2026 Kentucky General Election

Versailles Councilman Aaron Smither said the RFP has generated strong interest, including more than a dozen potential partners who participated in a June 4 pre-proposal meeting and site visit. He added that the project is supported by local tourism and business leaders, the city council, Woodford County Fiscal Court and Mayor Brian Traugaut.

P3 project could connect Versailles’ bourbon and horse history - Building Kentucky

Aaron Smither serves as a Versailles council member.

Smither added that the proposal was designed to bring creative solutions – both in terms of the concepts partners are proposing and the potential structure of the partnership. Respondents can submit design-build proposals, financing proposals, operations proposals, and maintenance proposals.

“That’s the vision that we had,” Smither said. “We wanted to covey flexibility in the space and flexibility in … responses.”

Said the downtown revitalization public-private partnership proposal sought flexibility in project concepts and responses.

- Said the downtown revitalization public-private partnership proposal sought flexibility in project concepts and responses.

Public Services

Rental Housing Legislation

Mayor Traugott provided a copy of a PowerPoint titled ‘Homelessness & Housing in Kentucky’ which was created by the Kentucky League of Cities along with a copy of the city of Carrollton’s rental dwelling permit ordinance. Council member Dake questioned if people in Versailles are renting properties unlawfully in which the properties are not up to code or fit. Mayor Traugott responded that he is sure this is happening but these properties would not fit into the majority. Mayor Traugott claimed that individuals threatened with eviction could file a complaint with the city about the state of their residence to try and get out of eviction. Mayor Traugott also stated that on the flip side, a resident could complain about their property to the landlord and then the landlord could threaten them with eviction. Council member Johnson stated that it seems to be an imperfect situation as it seems there could be a lot of he said she said situations. Council member Dake indicated that there is move-in checklist available online for landlords to follow with basic information regarding the rental property. Council member Smither stated that if the process isn’t being followed and the landlord isn’t doing what they’re supposed to do then the tenant should have rights against that.

AUGUST 9, 2022

Supports tenant rights when landlords do not follow required processes.

- Supports tenant rights when landlords do not follow required processes.

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation Corridor Overlay Study

Council member Dake began the discussion stating that in regards to the recent RFQ they received for a transportation study, the total was originally $111,000 and they have brought the price down to $64,400 by removing one task in its entirety and then negotiating with the firm to discount the other tasks. City Attorney Moore asked if the study would be used for just city information or included in the comprehensive plan as well. Council member Johnson stated that this study will give the council more information to review themselves and be included in the comprehensive plan. Council member Smither stated that this seems like it would be a planning and zoning issue that we already fund with the county. He questioned if this is something that we could wait to see what comes through when the comprehensive plan is released.

Questions whether to wait for the comprehensive plan before proceeding with a transportation corridor study.

- Questions whether to wait for the comprehensive plan before proceeding with a transportation corridor study.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of October 8, 2026, Aaron Smither did not have a website or any information online.

Public Safety

Education

Economy

Aaron Smither

As of October 8, 2026, Aaron SMITHER’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Aaron SMITHER

Aaron works as the owner/operator of Aaron Smither Insurance Agency and is a partner, officer, and president of SubsKY, Inc., which a BrokerCheck report identifies as a Jimmy John's sandwich shop.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Ann is a proactive, results-oriented manager with diverse and progressive leadership experience. She graduated from the University of Kentucky and currently serves on the Versailles City Council. Ann works for Kentucky State University in the Office of Institutional Advancement and Development Services and brings more than 30 years of property management experience as well as a life-long involvement in the non-profit world to LAC.

Ann Miller | Life Adventure Center

Ann Miller graduated from the University of Kentucky.

Ann Miller works in Kentucky State University's Office of Institutional Advancement and Development Services. She has experience in property management.

Ann works in Kentucky State University's Office of Institutional Advancement and Development Services. She has experience in property management.

Ann currently serves on the Versailles City Council.

As of October 8, 2026, Ann Miller did not have a website or any information online.

The Versailles City Council voted unanimously to enact a temporary moratorium on data centers. The article reported that the temporary pause would stop the city from accepting applications while council members prepared themselves and constituents to consider potential development. Under the heading “Council members want to educate themselves first,” Miller explained the reason for supporting the pause: “We are so unfamiliar with data centers, and it’s happened so quickly that we wanted to not offend anybody, so we wanted to stop it in case someone was looking at property in our community and give us an opportunity to be educated, and I think that’s the important part,” Miller said.

