2024 Kentucky General Election

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NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

Brenda earned a bachelor's degree in management/economics from the University of Kentucky. She lives in Lexington.

Brenda previously worked as a small business owner.

Brenda Monarrez serves as a member of the Lexington City Council. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Candidate website

Aims to improve local traffic safety and reduce speeding through neighborhoods.

Wants to improve street safety and reduce speeding.

Supports the Wilson Downing Sidewalk Project, saying it was "the top request from my constituents who live in the surrounding neighborhoods."

As a city councilor, supported the Wilson Downing Sidewalk Project.

Advocated for a no parking zone on Victoria Way from Bradford Colony to Man O’War to prevent obstructed right turn lanes and reduce traffic backups during rush hour.

Advocated for a no-parking zone on Victoria Way from Bradford Colony to Man O’War.

Plans to continue paving District 4 streets, which began in November and will resume in Spring.

Supported efforts to pave streets in the district.

Advocated for increased signage on several streets, including flashing stop signs and wayfinder signs.

- Wants to improve street safety and reduce speeding.
- As a city councilor, supported the Wilson Downing Sidewalk Project.
- Advocated for a no-parking zone on Victoria Way from Bradford Colony to Man O’War.
- Supported efforts to pave streets in the district.
- Advocated for increased signage on several streets, including flashing stop signs and wayfinder signs.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of August 20, 2024, Brenda Monarrez’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Taxes

Plans to remove the cost of tree removal and replacement from homeowners.

Supports removing fees for tree removal for homeowners.

Supports creating affordable housing in Lexington, believing it improves quality of life, financial stability, and community safety.

Wants to incentivize the creation of affordable housing.

Aims to make Lexington a "safe, welcoming, and affordable city for all."

Wants to make Lexington a "safe, welcoming, and affordable city for all."

- Supports removing fees for tree removal for homeowners.
- Wants to incentivize the creation of affordable housing.
- Wants to make Lexington a "safe, welcoming, and affordable city for all."

Housing & Urban Development

Supports providing access to mental health services, affordable housing, and youth services.

Supports expanding access to mental health and youth services for residents.

As a city councilor, supported renovations and new installations at city parks, including Kirklevington Park, Meadowbrook Park, and Wildwood Park.

- Supports expanding access to mental health and youth services for residents.
- As a city councilor, supported renovations and new installations at city parks, including Kirklevington Park, Meadowbrook Park, and Wildwood Park.

Public Services

Believes public safety personnel need better support, tools, training, and compensation. Plans to address police vacancies and overall crime issues in Lexington.

Wants to improve resources for public safety services and fill police department vacancies.

- Wants to improve resources for public safety services and fill police department vacancies.

Public Safety

Believes the four main factors of economic growth are land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship.

Believes land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship are the factors that determine economic growth.

- Believes land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship are the factors that determine economic growth.

Economy

Education

Lexington Herald-Leader: ‘Baseless’ and ‘vile’: Lexington councilwoman accused of sexual misconduct denies claims

Brenda has been accused of sexual misconduct by another city councilor, and they have a hearing in October. She has denied the allegations.

- Brenda has been accused of sexual misconduct by another city councilor, and they have a hearing in October. She has denied the allegations.

Ethics & Conduct

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Brenda Monarrez

Emma was born in Lexington in and has spent her entire adult life there. She graduated from Centre College in 2018.

Emma currently works as an independent filmmaker. She has also worked as a voter engagement organizer at Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

Emma Curtis' campaign for Urban County council member is her first run for public office. 

Believes investing in infrastructure will enhance safety on Nicholasville Road, improve water quality, upgrade waste management, and make the 4th District more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.

Believes LexTran (Lexington's public transportation system) needs to be improved to be "fast, reliable, and affordable."

Plans to increase bus frequency, add routes, and invest in LexTran to improve transportation access, air quality, traffic, and road safety.

Plans to work with colleagues, community partners, and constituents to develop "innovative solutions that incorporate modern technology and infrastructure to improve traffic flows, reduce travel time, and enhance road safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians."

Believes addressing pedestrian safety is crucial, noting a 566% increase in pedestrian fatalities from car crashes in Lexington in 2023 compared to 2022.

- Believes investing in infrastructure will enhance safety on Nicholasville Road, improve water quality, upgrade waste management, and make the 4th District more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.
- Believes LexTran (Lexington's public transportation system) needs to be improved to be "fast, reliable, and affordable."
- Plans to increase bus frequency, add routes, and invest in LexTran to improve transportation access, air quality, traffic, and road safety.
- Plans to work with colleagues, community partners, and constituents to develop "innovative solutions that incorporate modern technology and infrastructure to improve traffic flows, reduce travel time, and enhance road safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians."
- Believes addressing pedestrian safety is crucial, noting a 566% increase in pedestrian fatalities from car crashes in Lexington in 2023 compared to 2022.

Believes tax dollars should be invested in community-benefiting policies.

- Believes tax dollars should be invested in community-benefiting policies.

