Personal Background

I was born and raised in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, a small college town in Northeastern PA. Although Bloomsburg is just two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, these metropolitan areas felt distant, often requiring an eight-hour bus ride to reach.

Meet Mike

My military service was recognized with several personal awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals. While on active duty, I completed my college degree in Health Care Management and completed the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School.

Since retiring in 2022, I have remained actively involved in the Richmond community. I currently serve as a member of the Richmond Human Rights Commission, Co-Chair of the Richmond Downtown Neighborhood Association, and as a board member of Hope’s Wings, a domestic violence organization.

Myron "Mike" Edwards is originally from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Mike completed a college degree in health care management and the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School while on active duty. He serves on the Richmond Human Rights Commission, co-chairs the Richmond Downtown Neighborhood Association, and is a board member of Hope’s Wings.

Military Career

Over more than 23 years of service, I advanced rapidly through the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant within my first 18 months of active duty. At 26, I was selected for Warrant Officer status, later achieving Limited Duty Officer and unrestricted officer status, and ultimately retiring as a Major.

Professional Experience After Military Service

After retiring from the Marine Corps in 2001, I relocated to Lexington, KY. There, I served as Director of Operations for Dealers Financial Services /MILES Program (Military Installment Loans and Educational Services), a program designed to help military members obtain automobile loans despite limited or poor credit, protecting them from predatory lenders.

There, I served as Director of Operations for Dealers Financial Services /MILES Program (Military Installment Loans and Educational Services), a program designed to help military members obtain automobile loans despite limited or poor credit, protecting them from predatory lenders. I left this position in April of 2006 and opened my own painting business, learning that starting a business from scratch was difficult, at best. In 2007, I joined EAS Technologies/Corrisoft in Lexington where I remained until 2016.

This led me to Pre-Trial Services in Madison County and later to the Community Action Council in Lexington, where I supported clients in their employment search and preparation, helping individuals secure full-time employment and move towards self-sufficiency. My final position before retiring from Community Action Council was as Compliance Manager for the Fiscal Department, where I learned about non-profit organizations, grant compliance, and fiscal adherence and accountability.

Myron "Mike" Edwards most recently served as compliance manager in the Fiscal Department at the Community Action Council. He previously worked for Pre-Trial Services in Madison County and EAS Technologies/Corrisoft, owned a painting business, and served as director of operations for Dealers Financial Services' Military Installment Loans and Educational Services Program. He served as a major in the Marine Corps for more than 23 years.

2026 Kentucky General Election

My priorities include:

Advancing responsible development that aligns with Richmond’s comprehensive plan, prioritizing sustainable land use, tree planting, green space, and improved public utilities. I will actively invite all residents to participate in city decisions, ensuring every interested voice is heard and valued.Open dialogue and collaboration are at the heart of my approach.

Issues

Residents have legitimate questions about utility demand, water usage, land use, noise, environmental impact, tax incentives, public infrastructure, and whether the promised economic benefits will truly serve the local community. At the same time, data centers are also part of the modern infrastructure that supports cloud computing, digital commerce, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, health care systems, education, and many services that people rely on every day. Because of that, I believe the most responsible approach is not to begin with fear or automatic opposition, but with education, transparency, and careful public discussion.

Public forums, fact sheets, independent impact studies, and joint city-county planning discussions could help separate rumor from fact. If Madison County is going to consider data center development, it should do so with clear standards for land use, utility capacity, environmental protection, community benefit, and accountability.

Prioritizes sustainable land use, tree planting, green space, and public-utility improvements in development aligned with Richmond’s comprehensive plan.

Calls for clear land-use, utility-capacity, environmental-protection, community-benefit, and accountability standards before Madison County considers data-center development.

- Prioritizes sustainable land use, tree planting, green space, and public-utility improvements in development aligned with Richmond’s comprehensive plan.
- Calls for clear land-use, utility-capacity, environmental-protection, community-benefit, and accountability standards before Madison County considers data-center development.

Energy & the Environment

Responsibility for codes enforcement lies with city leadership, including the City Manager, Mayor, Commissioners, and the Codes Enforcement Director. Their coordinated efforts are crucial to ensuring that standards are upheld and violations are addressed.