Versailles puts brakes on data center development with temporary moratorium

Supported a temporary moratorium on data-center development so the council could learn about prospective projects.

- Supported a temporary moratorium on data-center development so the council could learn about prospective projects.

Ann Miller

As of October 8, 2026, Ann MILLER’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ann MILLER

- Supported a temporary moratorium on data-center zoning and permit applications while the city learned more about the development.

As of October 8, 2026, Brad Fister did not have a website or any information online.

Brad Fister

As of October 8, 2026, Brad FISTER’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Brad FISTER

LinkedIn

Chantel Brown Bingham attended Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky.

As of October 8, 2026, Chantel Brown Bingham did not have a website or any information online.

Facebook

Chantel Brown Bingham

As of October 8, 2026, Chantel BROWN-BINGHAM’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Chantel BROWN-BINGHAM

As of October 8, 2026, Emily Porter did not have a website or any information online.

Emily Porter

As of October 8, 2026, Emily PORTER’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Instagram

Emily PORTER

As of October 8, 2026, Fred J. Powers JR did not have a website or any information online.

Fred J. Powers JR

As of October 8, 2026, Fred J. POWERS JR.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Fred J. POWERS JR.

As of October 8, 2026, Gary W. Jones did not have a website or any information online.

Gary W. Jones

As of October 8, 2026, Gary W. JONES’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Gary W. JONES

As of October 8, 2026, Joe Belford did not have a website or any information online.

Joe Belford

As of October 8, 2026, Joe BELFORD’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Joe BELFORD

She holds an MPA from the University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy & Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Lisa Johnson - Emerge Kentucky

An avid gardener, foodie, road-bike rider, mother of 2 Woodford County-grown children and a pandemic puppy, Lisa is proud to live with husband, Joe, in lovely Versailles, Kentucky.

Lisa C. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy & Administration. She lives with her husband, Joe, and has two children.

Lisa Johnson is the founder and Executive Director of Mentors & Meals (M&Ms), a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to enhance academic achievement through mentoring. After a 24- year career in the private sector, Lisa saw an unmet need in the community and spent the past decade working on solutions for improving education outcomes and alleviating food insecurity for financially and/or academically at-risk youth in Woodford County.

Lisa C. Johnson is the founder and executive director of Mentors & Meals, a nonprofit.

Lisa is the founder and executive director of Mentors & Meals, a nonprofit.

GENERAL ELECTION | WOODFORD COUNTY - 6th. CONG. DIST. | RECAPITULATION SHEET | November 06, 2018

MAYOR City of Versailles
Lisa C. JOHNSON 1245
Brian TRAUGOTT 2428

GENERAL ELECTION

Lisa previously ran for mayor of Versailles in 2018 but did not win.

As of October 8, 2026, Lisa C. Johnson did not have a website or any information online.

The city council voted Tuesday night unanimously to enact a moratorium on data centers. As data centers expand rapidly across the country, the city of Versailles is trying to get ahead of the trend.

Councilwoman Lisa Johnson said they’re intentionally being thoughtful.

“I do know there have been concerns about the use of energy, resources, water, noise pollution, and all of these things need to be looked at more carefully before a decision is made,” Johnson said.

Said Versailles should more carefully evaluate data centers' impacts on energy use, resources, water use, and noise before deciding on development.

- Said Versailles should more carefully evaluate data centers' impacts on energy use, resources, water use, and noise before deciding on development.

Lisa C. Johnson

As of October 8, 2026, Lisa C. JOHNSON’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Lisa C. JOHNSON

As of October 8, 2026, Mary Ellen Bradley did not have a website or any information online.

Mary Ellen Bradley

As of October 8, 2026, Mary Ellen BRADLEY did not have a website or any information online.

Mary Ellen BRADLEY

As of October 8, 2026, Mary Ellen BRADLEY’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- City council members make up the legislative body of the city's 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. 
- City councils in Kentucky typically have between 6 and 12 council members. They serve two-year terms except in Louisville and Lexington where some members serve four-year terms. 
- Council members can be elected to represent a single district or the city at-large. Elections take place in even-numbered years. 

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

Versailles City Council Member

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Versailles City Council Member

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