2026 Kentucky General Election

“I came to Georgetown in 1972 with one suitcase. Everything I owned was in that suitcase. Freshman orientation was the first time I was ever in Georgetown. First time I had ever visited the campus. So, here it is 50 years later and I’m still here.

Jenkins faces some serious challenges early in his administration.

What a Burney Jenkins administration looks like

Burney Jenkins came to Georgetown in 1972. His first visit to the campus was for freshman orientation.

Mayoral candidates talk city revenue, growth at forum | News

Originally from Tennessee, from a family of 11, Jenkins attended Georgetown College and upon graduation he became involved in the community.

“I got a job. It was Scott County Schools and stayed here for 46 years, you know, and it gave me an opportunity to work in leadership roles with kids and with people of all races of all diversity. So I owe this community more than this community owes me,”Jenkins said.

Burney Jenkins mayoral candidate

Jenkins starting teaching, coaching, and officiating in the 1970s. He's officiated at the high school, college and professional level for several sports, to include basketball, football and baseball.

Georgetown mayor nationally recognized for decades-long sports officiating, coaching career

He still serves as a referee at local high school football games, plus he does replays for the NCAA. Jenkins says many things he learned during his officiating and coaching career has translated into being mayor.

Burney Jenkins serves as a referee at local high school football games and handles replays for the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He previously worked for Scott County Schools. He has taught, coached, and officiated basketball, football, and baseball at the high school, college, and professional levels.

Jenkins runs for Mayor in Georgetown - Spectrum News

Georgetown mayor nationally recognized for sports officiating ...

Experience was the primary selling point for Jenkins, the incumbent Mayor going into the upcoming election cycle.

“For four years, I’ve been in this job; I have sat in this seat,” he said. “So I understand, you know, when we’re talking about procurement, and working with the government, not just with the different agencies on the federal level, but also on the state level.

“I’ve been a person who has actually served this public for many, many years. I’ve invested my time in this community for years.”

Mayoral candidates talk city revenue, growth at forum

Jenkins, a former city council member, has focused his campaign on economic development and public safety. Menke, a current council member, has emphasized community engagement and infrastructure improvements.

Burney Jenkins, Kim Menke advance in Georgetown mayoral race

Burney currently serves as Georgetown's mayor. He previously served as a city council member.

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

Education

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Public Services

Transportation & Infrastructure

With only two sources of income, the city needs to focus on finding more paths for revenue, Jenkins said.

“There’s two ways we get revenue: taxation, and bringing in jobs,” he said. “What we’ve got to be doing as forward-thinking is bringing in more revenue so we can continue to provide the services that you as citizens expect from our government.”

Advocates for bringing jobs to increase city revenue and maintain municipal services.

- Advocates for bringing jobs to increase city revenue and maintain municipal services.

Economy

Burney Jenkins

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

Burney JENKINS

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Plans to solicit residents' input and involve them in committees and water-rate work sessions.

Supports public council committee reports and expects council members to seek residents' input.

Proposes seeking state or federal grants to reduce residents' water-rate burden.

Wants relief for residents struggling with water bills, including seniors on fixed incomes.

Transcript: “Hi, I'm Kim. Mikey. Let me tell you a little bit about who I am and where I come from. Basically I'm a Hoosier by birth. Grew up along the Ohio River in southern Indiana.”

Kim Menke - LinkedIn post (many-of-you-know-me-through-my-professional-activity)

Transcript: “So when I actually made my transition to Kentucky, it was to come to Western Kentucky. University was one of the few schools in the country that actually had an environmental program, and so that's what I did. Moved to Bowling Green, became that environmental engineer.”

Transcript: “After five years when we got the plan up and running, when she finished residency and began working here in Georgetown. We knew then it was going to be our home. We we actually raised both of our kids here who are now adults living in other areas. They went through the Scott County school system.”

Kim Menke is originally from southern Indiana, where they grew up along the Ohio River. They attended Western Kentucky University's environmental program. They raised two children, who are now adults living elsewhere.

LinkedIn

Kim Menke earned a degree in environmental engineering from Western Kentucky University.

Kim Menke is the founder of ProVision Process Solutions, launched in July 2024 to leverage his extensive experience in manufacturing, business operations, and government.

Executive Member Bio - Kim Menke

His career spans nearly 37 years with Toyota and 5 years with General Motors, where he earned a reputation for translating operational needs into actionable solutions for government leaders.

Kim Menke is the founder of ProVision Process Solutions. Their career has included work with Toyota and General Motors.

Kim Menke is the founder of ProVision Process Solutions. He previously worked with Toyota and General Motors.

In addition to his private-sector leadership, Kim was elected to the Georgetown City Council in 2024 and is a candidate for Mayor in the 2026 election cycle.

Kim was elected to the Georgetown City Council in 2024.

