ISSUES

Basic Services & Infrastructure are the foundation of good government.

The most basic reason governments are formed is to provide adequate public safety (for example: police, fire, emergency management), good basic services (garbage collection, street lights, street cleaning, parks, etc) and infrastructure (e.g., roads, sewers, etc). For that reason, the needs of public safety, streets & roads, sewers, emergency management, parks, and other basics should be considered in the top tier for funding during every budget cycle.

High Priority for Storm Water & Flooding

For several years prior to 2009 I was the only council member to propose stormwater funding from unanticipated revenues. As the result of a lawsuit by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth of Kentucky for violating the Federal Clean Water Act, Lexington had to fix our stormwater problems.

I accepted the challenge to chair the Stormwater Fee Task Force, created by the Council to address the stormwater problems. During the work of that task force, from Dec. 2008 – April 2009, I worked with representatives from the civic, business, and neighborhood communities to craft a funding solution to our massive water pollution and flooding problems. The Water Quality Management Fee, approved by the Council in May 2009 & implemented in January 2010, will be dedicated to fixing our water quality/flooding problems. Currently identified projects total more than $117 million and require a commitment of regular funding.

I support planned growth.

In 1958, Lexington became the first community in the United States to establish an Urban Service Boundary (USB), designating the land inside that boundary for future development. Since then, various other tools have been put into place to help define our planning process. Some of these tools are the Comprehensive Plan for Land Use (reviewed every five years by the Planning Commission), the Rural Land Management Plan (adopted in 1999), the Purchase of Development Rights Program (adopted in 2000), and the Infill & Redevelopment Program. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) has also adopted Engineering Manuals, defining standards for building construction.

With all this in mind, the Urban County Council’s role in reviewing the Comprehensive Plan is to review and adopt the Goals & Objectives, which drive the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission has the sole decision-making role in whether to expand the USB during its every-five-year review.

During the Urban County Council’s review of the Goals & Objectives in 2006, I was part of the unanimous decision to reject a new Comprehensive Plan Goal of expanding the Urban Service Boundary. City planners have indicated that undeveloped acreage (perhaps as much as 9000 acres) remains within the current boundary, including Infill & Redevelopment opportunities. Part of the discussion must continue to be how to ensure that there is adequate infrastructure (sewers, roads, etc) to support increased Infill & Redevelopment. Our Division of Water Quality has undertaken a Capacity Assurance Study to determine which of our sanitary sewers can accommodate increased sewer capacity for added density through Infill.

Most importantly, I believe we need to continue community-wide discussion regarding growth in Fayette County. Neighborhoods, business owners, developers, citizens, Commerce Lexington, Bluegrass Tomorrow and other representatives of growth interests need to sit at the table to have meaningful conversations about what we want Fayette County to be like in 50-100 years. A vision for the future of our land will promote continued planned growth, to enable Fayette Countians to preserve what makes our county unique.

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:

How would you propose making Lexington Public Transportation more effective and efficient?

As Vice Mayor I was a strong supporter of public transportation. During my time as a Councilmember, I supported the LexTran dedicated funding referendum to go on the ballot for a vote. Continue increasing number of routes to connect neighborhoods with main arteries. Continue using transportation grants to fund electric & natural gas fueled buses. Continue to seek innovative traffic engineering & control solutions.

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Question 2:

What is your position on future growth and development issues as they affect Fayette County? What are your ideas about issues related to zoning, sprawl, urban service boundary expansion, historical districts in lower-income neighborhoods, increase in rent, and in-fill development?

As Vice Mayor & Council member, I was a strong proponent of Infill/Redevelopment initiatives, as well as a supporter of Fayette County’s agricultural businesses. It is very expensive for the government to provide infrastructure & services to new development, e.g. roads, sanitary sewers, storm water, fire stations, police facilities, etc, if outside the Urban Service Boundary (USB). I support filling in the vacant acres within the current USB. Fayette County has a long & strong history of planned growth with major input from neighborhoods & citizens. We need to work closely with developers, Housing Authority, neighborhoods & others to determine new initiatives for affordable housing.

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Question 3:

What policies would you include to minimize Lexington’s carbon footprint? Do you support clean energy?

I support a variety of energy sources & recognize that we have only one earth & we need to take initiatives to make it as healthy for people as possible.

Question 4:

Where do you stand on city workers’ rights for collective bargaining? What policies do you support to improve their workplace conditions and standard of living?

My record on Council reflects my support for collective bargaining for police, fire & corrections. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) has many safety policies in place to protect workers & provide safe, healthy workplace conditions. I support the efforts to pay LFUCG employees fairly.

Question 5:

In 2015, nearly 800 students in Fayette County Public Schools were homeless. We also have a shortage of housing that is affordable. How do you plan to address homelessness and the lack of affordable housing in our community?

Affordable housing opportunities are critical to helping solve the homeless problem. City's Div of Planning will be an important part of the process of finding ways to incent development of affordable housing. There are several programs already in place related to homelessness & I will review & support them. Linked to the homeless students is job training & retraining for their parents, allowing them to earn a living which will provide housing for the family.

Question 6:

What ideas do you have to create jobs and reduce unemployment in Lexington? What specifically would you do to promote a living wage, minority hiring and support for minority owned businesses?

