Louisville Metro Council

Louisville Metro Council
Louisville Metro Council
Type
Type	Unicameral of Louisville/Jefferson County Metro, Kentucky
Term limits	None
History
Founded	January 1, 2003
Preceded by	Louisville Board of Alderman and Jefferson County Fiscal Court
New session started	January 9, 2025
Leadership
President	Brent Ackerson (D) ; since January 9, 2025
Majority Caucus Leader/President Pro-Tempore	Tammy Hawkins (D) ; since January 9, 2025
Minority Caucus Leader	Anthony Piagentini (R) ; since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats	26 members
Political groups	Majority (13); Democratic (13); Democratic Socialist (1); Minority (13) ; Republican (12); Independent (1) (not caucusing);
Length of term	Four years
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post
Last election	November 5, 2024
Next election	November 3, 2026
Redistricting	2020
Meeting place
	Louisville City Hall
Website
	louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council
Rules
	louisvilleky.gov/metro-council/document/mc-rules-02202023

The Louisville Metro Council is the city council of Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville Metro). It was formally established in January 2003 upon the merger of the former City of Louisville with Jefferson County and replaced the city's Board of Aldermen and the county's Fiscal Court (three county commissioners). Louisville City Hall houses the offices and chambers of the council.

Louisville's Metro Council consists of twenty-six seats corresponding to districts apportioned by population throughout Jefferson County. Although all cities in Jefferson County, apart from Louisville, retained their status after the merger, their residents are represented on Metro Council and vote alongside other county residents. The seats come up for reelection every four years, using a staggered process so that only half of the seats are up every two years.

Since the council's inception, Democrats have maintained a majority in the chamber, currently with thirteen members (50%). Democrats gained two seats in the 2010 election, gained another two seats in the 2018 midterms, lost two seats in the 2022 election, and 4 in the 2024 election yet still maintained a majority. On January 29, 2025, Democrat Paula McCraney announced she was leaving the party and becoming an Independent.^[1]

History

The first semblance of local government came shortly after the settlement began. This was originally considered part of Virginia. In 1779, pioneering founders elected five men as "trustees". In 1780 the town was formerly chartered and the Virginia legislature provided for local government by nine legislature-appointed trustees. When Kentucky became a state in 1792, the Kentucky legislature took over the appointments.

Trustees did not have to live in Louisville until a 1795 law change. In 1797 citizens were given home rule and the privilege of electing trustees. Most important decisions were made at the state level, and the trustees were administrators rather than legislators.

When Louisville was incorporated as Kentucky's first city in 1828, it gained greater autonomy. A ten-member "Common Council" was founded, to be headed by a mayor. In 1851 the city was given a new charter, keeping the Common Council as a "lower house" to the Board of Aldermen, an "upper house" of the city's legislative power. In 1929 the larger but less prestigious Common Council was eliminated. This legislative system continued until City-County Merger.

The 26-seat Louisville Metro Council was formally established in January 2003 upon the merger of the former City of Louisville with Jefferson County. It replaced both the city's Board of Aldermen and the county's Fiscal Court (three county commissioners).

Council President

The Louisville Metro Council President is the presiding officer of the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Council. The President is elected annually by a majority vote of the entire council at the council's first meeting in January. Currently the President is Brent Ackerson (D), who was elected on January 9, 2025.^[2]

Council Presidents

2025–present: Brent Ackerson (D)
2023–2025: Markus Winkler (D)
2018–2023: David James (D)
2016–2018: David Yates (D)
2015–2016: David W. Tandy (D)
2011–2015†: Jim King (D)
2010–2011: Tom Owen (D)
2009–2010: David W. Tandy (D)
2008–2009: Jim King (D)
2007–2008: Rick Blackwell (D)
2006–2007: Kevin Kramer (R)
2005–2006: Barbara Shanklin (D)
2004–2005: Kelly Downard (R)
2003–2004: Ron Weston (D)

†Died in office

Members

Members of the Louisville Metro Council as of July 2026^[3]
District	Member	Political affiliation	Year elected
1	Tammy Hawkins	Democratic	2022
2	Barbara Shanklin	Democratic	2002
3	Shameka Parrish-Wright	Democratic	2023
4	Ken Herndon	Democratic	2024
5	Donna Lyvette Purvis	Democratic	2018
6	J.P. Lyninger	Democratic (Democratic Socialist)^{[note 1]}	2024
7	Paula McCraney	Independent	2018
8	Ben Reno-Weber	Democratic	2022
9	Andrew Owen	Democratic	2022
10	Josie Raymond	Democratic	2024
11	Kevin Kramer	Republican	2002
12	Jonathan Joseph	Republican	2024
13	Dan Seum Jr.	Republican	2022
14	Crystal Bast	Republican	2024
15	Jennifer Chappell	Democratic	2022
16	Scott W. Reed	Republican	2016
17	Markus Winkler	Democratic	2018
18	Marilyn Parker	Republican	2012
19	Anthony Piagentini	Republican	2018
20	Stuart Benson	Republican	2002
21	Betsy Ruhe	Democratic	2022
22	Kevin Bratcher	Republican	2024
23	Jeff Hudson	Republican	2022
24	Ginni Mulvey-Woolridge	Republican	2024
25	Khalil Batshon	Republican	2022
26	Brent Ackerson	Democratic	2008