As a new commissioner, I would prioritize a comprehensive review of code enforcement procedures. This would include:

Evaluating current enforcement and follow-up procedures
Assessing the collection of fines and exploring ways to reinvest these funds into community improvements
Ensuring that all city employees are empowered and expected to support and report violations
Reviewing and upgrading software systems for reporting, tracking, and collections to improve efficiency and transparency

News

Incentives and Support

Offer incentives for prompt compliance, such as reduced fines for quick corrections and continued compliance.
Incentivize neighborhood upgrades and beautification projects.
Provide support for vulnerable populations to help them meet code requirements…volunteerism

FAIRNESS ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND-

Richmond is said to be the fastest growing city in the State of Kentucky. It is ranked as the 7th largest city in the state. As many as 168,600 estimated Kentuckians, or roughly 5.9% of the Blue Grass State's population, identify as LGBTQ+, according to a 2023 study performed by the Williams Institute. For the City of Richmond this would equate to just less than 2400 residents of Richmond that identify as LGBTQ+. There are currently 24 cities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky which have a LGBTQ+ Fairness ordinance, in addition, to 2 cities with partial ordinances for protections. Richmond is not in these numbers. As a member of the Richmond Human Rights Commission, I have made it a mission of mine to work my hardest to get a Fairness Ordinance passed for the City of Richmond. If not passed while a member of the Human Rights Commission, I will continue to pursue as a City Commissioner.

HISTORICAL STRUCTURE IN RICHMOND

The loss of the Walker House in Richmond has deeply affected residents who value the city’s history. To prevent further destruction, I propose the forming of a Historical Structure Preservation Board of Commissioners, reporting to a City Commissioner aligned with preservation goals.

KENTUCKY'S LANDLORD-TENANT REGULATIONS---STATE PROTECTIONS NOT ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF RICHMOND

Understanding Kentucky’s landlord-tenant regulations is essential for both landlords and tenants seeking a successful, respectful rental relationship.

The rights and responsibilities set out in Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 383—including the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act—provide a framework for navigating residential tenancies across the Commonwealth.

Open communication and compliance with these requirements help promote fair, safe, and equitable housing throughout Kentucky. These laws are intended to balance the interests of landlords and tenants while encouraging cooperation and accountability. Richmond’s city leaders should be fully informed about these protections and should carefully consider adopting them locally. Providing these safeguards would benefit Richmond residents and strengthen the community’s rental housing system.

These protections are balanced by tenant duties to pay rent, keep the premises reasonably clean and safe, use facilities properly, and avoid disturbing neighbors. Because KRS 383.500 requires a local government to adopt the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in its entirety and without amendment, adoption by Richmond would establish a consistent set of rights, responsibilities, notices, and remedies for landlords and tenants alike.

Increase Shelter Capacity:

Immediately address the gap between available shelter space (20-30 people) and the actual number of homeless individuals in Madison County (71 as of December 2025).

Explore temporary solutions such as warming centers, partnerships with faith groups, or use of public buildings during emergencies. Seek additional funding or grants to expand long-term shelter capacity.

Create/Activate Emergency Weather/Homelessness Plan:

In response to cold weather, the city should promptly create, open and implement its Emergency Weather/Homelessness plan to ensure no one is left without shelter.

Establish clear triggers (e.g. forecasted temperatures) for plan activation and conduct regular drills with all involved organizations to ensure readiness.

Candidate’s Position on Madison Homes Closure

If elected as city commissioner, I would have firmly opposed the decisions surrounding the closure of Madison Homes. Instead of waiting for the onset of winter to address the city’s cold weather plan for those experiencing homelessness, I would have taken proactive steps well in advance. My approach would have involved reaching out to every nonprofit organization in the community to coordinate an urgent and effective cold weather response plan.

Establish a Coordinated Task Force:

Consider forming a City/County/Berea Joint Task Force---including both profit and non-profit organizations to address homelessness and underserved populations. The city could also consider the creation of a Homelessness Board/Commission to coordinate these efforts.