Lexington-Fayette County currently has a very low unemployment rate, between 3 & 4%, lower than that of the US & lower than Kentucky. First, we need a Strategic Plan for Economic Development & Employment, crafted through collaborative efforts of economic development stakeholders to create a plan for full employment for now as well as the future. We must collaborate with our universities, businesses, & job training initiatives to be sure we can train & hire people in need of a job, anticipating what our community needs based on our strategic plan. I will continue to support the efforts of Minority Business Expo, training & other initiatives currently assisting minority owned businesses & those who want to start a business. We also must elevate community efforts to train or retrain people getting out of prison in order for them to become gainfully employed.

Question 7:

Do you believe Black Lives Matter? What work do you think we have to do in Lexington to address racial inequities inside and outside the halls of government?

It is the duty of all of government to treat all people with respect & to serve without discrimination. In the 1990’s I was appointed to the Fayette County Public Schools Equity County, where I served for several years. I understand that within government we must encourage & model mutual respect & outside government there must also be non-discrimination.

Question 8:

With the recent outpouring of stories from women of their experiences with sexual assault in the workplace, more organizations are making sexual harassment training mandatory for employment. What policies and procedures do you support to protect government workers in the workplace? What else would you do to expand the rights of women in Lexington?

Require LFUCG employees to complete annual sexual harassment training. Convene community-wide forum to address issues of women.

Question 9:

What specific types of legal protections do you believe transgender people should have, and what would you do to ensure those protections?

As a supporter of Lexington’s Fairness Ordinance in 1999, I have demonstrated a history of treating all people with respect. I would like to learn more about the issues & legal protections by talking with transgender people.

Question 10:

What are your plans to address necessary infrastructure repairs in Lexington (sewers, power lines, street repair)?

As Vice Mayor & Council member in Lexington, I have a documented history of leadership in tackling tough infrastructure repairs. I chaired the Stormwater Oversight Committee, as well as the Stormwater Management Fee Task Force, which resulted in compliance with the EPA Consent Decree funding mechanism to fix sewer problems. This was mandated by the EPA & I led this Task Force toward a solution which gained approval from the Council & was signed into law by Mayor Newberry. I will continue to place a high priority on infrastructure improvements in annual budgets.

ISSUES

Basic Services & Infrastructure are the foundation of good government.

The most basic reason governments are formed is to provide adequate public safety (for example: police, fire, emergency management), good basic services (garbage collection, street lights, street cleaning, parks, etc) and infrastructure (e.g., roads, sewers, etc). For that reason, the needs of public safety, streets & roads, sewers, emergency management, parks, and other basics should be considered in the top tier for funding during every budget cycle.

High Priority for Storm Water & Flooding

For several years prior to 2009 I was the only council member to propose stormwater funding from unanticipated revenues. As the result of a lawsuit by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth of Kentucky for violating the Federal Clean Water Act, Lexington had to fix our stormwater problems.

I accepted the challenge to chair the Stormwater Fee Task Force, created by the Council to address the stormwater problems. During the work of that task force, from Dec. 2008 – April 2009, I worked with representatives from the civic, business, and neighborhood communities to craft a funding solution to our massive water pollution and flooding problems. The Water Quality Management Fee, approved by the Council in May 2009 & implemented in January 2010, will be dedicated to fixing our water quality/flooding problems. Currently identified projects total more than $117 million and require a commitment of regular funding.

I support planned growth.

In 1958, Lexington became the first community in the United States to establish an Urban Service Boundary (USB), designating the land inside that boundary for future development. Since then, various other tools have been put into place to help define our planning process. Some of these tools are the Comprehensive Plan for Land Use (reviewed every five years by the Planning Commission), the Rural Land Management Plan (adopted in 1999), the Purchase of Development Rights Program (adopted in 2000), and the Infill & Redevelopment Program. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) has also adopted Engineering Manuals, defining standards for building construction.

With all this in mind, the Urban County Council’s role in reviewing the Comprehensive Plan is to review and adopt the Goals & Objectives, which drive the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission has the sole decision-making role in whether to expand the USB during its every-five-year review.

During the Urban County Council’s review of the Goals & Objectives in 2006, I was part of the unanimous decision to reject a new Comprehensive Plan Goal of expanding the Urban Service Boundary. City planners have indicated that undeveloped acreage (perhaps as much as 9000 acres) remains within the current boundary, including Infill & Redevelopment opportunities. Part of the discussion must continue to be how to ensure that there is adequate infrastructure (sewers, roads, etc) to support increased Infill & Redevelopment. Our Division of Water Quality has undertaken a Capacity Assurance Study to determine which of our sanitary sewers can accommodate increased sewer capacity for added density through Infill.

Most importantly, I believe we need to continue community-wide discussion regarding growth in Fayette County. Neighborhoods, business owners, developers, citizens, Commerce Lexington, Bluegrass Tomorrow and other representatives of growth interests need to sit at the table to have meaningful conversations about what we want Fayette County to be like in 50-100 years. A vision for the future of our land will promote continued planned growth, to enable Fayette Countians to preserve what makes our county unique.

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!

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