↑ Although J.P. Lyninger ran on the Democratic Party line, he ran affiliated with and was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.^[4]^[5]

Ordinances

In 2006, two controversial ordinances were passed: a smoking ban in and a restrictive animal control ordinance.^[6]

One Touch Make Ready

In 2016, Louisville's Metro Council was the first among several cities in the United States to approve a One Touch Make Ready ordinance for allowing new communications service providers to alter/relocate existing utility pole attachments owned by third party communications service providers.^[7] Louisville's Metro Council faced multiple lawsuits following its approval of the ordinance.^[8]

Breonna's Law

On June 10, 2020, the Metro Council unanimously approved ″Breonna's Law″ banning no-knock search warrants after the 26-year-old emergency room technician was killed by Louisville police on March 13, and the city erupted in violent protests on May 28.^[9] Police Chief Steve Conrad was fired on June 1 after the fatal shooting of black business owner David McAtee.^[10]

References

↑ McCrary, Eleanor. "Democrat no more: Former Louisville party leader makes change to independent". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
↑ "New leadership elected at first Louisville Metro Council meeting of 2025". WDRB. January 9, 2025. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
↑ "Districts 1-26 | LouisvilleKY.gov". louisvilleky.gov. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
↑ "Endorsements". JP for Metro Council. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
↑ McCrary, Eleanor (June 10, 2024). "How grassroots campaigning helped get the first Louisville Democratic Socialist elected". Courier Journal. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
↑ "Most requested ordinances". louisvilleky.gov. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
↑ Bailey, Phillip (February 11, 2016). "Google Fiber Measure passed over objections". The Courier Journal. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
↑ Bailey, Phillip (February 26, 2016). "AT&T sues Louisville Metro over One Touch Fiber proposal". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
↑ Johnson, Martin (June 11, 2020). "Louisville passes 'Breonna's Law' banning no-knock warrants". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
↑ "Louisville police chief fired after fatal shooting of black business owner". CBS News. June 2, 2020. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

External links

[6] Although J.P. Lyninger ran on the Democratic Party line, he ran affiliated with and was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.^[4]^[5]

[1] McCrary, Eleanor. "Democrat no more: Former Louisville party leader makes change to independent". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 30, 2025.

[2] "New leadership elected at first Louisville Metro Council meeting of 2025". WDRB. January 9, 2025. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.

[3] "Districts 1-26 | LouisvilleKY.gov". louisvilleky.gov. Retrieved August 3, 2026.

[4] "Endorsements". JP for Metro Council. Retrieved August 3, 2026.

[5] McCrary, Eleanor (June 10, 2024). "How grassroots campaigning helped get the first Louisville Democratic Socialist elected". Courier Journal. Retrieved August 3, 2026.

[7] "Most requested ordinances". louisvilleky.gov. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2007.

[8] Bailey, Phillip (February 11, 2016). "Google Fiber Measure passed over objections". The Courier Journal. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2017.

[9] Bailey, Phillip (February 26, 2016). "AT&T sues Louisville Metro over One Touch Fiber proposal". The Courier-Journal. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2017.

[10] Johnson, Martin (June 11, 2020). "Louisville passes 'Breonna's Law' banning no-knock warrants". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

[11] "Louisville police chief fired after fatal shooting of black business owner". CBS News. June 2, 2020. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.

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v t e City of Louisville and metro area
History	Timeline Historic places Founder: George Rogers Clark Corn Island Fort Nelson Bloody Monday religious riots (1855) Civil War Southern Exposition (1883–87) 1890 tornado 1937 flood 1968 riots 1973 Kentucky Derby (Secretariat) 1974 tornadoes Louisville Cardinals men's basketball Championships in 1980 / 1986 / 2013 [vacated] 2015 scandal Standard Gravure shooting (1989) Ohio River Bridges Project (2002–16) Breonna Taylor Killing (2020) Protests 2023 bank shooting
Geography	Downtown Cityscape Tallest buildings Climate Local landmarks Neighborhoods Parks Preservation districts (Old Louisville)
Government	Mayor (Craig Greenberg) Metro Council (President: Brent Ackerson)
Transportation	Airports Muhammad Ali International Bowman Field Clark Regional Bridges Lewis and Clark Big Four Lincoln Kennedy Clark/2nd St. 14th St. K&I Sherman Minton Louisville Bus Station McAlpine Locks and Dam Roads TARC Union Station
Other subject areas	Attractions and events Cuisine Economy Education Media People Performing arts Public art Religion Sports
Top subjects	Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali Center Cave Hill Cemetery Falls of the Ohio Farmington Kentucky Derby (Festival) KFC History Colonel Sanders L&N Louisville Slugger Speed Art Museum University of Louisville (Cardinals)
National Historic Landmarks	Belle of Louisville Churchill Downs Historic Locust Grove Mayor Andrew Broaddus Old Bank Zachary Taylor House United States Marine Hospital Water Tower
Prominent suburbs (over 10K pop.)	Clarksville Jeffersontown Jeffersonville Lyndon Mount Washington New Albany St. Matthews Shelbyville Shepherdsville Shively
Category (city) Category (metro area) WikiProject