Transparency and Accountability

Report enforcement actions and outcomes publicly.
Apply rules consistently to all residents and organizations.
Take the lead.

Plans to review code-enforcement procedures, including follow-up, fine collection, staff reporting, and reporting and collections software.

Plans to review code-enforcement procedures.

Supports providing volunteer-based assistance to help vulnerable residents meet code requirements.

Pledges to continue pursuing a Richmond Fairness Ordinance as a city commissioner.

Proposes a Historical Structure Preservation Board of Commissioners to help prevent the loss of historic buildings.

Supports Richmond adopting Kentucky’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to establish consistent rights, responsibilities, notices, and remedies.

Proposes expanding homeless shelter capacity through temporary emergency options and additional funding or grants for long-term capacity.

Calls for an emergency weather and homelessness plan with conditions for activation and regular drills to prevent people from being left without shelter.

Said he would have opposed the decisions surrounding Madison Homes’ closure and taken earlier steps to coordinate a cold-weather response.

Proposes a joint City, County, and Berea task force and potentially a homelessness board or commission to coordinate homelessness services.

Calls for public reporting of code-enforcement actions and outcomes and consistent enforcement for residents and organizations.

- Plans to review code-enforcement procedures.
- Supports providing volunteer-based assistance to help vulnerable residents meet code requirements.
- Pledges to continue pursuing a Richmond Fairness Ordinance as a city commissioner.
- Proposes a Historical Structure Preservation Board of Commissioners to help prevent the loss of historic buildings.
- Supports Richmond adopting Kentucky’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to establish consistent rights, responsibilities, notices, and remedies.
- Proposes expanding homeless shelter capacity through temporary emergency options and additional funding or grants for long-term capacity.
- Calls for an emergency weather and homelessness plan with conditions for activation and regular drills to prevent people from being left without shelter.
- Said he would have opposed the decisions surrounding Madison Homes’ closure and taken earlier steps to coordinate a cold-weather response.
- Proposes a joint City, County, and Berea task force and potentially a homelessness board or commission to coordinate homelessness services.
- Calls for public reporting of code-enforcement actions and outcomes and consistent enforcement for residents and organizations.

Housing & Urban Development

Promoting transparency and accountability, ensuring city actions reflect our real community values and vision.City actions should reflect our shared values and vision, with clear communication and openness at every step.
Supporting sensible gun safety education and policies to keep our community safe.This is a subject that is never mentioned during any meetings.

Supports gun-safety education and policies intended to improve community safety.

- Supports gun-safety education and policies intended to improve community safety.

Public Safety

As of October 6, 2026, Myron "Mike" Edwards’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Myron "Mike" Edwards

- Pledges to continue pursuing a Richmond Fairness Ordinance as a city commissioner.
- Proposes a Historical Structure Preservation Board of Commissioners to help prevent the loss of historic buildings.
- Supports Richmond adopting Kentucky’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to establish consistent rights, responsibilities, notices, and remedies.
- Proposes expanding homeless shelter capacity through temporary emergency options and additional funding or grants for long-term capacity.
- Calls for an emergency weather and homelessness plan with conditions for activation and regular drills to prevent people from being left without shelter.
- Said he would have opposed the decisions surrounding Madison Homes’ closure and taken earlier steps to coordinate a cold-weather response.
- Proposes a joint City, County, and Berea task force and potentially a homelessness board or commission to coordinate homelessness services.
- Calls for public reporting of code-enforcement actions and outcomes and consistent enforcement for residents and organizations.

As of October 6, 2026, Myron "Mike" EDWARDS’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Myron "Mike" EDWARDS

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Bruce Frederick

Jim Newby

Krystin Arnold

Mendi Goble

Mike Brewer

Stephen DELANEY

Tammy W. Cole

- Your city commission is made up of four elected city commissioners and a mayor. Together, they share the legislative and executive duties of the city government. In some cities, they also have administrative powers. 
- The city commission is responsible for the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- The city commission passes and enforces city laws, oversees all departments of the city government, and passes the city budget.
- Most cities in Kentucky hold nonpartisan elections for city officials. City commission members serve two-year terms and elections are held in even-numbered years. 

Passes laws and regulations for your city.