MAYOR GORTON FILES FOR SECOND TERM


Mayor Linda Gorton made it official today, filing her paperwork to run for a second term as Mayor of Lexington, KY.

In August, Gorton announced her plans to run for re-election, citing her calm, steady leadership during historic challenges, including a global pandemic that slowed economic activity throughout the city.

“We have protected our residents from COVID, while re-starting our economy,” Gorton said. “Now our economy is back to pre-pandemic levels. We met the challenges head-on. I proceeded calmly and decisively as we cleared many hurdles.”

Gorton said there are still challenges ahead. “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,” she said. “I’m ready to continue to meet those challenges.”

Gorton, a registered nurse, has 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 has had to make difficult decisions about the budget. Her careful management of the city’s finances allowed her to protect services to the vulnerable and make investments in infrastructure all over town without raising taxes.

“We focused on keeping the cost of living low in Lexington, while emphasizing a high quality of life,” she said.

As Mayor, Gorton continued her emphasis on managed growth and protection of the working farms that surround the city. “They are our identity, and 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, four of them as vice mayor.

 

Linda files for second term

Linda Gorton announces her campaign for re-election

Linda Gordon announces her campaign for re-election

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.

To re-elect Linda Gorton Mayor

to re-elect Linda Gorton for Mayor

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.