Lexington mayoral candidates outline positions ahead of Wednesday debate

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and mayoral candidate Raquel Carter will take part in a debate Wednesday night, four weeks before the Nov. 3 election. The debate is hosted by the Lexington League of Women Voters and WKYT.

WKYT’s Alyssa Williams spoke with both candidates ahead of the debate about issues on residents’ minds.

Winter weather response

The city’s winter weather response last year was one topic discussed. Gorton said the city has worked to find more CDL-licensed drivers and plans to pretreat roads differently than last year.

“We have worked to figure out ways to get more CDL licensed drivers, which is a big deal. And we’re also going to be pre-treating roads differently than we did,” Gorton said.

Carter said basic services need to be delivered consistently.

“As mayor, I will look at those things as the priorities that they are. But I’ll also say those basic services, Lexingtonians just expect them, and we have to deliver,” Carter said.

Violence in Lexington

Gorton pointed to a decline in youth violence and existing community partnerships.

“We’re very encouraged that our violence, in particular with youth, is way down. There are not as many just random shootings as there used to be,” Gorton said.

Carter said addressing crime starts with investing in families’ basic needs.

“My goal and my vision and my focus has to do with housing stability, has to do with economic stability,” Carter said.

What each candidate says sets them apart

Both candidates were asked what they bring to the role that their opponent does not.

“I certainly have far more experience than my opponent. There’s no way to compare. I am basically the CEO of an organization of three thousand plus employees,” Gorton said.

“I am active and in touch in daily life here. I’m still running a business here. I’m still growing my family here, raising my family here, but I would also say I’m willing to do the hard work,” Carter said.

Gorton said she thinks it is important to debate. Carter said she is most excited to give voters a contrast for the Nov. 3 election.

Flock cameras

The city’s contract with Flock and the use of license plate readers across Lexington has been a well-discussed topic in recent months. Gorton has stood by the city’s use of Flock cameras and appointed an external panel to review how they are used.

“I know that my opponent has said on day one she’d get rid of all of them. Well, you know, good leaders don’t just randomly go get rid of things. I think they need to, you know, like we’re doing, look at it, see what the value is, see what the downside might be. And do we need to have a different vendor than Flock?” Gorton said.

Carter said she wants to push policies surrounding Flock at the legislative level.

“Flock is a private company. You know, and the private companies that are engaged in government business need to be regulated by our governmental policy, and that’s not happening right now. If it is a tool that we deem as usable, then it has to be managed and it has to be regulated,” Carter said.

Data center development

The Urban County Council passed a moratorium on data centers that runs until the end of October. Both Gorton and Carter said there is no place for large, hyper scale data centers in Lexington.

“I think one of the first things they should do is probably extend the moratorium. They have got to be sure that our residents don’t pay for the water, the electricity, any gas, any utilities, or, you know, generators that have to do with running those,” Gorton said.

“We want to recruit businesses that give more to Lexington than they take. And we need to focus on housing. We need to focus on actual jobs and bringing people to Lexington in that regard,” Carter said.