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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. 

Candidate website

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.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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

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

Taxes

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.

Housing & Urban Development

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.

Public Services

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.

Public Safety

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.

Economy

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.

Education

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

Ethics & Conduct

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Emma Curtis

Emma Curtis' campaign for Urban County Council Member is her first run for public office. 

Believes poor road conditions are "inconvenient and inaccessible" but also "dangerous."

Promises to work hard to improve Nicholasville Road.

Supports measures to improve road safety and decrease traffic congestion.

Believes improving transportation infrastructure is crucial to reducing traffic congestion.

Believes residents do not always feel the impact of their tax dollars.

Supports affordable housing for all residents.

Supports fair housing practices and addressing source-of-income discrimination.

Believes renters and homeowners deserve affordable housing.

Believes in being highly involved in local community activities.

Supports public services such as hosting events like the 31st Annual AIDS Walk.

Believes local elections, which often impact daily life more than state or federal elections, "don't tend to get as much attention."

Supports access to family planning and reproductive choices without government interference.

Opposes using local resources to enforce state legislation on bodily autonomy.

Believes in addressing "cruelty and mean-spiritedness" in communities, highlighting the importance of fostering kindness and compassion.

Believes in actively participating in community organizing by canvassing, phone-banking, attending rallies, and marching for political candidates and causes she supports.

Supports improving public services through community engagement and good-faith conversations.

Believes in enhancing public services through community engagement and volunteer work, emphasizing the importance of voter registration and participation.

Supports civil rights for marginalized groups.

Plans to work with community partners to create economic opportunities for youth, provide trauma support, and supply resources to help reduce gun violence.

- Believes investing in programs that reduce homelessness, combat addiction, and deprioritize the enforcement of marijuana laws will help police focus on major crimes.
- Plans to work with community partners to create economic opportunities for youth, provide trauma support, and supply resources to help reduce gun violence.
- 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.

Promises to bring "new, good-paying jobs to South Lexington as well."

Supports transitioning from a "continuum of care/services to a continuum of opportunity" to achieve "true prosperity."

Emma Curtis was born in Lexington in 1996 and has spent her entire adult life there. She graduated from Centre College in 2018.

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

As of September 4, 2024, Emma Curtis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- 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. 