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:

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.

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.

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)?

Linda Gorton - Annually I put $850,000 in my budget for the Hope Center & I
recommended & LFUCG gave $2M ARPA funds to help build the newest Hope Center transitional housing units. Each year we put 0.33% of previous year revenues into Homelessness services ($1,469,329 current budget). My Mayor’s Homeless Task Force is currently at work to craft new recommendations to address our unhoused population. I have spoken with all KY Legislative leadership requesting state dollars for homeless work in Fayette County. I have funded (almost $3M) & we built a winter warming shelter, have con-
sistently increased financial support for upstream homeless services & will recommend a portion of Opioid Abatement funds where applicable for onsite recovery services in the homeless population.

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.

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.

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:

Fayette County saw a 12% increase in its unhoused population in 2025, from 2024, and the Emergency Homeless Shelter Study projects we will need at least 500 additional beds by 2030. How will you support Lexington’s unhoused population? Do you support the study’s recommendations? What is your position on HB 5, which bans street camping, allows for fines, and incarceration for sleeping outside.

Linda Gorton - Annually I put $850,000 in my budget for the Hope Center & I recommended & LFUCG gave $2M ARPA funds to help build the newest Hope Center transitional housing units. Each year we put 0.33% of previous year revenues into Homelessness services ($1,469,329 current budget). My Mayor’s Homeless Task Force is currently at work to craft new recommendations to address our unhoused population. I have spoken with all KY Legislative leadership requesting state dollars for homeless work in Fayette County. I have funded (almost $3M) & we built a winter warming shelter, have consistently increased financial support for upstream homeless services & will recommend a portion of Opioid Abatement funds where applicable for onsite recovery services in the homeless population

Question 2:

Fayette County, like much of the country, is in a housing crisis. The 2024 Affordable Housing Needs Analysis found Lexington needs 20,000 additional affordable housing units. Lexington is also facing rising home prices and rents that are increasingly out of reach for many residents. How do you define safe and affordable housing? What actions would you take to expand safe and affordable housing? How would you protect neighborhoods like Pralltown, St. Martin’s Village, and Marlboro from encroachments and new development pressures? Name a policy you would support to address rising rental costs.

Linda Gorton - During my entire time in office, I have supported our Affordable Housing Fund, which we formed in 2014 when I was Vice-Mayor of Lexington. Since then we have annually added money to the Fund, currently putting 1% of our previous year’s revenues ($4,897,460 in my current budget). By the end of 2026 we will have funded the construction or rehabilitation of almost 4000 housing units. These safe, affordable units are single family homes & apart- ments that are well-built & have amenities that give good housing to low-in- come people. As Mayor I initiated a new fund to award grants to low income home owners to repair code enforcement violations on their homes. I support Pralltown, St. Martin’s Village & Marlboro when development threatens these historic areas.

Question 3:

Nearly 1 in 5 Lexingtonians experience food insecurity. What kinds of actions would you take, or policies would you support, to strengthen access to food, build sustainable local food systems, and protect households that rely on SNAP from future political threats to funding?

Linda Gorton - As Mayor I have a strong history of strengthening access to food, as well as supporting local food systems, including through ESR grants. I implemented a mobile food market, recommended by my 2020 Mayor’s Commission on Racial Justice & Equality, in partnership with Kroger & God’s Pantry. It has been very successful as it brings a market to many areas far from groceries. My team & I have implemented 7 expungement clinics/job fairs, to help people get low-level crimes expunged & help them get jobs, leading to their ability to provide food & housing for them & their families.

Question 4:

Gun violence continues to impact Lexington, particularly in communities that must also carry its aftermath. What actions would you take to reduce community gun violence, and how would you support grassroots and survivor-led organizations working on prevention and healing, alongside or beyond the work of ONE Lexington?

