Link NKY, Candidates for Independence City Council answer questions

Greg earned his bachelor's degree in anthropology from Northern Kentucky University and his master's degree in pastoral theology from St. Joseph's College of Maine. He lives in Independence.

City of Independence, Greg Steffen

Greg currently works at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. He previously worked as an air traffic controller.

Greg Steffen is currently a city council member in the city of Independence, Kentucky. He has served 2 terms.

Public Services

As a city council member, prevented development of new apartments.

Opposes zoning any new multifamily housing.

- As a city council member, prevented development of new apartments.
- Opposes zoning any new multifamily housing.

Housing & Urban Development

As of June 7, 2025, Greg Steffen did not have a website or any information online.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Public Safety

Education

Economy

Greg Steffen

Bryan has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northern Kentucky University and a master's of business administration in human resources management from Louisiana State University, Shreveport. He lives in Independence with his wife, Nikita, and their two daughters.  Bryan also mentors undergraduate NKU students through his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Bryan is currently a stock plan administrator for Ryan. He has previously worked as an executive compensation consultant for Omnicell and Stock & Option Solutions, an executive compensation manager for Premier Inc., an analyst for Fifth Third Bank, and in several roles at Fidelity Investments.

Bryan Roemer’s campaign for city council is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Supports adding a splash pad and dog park to the city.

- Supports adding a splash pad and dog park to the city.

Believes in prioritizing the needs of current residents and local businesses over newcomers.

Supports "healthy growth" in rural communities, including Independence, but believes it must be done "properly."

Wants to maintain "the rural Independence sense of community while promoting responsible growth and being fiscally sound."

- Believes in prioritizing the needs of current residents and local businesses over newcomers.
- Supports "healthy growth" in rural communities, including Independence, but believes it must be done "properly."
- Wants to maintain "the rural Independence sense of community while promoting responsible growth and being fiscally sound."

Believes in not allowing the community to grow beyond the capacity of its infrastructure.

- Believes in not allowing the community to grow beyond the capacity of its infrastructure.

Wants to provide adequate equipment, training, personnel, and technology for first responders.

Believes it is important to provide local law enforcement with resources to help maintain community safety.

- Wants to provide adequate equipment, training, personnel, and technology for first responders.
- Believes it is important to provide local law enforcement with resources to help maintain community safety.

As of June 7, 2025, Bryan Roemer’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports adding the Farmer's Market to Courthouse Square to encourage locally-owned shops and delis.

Supports the growth of locally-owned businesses in Independence.

- Supports adding the Farmer's Market to Courthouse Square to encourage locally-owned shops and delis.
- Supports the growth of locally-owned businesses in Independence.

Facebook

Bryan Roemer

City of Independence: Carol Franzen, Council Member

Carol has a bachelor's degree in political science from Northern Kentucky University. She lives in Independence with her husband, Mark.

As of September 5, 2024, Carol Franzen did not have a website or any information online.

Carol Franzen is currently serving on the Independence City Council. She was first elected in 2002 and is serving her 11th term.

LINK NKY: Independence City Council agrees to move forward on early planning for splash pad

As a city councilor, supported the creation of a splash pad.

- As a city councilor, supported the creation of a splash pad.

Wants to "maintain the small town feel" while still allowing controlled commercial and industrial growth.

As a city councilor, supported the creation of an industrial park along Route 536 and expanding Memorial Park with additional sports facilities.

Supports businesses developing currently underdeveloped commercial properties, such as the shopping center at Cherokee on Taylor Mill Road.

- Wants to "maintain the small town feel" while still allowing controlled commercial and industrial growth.
- As a city councilor, supported the creation of an industrial park along Route 536 and expanding Memorial Park with additional sports facilities.
- Supports businesses developing currently underdeveloped commercial properties, such as the shopping center at Cherokee on Taylor Mill Road.

As of June 7, 2025, Carol Franzen did not have a website or any information online.

As a city councilor, supported a measure to add a ballot resolution on whether medical marijuana businesses should be allowed within city limits.

Wants to ensure that police officers have competitive pay and benefits.

- As a city councilor, supported a measure to add a ballot resolution on whether medical marijuana businesses should be allowed within city limits.
- Wants to ensure that police officers have competitive pay and benefits.

