Ben Spalding - Ballotpedia

Ben Spalding's campaign for Louisville Metro Council member is his first run for office. 

Facebook

Seeks to provide increased funding to various essential services.

- Advocates for government transparency.
- Seeks to provide increased funding to various essential services.

Public Services

As of April 14, 2026, Ben Spalding’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports the growth of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), stating intentions to increase the budget.

- Supports the growth of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), stating intentions to increase the budget.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Wants to reinstate Louisville's status as a sanctuary city and opposes cooperating with federal immigration officers, stating a need to "[de-mask] ICE and [hold] them accountable."

Supports increasing the use of social workers as first responders to deescalate tensions in the city.

- Prioritizes community safety.
- Seeks to empower immigrants.
- Wants to reinstate Louisville's status as a sanctuary city and opposes cooperating with federal immigration officers, stating a need to "[de-mask] ICE and [hold] them accountable."
- Supports increasing the use of social workers as first responders to deescalate tensions in the city.

Public Safety

Education

Economy

Instagram

Ben Spalding

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Betsy Ruhe is from Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from Ballard High School. She and her husband live in the Beechmont neighborhood. They have three pets: a chihuahua-poodle mix, an Australian Shepherd puppy, and an orange and white cat.

District 21 Newsletter: Meet Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe - GovDelivery

Betsy Ruhe is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville, a master's degree in learning and behavior disorders from Bellarmine University, and a master's degree in sustainability from the University of Louisville. She lives with her husband in the South End of Louisville.

Betsy is a retired teacher. She taught special needs students for more than twenty years, mostly at Indian Trail Elementary. She currently works part-time at the Louisville Nature Center, where she leads field trips in the spring and fall. 

Betsy previously worked as a special education teacher in Jefferson County Public Schools. She also served as a military police officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Additionally, she has worked part-time with the Louisville Nature Center, leading educational field trips.

Betsy is currently a member of the Louisville City Council representing District 21. She was elected in 2022 and is currently serving her first term.

Betsy Ruhe - Ballotpedia

Betsy currently serves as a member of the Louisville Metro Council for District 21 in Kentucky. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Supports investing in local parks and facilities.

Focuses on resolving local issues such as illegal dumping, drainage problems, and unsafe conditions.

- Supports investing in local parks and facilities.
- Focuses on resolving local issues such as illegal dumping, drainage problems, and unsafe conditions.

Supports using American Rescue Plan funding to construct new housing and convert underutilized buildings into housing.

Prioritizes housing stability for people experiencing homelessness.

- Supports using American Rescue Plan funding to construct new housing and convert underutilized buildings into housing.
- Prioritizes housing stability for people experiencing homelessness.

Prioritizes road paving, sidewalk repairs, and traffic-calming measures.

Advocates for infrastructure investment in underserved neighborhoods.

- Prioritizes road paving, sidewalk repairs, and traffic-calming measures.
- Advocates for infrastructure investment in underserved neighborhoods.

Primary election 2022: Metro Council District 21

Supports the expansion of social work professionals responding to mental health crises.

Supports increasing police presence and coordination in high-call areas.

- Supports the expansion of social work professionals responding to mental health crises.
- Supports increasing police presence and coordination in high-call areas.

Supports access to free COVID tests and resources like food pantries, and affordable mental health care.

As of March 25, 2026, Betsy Ruhe’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports small businesses and helping entrepreneurs navigate city programs.

- Supports small businesses and helping entrepreneurs navigate city programs.

Betsy Ruhe

- Supports access to free COVID tests and resources like food pantries, and affordable mental health care.

Betsy Ruhe is from Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from Ballard High School. She and her husband live in the Beechmont neighborhood.

Betsy is a retired teacher. She taught special needs students, mostly at Indian Trail Elementary. She currently works part-time at the Louisville Nature Center, where she leads field trips in the spring and fall. 

Betsy is currently a member of the Louisville City Council representing District 21. She was elected in 2022 and is currently serving her 1st term.