Linda Gorton - Since day one as Mayor, I have hired & worked with my current ONE Lexington team to address youth violence in the ages 10-29. We have stood up a strong team that now includes a program manager, a survivor advocate, and team members who are “boots on the ground” in neighborhoods working with people impacted by violence. They work with grassroots organizations, public safety & community partners to keep our young people away from gun violence. In 2025 our city invested nearly $200,000 in violence prevention efforts through grants to non-profits & Fayette County Public Schools. Also in 2025 Lexington recorded the fewest total homicides of young people in a decade. Violence involving young people has declined by 60% since 2021.

Question 5:

What do you think about state and federal officials forcing counties and cities to comply with their demands to partner with federal agencies? Do you believe local control and democracy still has a place in Kentucky communities that state and federal officials and agencies should honor?

Linda Gorton - I consistently have supported & advocated for local control of cities by our locally elected officials. Our democracy & civic engagement by our residents are great strengths in our Lexington community. Local people know best what our community needs.

Question 6:

Lexington has seen a troubling rise in pedestrian and cyclist deaths. What steps should the city take to improve safety and encourage alternatives to car travel, such as walking, bicycling, and public transit?

Linda Gorton- My administration is currently helping implement Vision Zero and Complete Streets, both of which directly address safety of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle drivers. Since I became Mayor our government has prioritized bike & pedestrian lanes, as well as worked with LexTran to get more people on public transit. We are currently helping fund a pilot micro-transit system with LexTran. My budget includes the Neighborhood Sidewalk Fund & we are regularly funding sidewalk connections in the city.

Question 7:

What 3 budget priorities should the city focus on in the coming years? What steps would you support to increase meaningful public input in the budget process, and what is your position on the $152 million City Hall project at 200 West Vine?

Linda Gorton - Beyond regular basic services, street paving, garbage pickup, public safety, maintaining parks, etc, we should continue to focus on Affordable Housing, Homeless solutions and bringing jobs to Fayette County. I hold public input sessions for my budget, as well as post the proposed budget on Lexingtonky.gov so the public can see it and give input. I support the move from 200 E Main to another facility for our government. Our 110 year old government building was purchased in the 1980’s as a temporary government center. Two floors of the garage are condemned, the building leaks, it is not very accessible to those with mobility issues, and there is little public space for neighborhoods or residents to gather, among other issues.

Question 8:

Where do you stand on city workers’ rights to collective bargaining? What specifically would you do to promote a living wage, better workplace conditions, and support for minority-owned businesses?

Linda Gorton - In 2021 through my budget we raised the employee salaries so that no employee made less than $15/hour. I have consistently included pay raises and sometimes extra supplements for our non-bargained employees. I’ve also consistently worked to support minority-owned businesses through ESR grants & city contracts. I respect the process for our collective bargaining units (police, fire & corrections) and am supportive of my staff & employees who are on the bargaining teams. Our goal is always a fair process and fair results.

Question 9:

Rising utility rates are a growing burden on Lexington households, and even now KU seeks to build new energy plants in anticipation of purely hypothetical data center expansion. What actions should the city take to address high energy costs, support energy efficiency for residents earning low incomes, and proactively regulate data center development in Fayette County?

Linda Gorton - The information is clear that data centers are high users of water & electricity and they bring almost no jobs to a community, meanwhile using large amounts of land. They are not a good fit for Fayette County & I would encourage our Urban County Council to oppose them. My administration intervened in both the KU and KAWC rate increase cases in 2024, helping bring down the Public Service Commission approved rate increases by about 50% of the utility requests. In my budget each year I fund solar systems on our fire stations that are exposed to enough sun and we are building our new Senior/Therapeutic center with solar on the roof. We currently are working with a company that has proposed solar on our Haley Pike Landfill, which would benefit Fayette County.

Question 10:

Lexington is a place that considers itself a city to grow and thrive within community, and one that prides itself on local policies and ordinances that ensure equal access and civil protections for all Lexingtonians. When such commitments are put under pressure, what will you do to continue to uphold Lexington ordinances that legislate equal treatment, fair and equal access, and nondiscrimination for all?

Linda Gorton - I was on the Council when I supported the Lexington Fairness Ordinance in 1999. My record is very clear that I consistently have supported equal treatment of all persons, as well as fair and equal access and non-discrimination through all of my work as Mayor.

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