Where the candidates for Lexington Town Council stand
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to include answers from Steve Baker and Lachin Hatemi.
Voters in Lexington will have the opportunity to choose half of the town council on Nov. 2.
Three incumbents are running for the three open, at-large seats on the council in this year’s election. The addition of a local doctor, Lachin Hatemi, to the non-partisan ballot is enough to create some uncertainty about who the top vote-getters will be in November’s election.
The State asked all four candidates what they would do if elected to a four-year term on the council.
Steve Baker
Age: 38
Occupation: Collision repair
Education: Education
Prior political or civic experience: Five years on town council
Campaign website: Facebook.com/stevebakerfortowncouncil
Why are you running for this office?
I felt compelled to run for office in 2016 after seeing all the presidential candidates come to Columbia for the First in the South primary. I made the plunge and won a seat in 2016. Having served on council since then, I have been encouraged by the progress we have made at the Town of Lexington and I look forward to seeing some more progress accomplished over the next term.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?
Quality of life issues — traffic and green spaces/walking trails/parks.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?
I have been in a position of leadership for years and have experienced tremendous growth in nearly every position I have held. I would offer that my greatest skill or life perspective that I bring is leadership. Additionally, the ability to communicate effectively and engage with the citizens about our priorities.
What current practice or policy of the city would you preserve or enhance? Why?
A continued focus to tackle traffic issues as this is the No. 1 quality of life concern in the town.
Todd Carnes
Age: 52
Occupation: Small business owner, Todd Realty Partners
Education: Bachelors in civil engineering, University of Alabama
Prior political or civic experience: 15 years as a local church pastor, four years as a Lexington Police Department chaplain, two years as chairman of the board for RunHard, seven years as a member of Lexington Town Council.
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/votetoddcarnes
Why are you running for this office?
Lexington is my home, the place where my wife, Kerri, and I raised our three girls and the place where we have planted our lives. The future of Lexington is very bright and I want to help shape that future to make sure our community retains its charm, hospitality and prosperity. Protecting these community values is a challenge in a high growth season like the one we are now experiencing in Lexington, but it can be done if our civic leaders courageously hold to these values above all else.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?
My priorities have always been to focus on quality of life issues within our town. For the last seven years I have focused on numerous transportation projects to relieve congestion in downtown Lexington and one that is upcoming in the Corley Mill Road area. In my next term, I would focus on providing Lexington with new parks and recreational activities, including the total reconstruction of Virginia Hylton Park. Secondly, I will continue to focus on smart growth in our town, as we are just coming out of a one year process whereby we will finalize a total overhaul of our land use regulations and zoning requirements, reducing the development densities within the town while improving the overall quality of all new developments.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?
Like all other candidates, I have a unique set of education, skills and experience that will guide me as a councilman. By training, I am a civil engineer and that gives me insight into the technical issues related to land development and traffic solutions. As for experience, I have led in our community in a wide variety of ways and each of these has been beneficial in helping me see the community from a different perspective. My time as a pastor at Radius Church provided me with insight into the real lives of our citizens and the things that are important to them on a daily basis. Then, as a business executive at SouthernMED Pediatrics and now as a small business owner at Todd Realty Partners, I have gained insight into the relationship between locally owned businesses and local government, a relationship that is crucial for the success of everyone in our town. These experiences, along with raising my family here for the last 20+ years, will inform and guide me as a town councilman.
What current practice or policy of the city would you preserve or enhance? Why?
I would preserve the policy of reducing property taxes every time we are given the chance. The Town has not levied a property tax increase in well over 20 years, and in 2020 we were able to provide our citizens with a significant reduction in our portion of their property tax bill. This has been and will continue to be a priority.
Lachin Hatemi
Age: 40
Occupation: Physician/Medical Clinic Owner
Education: Medical School, University of Kentucky; Bachelor in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor in Computer Science
Prior political or civic experience: Advisor to Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky
Campaign website: none
Why are you running for this office?
No change in business climate of Lexington
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?
Make the town a more business-friendly place, and create better living conditions for residents.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?
As a Physician from the frontlines of COVID-19 response and as a business owner, I bring a unique perspective to the position.
What current practice or policy of the city would you preserve or enhance? Why?
I will improve and reduce regulations that are hurting local small businesses. I believe current policies and regulations hurt local businesses and create unnecessary burdens.
Ron Williams
Age: 56
Occupation: Retired
Education: High school
Prior political or civic experience: Seven years in current office
Campaign website: www.facebook.com/RonWilliamsForTownCouncil
Why are you running for this office?
Serving and volunteering comes natural to me. I enjoy helping others whether it’s coaching soccer, mentoring students at Lexington Elementary, serving on the vestry at church, or serving our town as a council member. I believe it is better to serve than to be served.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?
Continued improvements on our traffic issues is something that has been and will be my top priority. We have plans underway to revitalize Virginia Hilton Park which needs to be completed and I want to update the other town parks. Although council is limited on how they can control growth, I want to make sure we continue moving forward with a focus on how growth affects our town, citizens, and our businesses.
What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?
I have volunteered with Boy Scouts of America for over 25 years, I serve on many boards and commissions, and have learned how to work with people, listen to people, and use what I have learned to represent the town citizens.
What current practice or policy of the city would you preserve or enhance? Why?
I believe the Town of Lexington’s staff is the best equipped and most professional around. I will continue to support our staff and look forward to congratulating them on the many awards they receive because of their hard work. Our police department serves our citizens by utilizing specialized teams and all divisions of our team are community focused. Our utilities department works to keep our systems up and running 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions, with very minimal interruptions in service. Our transportation department is currently working on multiple road projects, working on approval for future projects, making emergency road repairs and keeping the traffic lights functioning.
This story was originally published October 5, 2021 at 9:38 AM.
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