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

Ward kicked off the questions by asking candidates what they saw as “the single greatest issue” facing Georgetown. Menke pointed toward housing, stating that there were gaps in both available and affordable housing, especially when it comes to “starter homes.” “I think what we need to do is provide more data-driven information,” he said. “Where do we have available space to be able to infill projects, and look at the ways that we can work with our developers to be able to provide starter homes, and a wide variety of homes, in our community.”

From Committee Member Menke: General Improvements & Modernization: 1. Embrace Form-Based Codes or Hybrid Zoning: Update Subdivision & Development Standards. “Recommendation: Consider implementing form-based codes or a hybrid approach in specific areas like downtowns, key commercial corridors, or new development areas. This shifts the focus from strictly what ‘uses’ are allowed to ‘how’ buildings and spaces look and function, promoting walkability, mixed-use, and desired urban character.”

Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee Record of Recommendations 2026-01-12 (PDF)

From Committee Member Menke: General Improvements & Modernization: 1. Embrace Form-Based Codes or Hybrid Zoning: Update Subdivision & Development Standards. The recommendations include: “1. Broader, flexible use categories (e.g., ‘light industrial,’ ‘general commercial,’ ‘mixed employment’) instead of long use lists. 2. Allowing mixed-use in more districts and reducing the need for rezonings and variances.”

From Committee Member Menke: 2. Streamline and Clarify Definitions & Procedures. “Recommendation: Conduct an audit of definitions and procedures for clarity, consistency, and ease of understanding. Simplify where possible, ensure consistency across sections, and potentially create flowcharts for complex application processes. o Benefit: Reduces bureaucratic hurdles for developers and citizens, speeding up approval processes for needed projects, and increasing transparency.”

Calls for identifying infill sites and working with developers to provide starter homes and a wider range of housing.

Proposes zoning codes based on building form or hybrid zoning codes in selected areas to promote walkability, mixed-use development, and urban design.

Proposes allowing mixed-use development in more districts while reducing the need to change zoning and request variances.

Proposes auditing and simplifying development definitions and procedures to make application processes clearer and more consistent.

- Calls for identifying infill sites and working with developers to provide starter homes and a wider range of housing.
- Proposes zoning codes based on building form or hybrid zoning codes in selected areas to promote walkability, mixed-use development, and urban design.
- Proposes allowing mixed-use development in more districts while reducing the need to change zoning and request variances.
- Proposes auditing and simplifying development definitions and procedures to make application processes clearer and more consistent.

Menke echoed the sentiment, adding that there are opportunities to expand existing “interlocal agreements.” “We need to just continue to expand that (interlocal agreements), because that’s how we can best provide services to our citizens,” he said. “It’s all about partnership, and cooperation, and coordination of those things. I think we can take that to another level in the interlocal activities, even in how we operate the joint functions that we have and ourselves as individual government bodies, as well.”

Calls for expanding agreements among local governments to coordinate services among local government bodies.

- Calls for expanding agreements among local governments to coordinate services among local government bodies.

From Committee Member Menke: General Improvements & Modernization: 1. Embrace Form-Based Codes or Hybrid Zoning: Update Subdivision & Development Standards. The recommendations include: “10. More predictable roadway cross-sections aligned with a Complete Streets policy. o Benefit: Allows for more flexible development that creates vibrant, pedestrian-friendly places, attracting new residents and businesses, while guiding design quality.”

Proposes roadway designs aligned with a Complete Streets policy to support pedestrian-friendly development.

- Proposes roadway designs aligned with a Complete Streets policy to support pedestrian-friendly development.

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Kim Menke

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

- Proposes zoning codes based on building form or hybrid zoning codes in selected areas to promote walkability, mixed-use development, and urban design.
- Proposes allowing mixed-use development in more districts while reducing the need to change zoning and request variances.
- Proposes auditing and simplifying development definitions and procedures to make application processes clearer and more consistent.

Kim MENKE

- The duties of the mayor depend on the type of government within the city, 
- If the city has a mayor-council form of government, the mayor is responsible for the executive and administrative functions of the government. They oversee all city departments, but cannot vote in most council matters. 
- If the city has a mayor-aldermen form of government, the mayor is responsible for executing and enforcing local and state laws. The mayor may appoint city officials with approval from the aldermen. 
- If the city has a mayor-commission form of government, the mayor presides over the city commissioners and can vote within the commission. The mayor is responsible for executing all decisions reached by the commission. 
- If the city has a city manager form of government, the mayor presides over the city commissioners and can vote within the commission. The mayor is recognized as the head of the city department but does not have any regular administrative duties. 
- City mayors are elected during general elections for a four-year term. Most cities in Kentucky hold nonpartisan elections for mayor. 

Georgetown Mayor

Candidates (2)