Plans to increase affordable housing, improve road safety, prevent urban sprawl, and learn from past expansion mistakes.

Wants to increase affordable housing, improve road safety, prevent urban sprawl, and learn from past expansion mistakes.

Plans to advocate for the creation of more emergency housing for homeless individuals, revise zoning ordinances and land-use guidelines, and work to increase funding for the Affordable Housing Fund.

Supports prioritizing infill and redevelopment projects, assessing undeveloped land, reducing pressure on homeowners, and creating pathways for sustainable growth.

Opposes expanding the urban service boundary.

As a council member, fought to pass a ban on source-of-income discrimination.

Advocate for a ban on source-of-income discrimination.

- Wants to increase affordable housing, improve road safety, prevent urban sprawl, and learn from past expansion mistakes.
- Plans to advocate for the creation of more emergency housing for homeless individuals, revise zoning ordinances and land-use guidelines, and work to increase funding for the Affordable Housing Fund.
- Supports prioritizing infill and redevelopment projects, assessing undeveloped land, reducing pressure on homeowners, and creating pathways for sustainable growth.
- Opposes expanding the urban service boundary.
- Advocate for a ban on source-of-income discrimination.

Believes safe and well-maintained public spaces are essential for strong communities.

Promises to prioritize funding repairs, improvements, and beautification of public parks in the district.

Advocates for increased administrative transparency, preventing sexual assault and harassment, and promoting inclusion and equality for students of color and LGBTQ+ students.

- Believes safe and well-maintained public spaces are essential for strong communities.
- Promises to prioritize funding repairs, improvements, and beautification of public parks in the district.
- Supports abortion access.
- Advocates for increased administrative transparency, preventing sexual assault and harassment, and promoting inclusion and equality for students of color and LGBTQ+ students.

Believes addressing homelessness and addiction will help police focus on major crimes.

Believes investing in programs that reduce homelessness, combat addiction, and deprioritize the enforcement of marijuana laws will help police focus on major crimes.

Wants to expand the Community Paramedicine Program and hire more mental health professionals and social workers to address non-violent crime.

Supports protecting the Fairness Ordinance and advocating for people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others whose freedoms are perceived to be at risk.

Supports protecting the Fairness Ordinance and advocating for "people of color, women, LGBTQ people, and everybody whose freedoms are to be at risk."

Believes tax dollars should fund public safety programs aimed at community building rather than those focused on increasing incarceration.

Believes gun violence is a public health crisis and plans to address its underlying causes, such as poverty, lack of mental health care, and lack of access to economic opportunity.

Believes protecting the environment is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future.

- Believes investing in programs that reduce homelessness, combat addiction, and deprioritize the enforcement of marijuana laws will help police focus on major crimes.
- Wants to expand the Community Paramedicine Program and hire more mental health professionals and social workers to address non-violent crime.
- Supports protecting the Fairness Ordinance and advocating for "people of color, women, LGBTQ people, and everybody whose freedoms are to be at risk."
- Believes tax dollars should fund public safety programs aimed at community building rather than those focused on increasing incarceration.
- Believes gun violence is a public health crisis and plans to address its underlying causes, such as poverty, lack of mental health care, and lack of access to economic opportunity.
- Believes protecting the environment is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future.

Plans to continue adding jobs at competitive wages and opposes "handouts to corporations that don’t benefit our communities."

Supports Project Labor Agreements and local economic development to benefit the middle class.

Promises to work on reducing waste, eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, and ensuring every taxpayer in Lexington sees a return on investments.

Supports investing in local solar energy and weatherizing public buildings to reduce costs, create jobs, and promote sustainability.

Supports local businesses and entrepreneurs.

- Plans to continue adding jobs at competitive wages and opposes "handouts to corporations that don’t benefit our communities."
- Supports Project Labor Agreements and local economic development to benefit the middle class.
- Promises to work on reducing waste, eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, and ensuring every taxpayer in Lexington sees a return on investments.
- Supports investing in local solar energy and weatherizing public buildings to reduce costs, create jobs, and promote sustainability.
- Supports local businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Supports union workers.

Believes Fayette County should raise pay to address the teacher shortage.

Supports local union teachers and plans to partner with the Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) and the school board to ensure teachers have adequate resources.

- Believes Fayette County should raise pay to address the teacher shortage.
- Supports local union teachers and plans to partner with the Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) and the school board to ensure teachers have adequate resources.

As of August 20, 2024, Emma Curtis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Emma Curtis

- Urban county council members make up the legislative body of the Lexington-Fayette County government and are responsible for the public's health, safety, and welfare. Its legislative duties include enacting ordinances, levying taxes, and adopting a budget. 
- The city council has the authority to investigate all activities of the city government and its employees. 
- The urban county council has 12 district council members and three at-large council members. 
- Council members voted to represent a single district serve two-year terms and those voted at-large serve four-year terms. Elections take place in even-numbered years. 

Passes laws and regulations for your urban county.

Lexington Urban County Council Member, District 4

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