has been ongoing for over ten years now and we have yet to find an answer that eases the burden on the city budget while still providing the access and necessary services our government should. I am committed to remaining open-minded and supportive of a solution that keeps those things in tact, preserves the historic Lafayette Hotel, and decreases the costs of maintaining government buildings.

QUESTION 7:

Do you support setting aside $2 million a year for affordable housing initiatives… Is that enough?

Lexington’s Affordable Housing Program is a great benefit to our community, but our need for housing is beginning to outpace our current commitment. As we attract more citizens to the many opportunities Lexington has to offer, we must assure that we also offer housing stock that they can afford.
I believe we need a dedicated funding stream to support our program – something that currently is lacking. The voucher program Lexington created is working well but we cannot allow the citizens who rely on it to fear continually worry about not being able to pay rent.

As your mayor, I will also strengthen our partnerships with developers, while seeking a dedicated funding source to amplify the program. My goal is to create a reliable funding mechanism for our Affordable Housing Program, reducing the costs for developers as they boost our housing stock.

QUESTION 8:

What would your proposed solution be to the pan-handling issue in Lexington?

While the Kentucky Supreme Court has significantly limited the options local governments have to address this issue, we actually have seen a decrease in panhandling in the last few years. I support proactive efforts to link panhandlers with meaningful employment and would continue to maintain a strong police presence in high panhandling areas to protect everyone involved.

QUESTION 9:

What’s something interesting and fun about you that you would like your constituents to know about?

I hold a brown belt in Taekwondo, and I’ve lived in Germany and South Korea.

QUESTION 10:

What policy are you particularly passionate about promoting if you are elected Mayor?

My passion is people – connecting them and working with groups to solve problems. This is the work I love!

QUESTION 1 & 2:

What should the city do about rising crime rates including homicide rates?
What is the city’s role in combating the heroin epidemic?

Even though Lexington’s crime rate remains relatively low, we have seen an uptick in the past few years and authorities have determined the problem is directly related to the opioid and other drug crises. So I will address your second question here as well.

It’s important that we support our police and other first responders, as my record as Vice Mayor and Council Member reflects. But we also need a multi-pronged attack to combat the drug problem.My plan focuses on three key areas: going on the offense against drug dealers and violent offenders, bring to bear all the resources and scientific breakthroughs Lexington has to offer to treat and rehabilitate the addicted, and identify those at risk in our community to prevent them from becoming addicted. To do this, my plan utilizes the University of Kentucky’s research into opioid/drug addiction; health care, including mental health, providers; rehab programs, the faith community; insurance providers and others, along with police to address the problem. Families need support, as do recovering addicts, and that includes job training and re-training. We also must mobilize as a community to prevent more of our citizens from becoming addicted. I will work with and call on every citizen to break down the barriers that addiction thrives behind to identify those at greatest risk before they become addicted.

I’m also a proponent of neighborhood policing and encouraging trusting relationships between citizens and police. We have to give our police the resources they need to focus on their primary responsibility and partner them with the expertise necessary to address the more complex issues we face.

QUESTION 3:

Where do you stand on the urban service boundary? Should it be expanded?

The Urban Service Boundary works well to preserve our unique brand – a thriving mid-size city surrounded by beautiful, working farms and countryside. Our brand makes Lexington a destination city for tourists. The Number One reason people come here is to see the beautiful farmland. And it protects our $2.3 billion agriculture industry, upon which one of every 12 jobs is dependent. So it is very important that we maintain that boundary.

At the same time, we know that smart growth is important for our vitality as a city. We currently have thousands of acres remaining within the boundary that, with careful planning, can be utilized for the growth we need.

QUESTION 4:

Occupational taxes — or taxes on jobs — are the city’s main source of income. What should the city to do to keep and attract more high-paying jobs?

Lexington’s unemployment rate is at a historic low, and our government has provided a financial catalyst to attract jobs. We need to take bold steps to build on this momentum to create a 21st Century economy that creates opportunities for all our citizens, leveraging our core industries and harnessing the power of our brand. To achieve this, we don’t necessarily need new government programs, we need smart government action.

I have a plan to put people first. To make sure no one is left behind, we must create opportunities for all our citizens, better aligning skills and education of our workforce with the needs of employers. We must create strategic collaborations between city hall, our regional and state partners, educational institutions, workforce and other agencies to effectively deliver training and education.

Whether preparing a student to enter the workforce for the first time, or retraining a worker who is underemployed, retired or been laid off, we must work together to develop creative solutions so that all our citizens are equipped with the skills and education they need to land and keep good jobs.

Further, we must embrace innovation, building on our core and emerging industries, including health care and health sciences, agriculture, biotechnology, software development and information technology.

We need high-speed internet. We need government agencies working together to create efficient, transparent processes that provide proper oversight but remove outdated regulations and unnecessary obstacles to business creation and development. As Mayor, I will ensure the transparent, efficient, effective and responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and assure citizens have the access they need to understand how and where their tax dollars are being spent.

QUESTION 5:

Do you support the proposed expansion of the Lexington Convention Center?

I served on the Lexington Convention Center Board for several years and am fully aware of the many benefits it brings to our city and the diverse offerings we would not be able to get anywhere else. I always maintained a critical eye when it came to the contribution of taxpayer funds to finance these projects, though, and this one is no different. To support the expansion, I would need to see solid evidence that it would be a net financial benefit to Lexington and I will reserve my support until I do.

QUESTION 6:

Should the city move from its five downtown buildings to a new city hall?

Our city hall is quite old and is costing the city millions in repair and upkeep. I’m hopeful that it can be restored by a creative investor. We currently are analyzing three proposals for a new city hall. However, no money has yet been budgeted for a new facility, so it is likely to be some time before a permanent solution can be found. This consideration has been ongoing for over ten years now and we have yet to find an answer that eases the burden on the city budget while still providing the access and necessary services our government should. I am committed to remaining open-minded and supportive of a solution that keeps those things in tact, preserves the historic Lafayette Hotel, and decreases the costs of maintaining government buildings.

QUESTION 7:

Do you support setting aside $2 million a year for affordable housing initiatives… Is that enough?

Lexington’s Affordable Housing Program is a great benefit to our community, but our need for housing is beginning to outpace our current commitment. As we attract more citizens to the many opportunities Lexington has to offer, we must assure that we also offer housing stock that they can afford.
I believe we need a dedicated funding stream to support our program – something that currently is lacking. The voucher program Lexington created is working well but we cannot allow the citizens who rely on it to fear continually worry about not being able to pay rent.

As your mayor, I will also strengthen our partnerships with developers, while seeking a dedicated funding source to amplify the program. My goal is to create a reliable funding mechanism for our Affordable Housing Program, reducing the costs for developers as they boost our housing stock.

QUESTION 8:

What would your proposed solution be to the pan-handling issue in Lexington?

While the Kentucky Supreme Court has significantly limited the options local governments have to address this issue, we actually have seen a decrease in panhandling in the last few years. I support proactive efforts to link panhandlers with meaningful employment and would continue to maintain a strong police presence in high panhandling areas to protect everyone involved.

QUESTION 9:

What’s something interesting and fun about you that you would like your constituents to know about?

I hold a brown belt in Taekwondo, and I’ve lived in Germany and South Korea.

QUESTION 10:

What policy are you particularly passionate about promoting if you are elected Mayor?

My passion is people – connecting them and working with groups to solve problems. This is the work I love!