Wants the city to be "in sound financial shape [and able to] provide the infrastructure support and services the community needs without financial strain on taxpayers."

- Wants the city to be "in sound financial shape [and able to] provide the infrastructure support and services the community needs without financial strain on taxpayers."

Carol Franzen

Chris lives in Independence with his family. He earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Northern Kentucky University,

LinkedIn

Chris works as a program director for Air Evac Lifeteam.

Christopher Barbour's campaign for city council member is his first run for public office.

Supports fiscally responsible growth that benefits the community.

- Supports fiscally responsible growth that benefits the community.

As of June 7, 2025, Christopher Barbour did not have a website or any information online.

Twitter

Christopher Barbour

Christopher is from Independence. He attended Northern Kentucky University, earning an associate's degree in registered nursing and a bachelor's degree in history. He lives in Independence with his wife, Shauna, and their 2 children. 

Christopher works as manager of EMS community outreach for St. Elizabeth Health Care. Previously he worked as a firefighter and paramedic for the city of Covington.

Link NKY - Candidates for Independence City Council answer questions

Christopher Vogelpohl currently serves as a city council member in Independence, Kentucky. He was first elected in 2018 and is serving his 3rd term. 

As of June 7, 2025, Christopher Vogelpohl did not have a website or any information online.

Said "Our city is on the verge of rapid growth ... I hope to maintain that small town feel 10 years from now through smart managed growth.

- Said "Our city is on the verge of rapid growth ... I hope to maintain that small town feel 10 years from now through smart managed growth.

Believes the main issue facing the city is police officer retention.

- Believes the main issue facing the city is police officer retention.

Said "I hope to see our strategic plan of maintenance and improvements continue even when the 'covid money' is gone."

Supports continuing to lower property taxes.

- Said "I hope to see our strategic plan of maintenance and improvements continue even when the 'covid money' is gone."
- Supports continuing to lower property taxes.

Christopher Vogelpohl

City of Independence -  Dave Shafer, Council Member

Dave lives in Independence with his wife, Dianna. They have 2 children.

Link KY - Independence City Council to place medical cannabis business question on ballot

Dave Shafer has served on the Independence City Council since 2021. 

As of June 7, 2025, Dave Shafer did not have a website or any information online.

Opposed placing the question about whether to allow medical cannabis businesses to open in Independence on the ballot.

- Opposed placing the question about whether to allow medical cannabis businesses to open in Independence on the ballot.

Dave Shafer

City of Independence: Greg Waite, Council Member

Greg lives in Independence with his wife, Jackie, and their 3 children.

Greg previously worked as a lieutenant/EMT with the Independence Fire District. He served in the U.S. Navy.

LINK NKY: Candidates for Independence City Council answer questions

Gregory Waite is currently serving on the Independence City Council. He was first elected in 2016 and is serving his 4th term.

Believes in maintaining public services to keep up with rapid growth.

- Believes in maintaining public services to keep up with rapid growth.

As of June 7, 2025, Gregory Waite did not have a website or any information online.

Worked to update the police pay structure.

- Worked to update the police pay structure.

Gregory Waite

Matt studied at Northern Kentucky University. He lives in Independence with his wife, Amanda, and their 2 children.

Matthew is a real estate agent. He previously worked as a detective.

As of September 4, 2024, Matthew Fehler did not have a website or any information online.

As of June 7, 2025, Matthew Fehler did not have a website or any information online.

Instagram

Matthew Fehler

Tom is originally from Villa Hills, Kentucky.

As of September 5, 2024, Tom Brinker did not have a website or any information online.

Tom Brinker is currently serving as a member of the Independence City Council. He was first elected in 2014 and is serving his 5th term.

As of June 7, 2025, Tom Brinker did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to "maintain the same small town feel."

- Wants to "maintain the same small town feel."

Wants continued progress on the current road repair plans.

- Wants continued progress on the current road repair plans.

As a city councilor, voted to add a ballot resolution on whether medical marijuana businesses should be allowed in the city.

- As a city councilor, voted to add a ballot resolution on whether medical marijuana businesses should be allowed in the city.

Wants to build a tax base that doesn't rely on residents.

- Wants to build a tax base that doesn't rely on residents.

Tom Brinker

- 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. 