2026 Kentucky General Election

Ludlow City Council voted last week to appoint Brian Bumgarner to the vacant city council seat previously held by Abby Miller. Miller resigned from her seat on Ludlow City Council on June 11 after missing several council meetings. When a council member resigns, it falls to the remaining council members to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term.

Ludlow fills former council member Abby Miller’s seat

The article, published July 13, 2026, reports that Ludlow City Council appointed Bumgarner to the vacant seat previously held by Abby Miller and states: “Bumgarner will serve in the council seat for the rest of the year and appear on the ballot in November.”

Brian was appointed by the Ludlow City Council to fill a vacant council seat and will serve for the rest of the year.

Ludlow fills former council member Abby Miller's seat - LINK nky

Brian J. Bumgarner was appointed by the Ludlow City Council to fill a vacant council seat and will serve for the rest of the year.

As of September 15, 2026, Brian J. Bumgarner did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Public Safety

Education

“The dedication to orderly fiscal management and community improvement is what motivates me to work in public service,” Bumgarner said in an email to LINK nky. “However, for me personally, I want to make sure the city’s revenue and expenses are managed efficiently in order for Ludlow to have financial stability for years to come. This includes a thorough examination of all budget line items from the top down and bottom up.”

Prioritizes efficient management of city revenue and expenses through a thorough review of all budget line items to promote long-term financial stability.

- Prioritizes efficient management of city revenue and expenses through a thorough review of all budget line items to promote long-term financial stability.

Economy

Brian J. Bumgarner

As of September 15, 2026, Brian J. Bumgarner’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Mayor Wright advised that he would like to hear from residents in the 500 block of Linden and in the community on how they feel about either paving or repairing the street. Ms. Finni also asked for clarification on the definition of “rubbish or Ludlow City Council ~ 3 ~ August 14, 2025 excessive growth”, which he believes is ambiguous. Ms. Terry Navarre advised that the issue of clarifying the definition would be on the agenda of their next committee meeting.

LUDLOW COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 14, 2025 (PDF)

Believes Ludlow's definition of “rubbish or excessive growth” is ambiguous.

- Believes Ludlow's definition of “rubbish or excessive growth” is ambiguous.

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

Chad Finni

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

Asked whether the city could use code enforcement to fine developers for violations.

Former councilmember arrested at Ludlow city meeting - LINK nky

David Ziegler has previously served on the Ludlow School Board.

In a November 2023 candidate profile, Ziegler explained that he ran after criticizing how a council vacancy was filled. He said, “I don’t think the process was very fair,” Ziegler said, arguing the council hadn’t done enough to advertise the vacancy. “They didn’t let the residents in the city know that there was an opening,” Ziegler said.

Meet the candidates for Ludlow City Council - LINK nky

Criticizes the council's process for filling a vacancy without notifying residents of the opening.

- Criticizes the council's process for filling a vacancy without notifying residents of the opening.

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

David Ziegler

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

Plans to work with other council members on oversight of Cityview Station development in response to residents' concerns about damage.

The city should more clearly explain its tax policy to residents.

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

Jennifer Veon

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

Joel Walters

The charming city of Ludlow has a wonderful Cafe that I think you should visit.

Wynners Cup Cafe on Elm Street in Ludlow is owned by Ken Wynn, the Mayor of Ludlow, and his brother and nephew. This family owned business is more than just a run of the mill coffee shop.

Wynners Cup Cafe Ludlow

Ken Wynn owns Wynners Cup Cafe in Ludlow with his brother and nephew.

Wynners Cup Cafe in Ludlow - Family Friendly Cincinnati

MAYORS OF LUDLOW
Mayor Ken Wynn, elected 2010, currently serving
Mayor Ed Schroeder, elected 2002 and 2006, served two terms
Mayor Tom Stacy, elected 1998, served one term

LCC September 2014 (PDF)

Ken has experience as the mayor of Ludlow.

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

Ken Wynn—Elected 2010
I am your current Mayor. A lifelong resident of Ludlow, I got involved in our city government because I wanted to make positive changes in our community that benefit all of our residents and see our city grow and prosper.

