# Chris Vogelpohl

Title: Council Member
Phone: 859-750-8249

Chris has been a resident of Independence since the age of 10 and is currently serving his second term on the council. He has been active in the community for over 14 years serving as a youth soccer coach at various levels for the Independence Soccer Club and previously serving on the Site Based Committee at Kenton Elementary.

Staff Directory • Chris Vogelpohl

Chris has been a resident of Independence since the age of 10 and is currently serving his second term on the council. He has been active in the community for over 14 years serving as a youth soccer coach at various levels for the Independence Soccer Club and previously serving on the Site Based Committee at Kenton Elementary.

Chris holds degrees in Nursing and History from NKU. He was a firefighter/paramedic for 20 years. Chris started his career for the Independence Fire District and eventually switched to the City of Covington Fire Department where he retired as a Lieutenant in 2019. Chris is currently employed as an EMS Coordinator for St Elizabeth Healthcare at their training center.

Chris has been married to his wife Shauna for 23 years and they have 2 daughters and is proud to call Independence my home, and he looks forward to further serving the citizens of Independence.

Chris Vogelpohl has lived in Independence since age 10. He holds degrees in nursing and history from Northern Kentucky University. He has been married to Shauna for 23 years, and they have two daughters; he has also coached youth soccer at various levels for the Independence Soccer Club and served on the site-based committee at Kenton Elementary.

Council Members - Independence, KY

Chris Vogelpohl earned degrees in nursing and history from Northern Kentucky University. Chris lives with his wife, Shauna, and their two children in Independence.

Chris started his career for the Independence Fire District and eventually switched to the City of Covington Fire Department where he retired as a Lieutenant in 2019. Chris is currently employed as an EMS Coordinator for St Elizabeth Healthcare at their training center.

He was a firefighter/paramedic for 20 years. Chris started his career for the Independence Fire District and eventually switched to the City of Covington Fire Department where he retired as a Lieutenant in 2019. Chris is currently employed as an EMS Coordinator for St Elizabeth Healthcare at their training center.

Chris currently works as an emergency medical services coordinator. He previously worked as a firefighter and paramedic.

Current Council MembersTom Brinker
Council Member
Email Council Member BrinkerMatthew Fehler
Council Member
Email Council Member FehlerCarol Franzen
Council Member
Email Council Member FranzenGreg Steffen
Council Member
Email Council Member SteffenChris Vogelpohl
Council Member
Email Council Member VogelpohlGreg Waite
Council Member
Email Council Member Waite

Council Members | City of Independence

Chris currently serves as a council member for the City of Independence. He was first elected in 2022 and is in his second term. 

2026 Kentucky General Election

QUESTION (for incumbents): What projects would you like to see accomplished while you are on council?

Chris Vogelpohl: Again, I do not have any “pet” projects, or individual goals to accomplish while serving on council. One thing that I do hope to see continue is money to be well spent in keeping our city streets, infrastructure, and parks among the nicest in the region. We have recently been able to make upgrades to our park system and increase road maintenance projects thanks to an influx of unexpected money from the federal government in the form of “Covid Relief.” I hope to see our strategic plan of maintenance and improvements continue even when the “covid money” is gone.

Candidates for Independence City Council answer questions - LINK nky

Wants more money to be spent on maintaining the quality of streets, infrastructure, and parks.

- Wants more money to be spent on maintaining the quality of streets, infrastructure, and parks.

Public Services

QUESTION (for incumbents): Where do you see your city in ten years?

Chris Vogelpohl: Our city is on the verge of rapid growth with the 536-road project in full swing. When this road is completed, Independence could explode with growth. The main thing I hear people say is that they like the “small town feel” of Independence. I hope to maintain that small town feel 10 years from now through smart managed growth.

Independence council votes to place medical cannabis on ballot

Advocates for smart managed growth to keep a "small town feel" for the city of Independence.

- Advocates for smart managed growth to keep a "small town feel" for the city of Independence.
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Housing & Urban Development

As of September 15, 2026, Chris Vogelpohl did not have a website or any information online.

Transportation & Infrastructure

QUESTION (for incumbents): What do you see are the main issues facing your city?

Chris Vogelpohl: The main issue affecting our city right now is like many others. That is the ability to attract and retain highly qualified police officers. I will always back our outstanding police department 100%. Currently I am part of a work group designed to focus on this issue. In the budget that we just passed we were able to give our police department significant raises to bring them in line with other departments in our region.

Chris Vogelpohl: The main issue affecting our city right now is like many others. That is the ability to attract and retain highly qualified police officers. I will always back our outstanding police department 100%. Currently I am part of a work group designed to focus on this issue. In the budget that we just passed we were able to give our police department significant raises to bring them in line with other departments in our region. The raises are a starting point towards retention, as we probe deeper into other outlying issues to retention of officers.

Supports police officer retention by increasing pay and doing additional work on retention issues.

Supports greater police officer retention by increasing police pay and implementing additional retention strategies.

- Supports greater police officer retention by increasing police pay and implementing additional retention strategies.

Public Safety

Education

Economy

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Chris Vogelpohl

- Advocates for smart managed growth to keep a "small town feel" for the city of Independence.
- .

- Advocates for smart managed growth to keep a "small town feel" for the city of Independence.

Chris Vogelpohl is from Independence, Kentucky. He earned degrees in nursing and history from Northern Kentucky University. Chris lives with his wife, Shauna, and their two daughters in Independence.

Chris currently works as an emergency medical services coordinator. He previously worked as a firefighter and paramedic for 20 years.

Chris currently has served as a council member for the City of Independence since 2022.

Chris is employed as an EMS Coordinator for St Elizabeth Healthcare at their training center and has been a firefighter/paramedic for 20 years.

Chris is currently a council member in Independence.

Wants money to be spent on maintaining the quality of streets, infrastructure, and parks.

- Wants money to be spent on maintaining the quality of streets, infrastructure, and parks.

Advocates for smart managed growth to keep a "small town feel."

- Advocates for smart managed growth to keep a "small town feel."

- Supports police officer retention by increasing pay and doing additional work on retention issues.

As of September 15, 2026, Chris Vogelpohl’s website did not contain information on this issue.

QUESTION (for incumbents): What are your chief accomplishments while you have been on council?

Chris Vogelpohl: I cannot say that I have a chief accomplishment of my own. Our council is blessed that we work well together even when we disagree. We have a top-notch administrative staff that does the hard work. One of the most important things that this entire group has accomplished is the ability to lower property taxes for 2 consecutive years, while keeping the city in good financial shape.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Independence City Council voted to send the question whether to allow medical cannabis businesses in the city limits to the November ballot after a long discussion on June 3. The vote for the ballot resolution passed by a 4 to 2 vote, with council members Chris Vogelpohl, Greg Waite, Carol Franzen and Tom Brinker voting in favor of the ballot measure and Council Members Greg Steffen and Dave Shafer voting against.

Independence City Council to place medical cannabis business question on ballot

Bryan Roemer

David Cooper

Giuseppe Bentivegna

Greg Waite

Jantzen J. Wittrock

Matt Fehler

Thomas 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. 

Passes laws and regulations for your city.