- Magistrates, sometimes called justices of the peace, sit on the fiscal court, which serves as the county legislature and makes laws for the county. 
- They decide how money is spent and raised by the county, including taxes, bonds, and property transactions.
- They oversee county infrastructure like roads, manage county property, conduct building inspections, issue permits, and operate the county jail.
- Each county features 3 to 8 districts, each electing 1 magistrate.
- Magistrates are elected for 4-year terms in partisan elections. Their salary caps at approximately $93,000 for full-time work, adjusted based on hours worked. The fiscal court determines this salary.

2026 Kentucky Primary Election

Kentucky

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Economy

Transportation & Infrastructure

Public Services

Magistrate

- There are three county districts, each with one elected commissioner. The general election is voted "at large," allowing all county voters to choose nominees from each district, except in Jefferson County. 
- County commissioners serve on the fiscal court, which acts as the county’s legislature and governing body. The county judge/executive leads this court as its fourth member.
- The fiscal court makes county laws, allocates the budget, and raises funds through taxes, bonds, or selling county property. 
- The fiscal court can choose to administer public assistance, health, and other social services. It can also choose to regulate or restrict building construction or use.
- Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms. These elections are partisan. 
- The maximum annual salary for a county commissioner is about $93,000 if they are working full time.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.

Fayette

Healthcare

County Commissioner

- Property valuation administrators (PVAs) assess and assign value to all real and tangible property in the county. This includes residential property, commercial property, cars, boats, and business assets. 
- PVAs are audited by the state and have their assessment certified by the Department of Revenue. 
- PVAs are funded by the local county or city budgets.

Taxes

Administration

Property Valuation Administrator

- Board of education members work as a team to lead the school district by setting policy, providing resources, and overseeing employees. 
- The board of education is responsible for the local school budget. It reviews expenditures, allocates funds, and approves facility plans. The board may levy taxes if deemed necessary.
- The board of education hires and directly supervises the district superintendent.
- School board of education numbers are elected in staggered even-numbered years through a nonpartisan election and serve four-year terms. Most boards in Kentucky consist of five members. 
- Independent school districts elect board members at large; county school districts elect board members from divisions. 
- School board members do not receive a salary. They may be compensated for costs associated with state-mandated activities. 

Governs the local public school system and allocates the education budget. 

Economic Growth

Student Wellbeing

Access to Education

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Teachers

Board of Education Member

- The sheriff is a law enforcement officer with arrest power and the right to carry a concealed weapon. They hire and manage trained deputies.
- In most counties, the role of the jailer, who handles jail management, and the sheriff are separate offices, but some counties such as Lexington-Fayette County and Louisville-Jefferson County, combine these roles. 
- Property owners pay property taxes to the sheriff, who keeps records and delivers the money to the appropriate part of government.
- The sheriff sits on the four person county board of elections. On election day, the board of elections rules on questions about voter registration, proof of identification, and signatures on absentee ballots.
- This position has a maximum annual salary based on county size. The current maximum values range from about $85,000 to $154,400. 

The chief law enforcement officer of your county.

Policing

Jail Management

Criminal Justice

Sheriff

County Surveyor

- 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.

Forest Hills

Education

City Council Member

- 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. 

Mayor

Worthington Hills

Woodlawn Park

Woodland Hills

Windy Hills

Wildwood

Westwood

West Buechel

Wellington

Watterson Park

Thornhill

Ten Broeck

Sycamore

Strathmoor Village

Strathmoor Manor

Spring Valley

Spring Mill

South Park View

Shively

Seneca Gardens

St. Regis Park

St. Matthews

Rolling Hills

Rolling Fields

Riverwood

Richlawn

Prospect

Poplar Hills

Plantation

Parkway Village

Old Brownsboro Place

Norwood

Northfield

Norbourne Estates

Murray Hill

Moorland

Mockingbird Valley

Middletown

Meadowview Estates

Meadowbrook Farm

Meadow Vale

Maryhill Estates

Manor Creek

Lynnview

Lyndon

Louisville

Lincolnshire

Langdon Place

Kingsley

Jeffersontown

Indian Hills

Hurstbourne Acres

Hurstbourne

Houston Acres

Hollyvilla

Hollow Creek

Hills and Dales

Hickory Hill

Heritage Creek

Green Spring

Graymoor-Devondale

Goose Creek

Glenview Manor

Glenview Hills

Glenview

Fincastle

Druid Hills

Douglass Hills

Crossgate

Creekside

Coldstream

Cambridge

Brownsboro Village

Brownsboro Farm

Broeck Pointe

Briarwood

Blue Ridge Manor

Bellewood

Bellemeade

Beechwood Village

Barbourmeade

Bancroft

Audubon Park

Anchorage

Wurtland

Worthville

Worthington

Woodlawn

Williamstown

Wilder

Warsaw

Walton

Villa Hills

Vanceburg

Union

Taylorsville

Taylor Mill

Sparta

Southgate

South Shore

Full profiles for 5 counties, including Boyd and Fayette

2026 Kentucky candidates

Fayette Magistrate, District 3, Democratic Primary

How this impacts you

Fayette County Commissioner, District 2, Democratic Primary

How this impacts you

Fayette County Commissioner, District 3, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Fayette Magistrate, District 3, Nonpartisan Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Fayette Property Valuation Administrator, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

Fayette Board of Education Member, District 4

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Fayette Sheriff, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Fayette County Surveyor, Nonpartisan Primary

1 candidate

Forest Hills City Council Member

4 candidates

How this impacts you

Forest Hills Mayor

1 candidate