- Supports investing in local parks and facilities.

- Supports using American Rescue Plan funding to construct new housing and convert underutilized buildings into housing.

- Supports the expansion of social work professionals responding to mental health crises.

LinkedIn

Matthew Tomas

Lonnie Joseph is from Wilder Park, Louisville, Kentucky. He is married to his wife, Ginny. They have a blended family of eight adult children, nineteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He attends Southeast Christian Church.

Lonnie Joseph is originally from Wilder Park, Kentucky. He lives with his wife, Ginny, and their eight children. He attends Southeast Christian Church.

Lonnie works in manufacturing. He previously worked at a local print shop, where he started at 16 and became a manager by 18.

Louisville mayor, metro council candidates in 2026 primary elections

Lonnie previously worked in manufacturing, including work on the factory floor and in team management. He also worked at a local print shop.

Lonnie is currently president of the Wilder Park Neighborhood Association.

Louisville Republicans hope to gain Metro Council majority for the ...

Lonnie's campaign for Louisville Metro Council District 21 in Kentucky is his first run for public office.

Supports revitalizing neighborhoods through cleanups, community events, and local engagement.

- Supports revitalizing neighborhoods through cleanups, community events, and local engagement.

Supports expanding access to affordable housing.

- Supports expanding access to affordable housing.

For Candidate Lonnie Joseph on Issue Transportation & Infrastructure:  
Supports improved roads.

Supports improving street safety and neighborhood infrastructure.

- Supports improving street safety and neighborhood infrastructure.

For Candidate Lonnie Joseph on Issue public-safety:  
Prioritizes proactive measures to reduce crime, improve lighting, and ensure quick responses to create secure environments for families and businesses.

Prioritizes improving street lighting and emergency response times to reduce crime.

- Prioritizes improving street lighting and emergency response times to reduce crime.

Supports expanding youth programs and development opportunities.

- Supports expanding youth programs and development opportunities.

Supports expanding small business opportunities.

Prioritizes increasing local job creation and economic development.

Supports maintaining fiscally responsible government spending.

- Supports expanding small business opportunities.
- Prioritizes increasing local job creation and economic development.
- Supports maintaining fiscally responsible government spending.

Twitter

Lonnie Joseph

As of March 25, 2026, Lonnie Joseph’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sahid Burgos

Savannah Hughes has an associate's degree in electrical electronics and engineering from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. She lives in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Savannah works as a program director at Better Dayz Youth Coalition and as a creative alchemist at Best Dad Media. She previously worked as a community support advocate, campaign manager, and field volunteer coordinator. 

Savannah previously ran for Louisville Metro Council District 21 in 2026.

Ballotpedia

Savannah's campaign for city council member is her first run for public office. 

Seeks to engage with constituents, elevate their voices, and "fight for them in Metro Hall."

- Seeks to engage with constituents, elevate their voices, and "fight for them in Metro Hall."

Wants to hold vacant property owners accountable, speed up permits, protect businesses from displacement, and ensure the city is a partner to individuals who want to invest in their community.

- Wants to hold vacant property owners accountable, speed up permits, protect businesses from displacement, and ensure the city is a partner to individuals who want to invest in their community.

Supports safer streets, smarter infrastructure, thriving small businesses, and strong community in District 21.

Seeks to establish safer streets, smarter infrastructure, thriving small businesses, and strong community.

- Seeks to establish safer streets, smarter infrastructure, thriving small businesses, and strong community.

As of March 25, 2026, Savannah Hughes did not have a website or any information online.

Savannah Hughes

Savannah Hughes has an associate's degree in electrical electronics and engineering from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. 

As of March 25, 2026, Savannah Hughes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Savannah Hughes is from Louisville, Kentucky. She attended the University of Louisville. She has a master's degree in public administration from the University of Louisville. She lives with her husband in Cherokee Triangle. She attends St. Matthew Catholic Church.

Alejandra Gracias

- 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. 

Louisville City Council Member, District 21

Election results

Candidates (4)