Since being your Mayor, I was able to facilitate the opening of our grocery store with the help of my predecessor, Mayor Ed Schroeder. We have encouraged new businesses to come to Ludlow, such as Subway and Pizza Hut.

As mayor, facilitated the opening of a grocery store and encouraged Subway and Pizza Hut to locate in Ludlow.

- As mayor, facilitated the opening of a grocery store and encouraged Subway and Pizza Hut to locate in Ludlow.

Ken Wynn

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

Supports Riverfront Commons walking and biking connections along the Ohio River and with other Southbank cities.

Supports the Ludlow Police Department and then-Chief Turner.

Plans to work with the Catalytic Fund on market analysis and outreach to developers for Ludlow Yards.

LinkedIn

Instagram

Meagan Guthrie earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and politics and a master's degree from Xavier University. She is a married mother.

Meagan has worked in the Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response for the past seven years.

Meagan was appointed to the Ludlow City Council in 2025.

Guthrie currently works as the director of addiction response for Hamilton County across the river. She’s lived with her husband in Ludlow for six years. She said she wanted to focus “really a lot on the coalition building, the grassroots. What can we do to make sure that the community is heard and listened to?” When asked if there were any specific goals she wanted to push for while on the council, she said she wanted to focus on bringing in more businesses to the city.

Meagan Guthrie fills empty Ludlow city council seat

Wants to prioritize coalition-building and ensure community members are heard.

- Wants to prioritize coalition-building and ensure community members are heard.

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

The podcast discussion concerns addiction and overdose response. Guthrie said: “We really did have to make that shift of yes, our goal is always absolutely to get someone into treatment, but we had to shift to keeping people alive long enough to get them into treatment and recovery.”

Article

Said addiction response should prioritize keeping people alive long enough to enter treatment and recovery.

- Said addiction response should prioritize keeping people alive long enough to enter treatment and recovery.

When asked if there were any specific goals she wanted to push for while on the council, she said she wanted to focus on bringing in more businesses to the city. “What [can we] do to kind of look at what can incentivize more businesses to want to come to Ludlow and stay in Ludlow,” Guthrie told LINK nky, “but also being respectful of what makes Ludlow so unique.”

Thompson said she really wants EMTs for the Fire Department but it is such a large amount of money she didn’t think council would approve it. Guthrie said the roof is still in the budget, but Thompson told her they can’t go by line item. Guthrie said those are conversations that should be had anyway. She didn’t want to debate any further. “I just don’t think the sky is falling,” she said. “I can’t, in good faith, vote for an unbalanced budget.”

City of Ludlow council at an impasse on budget, meeting fraught with tension as no budget passes - NKyTribune

Council member Meagan Guthrie spoke next. She said that there have been a lot of questions about the fund balance, and she said the actual fund balance is $3.9 million but $900,000 of that is assets, which can’t be touched. She said the rainy day fund should be 3-4 months of operating expenses. So for the proposed budget of $6 million, there should be $1.5 to $2 million in reserves.

Wants to explore incentives for businesses to locate and remain in Ludlow while preserving the city's character.

Opposes approving an unbalanced city budget.

Said the city's rainy-day fund should cover three to four months of operating expenses.

- Wants to explore incentives for businesses to locate and remain in Ludlow while preserving the city's character.
- Opposes approving an unbalanced city budget.
- Said the city's rainy-day fund should cover three to four months of operating expenses.

Meagan Guthrie

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

Graszus, a challenger and former proprietor of Papa Dinno’s Pizza, which closed after five years of operation, spoke directly to the challenges of running a business in Ludlow. Given the city’s proximity to KY-8, which leads into Boone County, the city needed “to figure out a way to to attract the Boone County people,” she said.

Ludlow City Council candidates discuss issues, goals at open forum

Paula Hughes Graszus previously owned Papa Dinno’s Pizza, which closed after five years of operation.

Stephen Chapman Sr.
Meagan Guthrie
Paula Graszus
Brian Bumgarner
Julie Terry Navarre
David Ziegler

City of Ludlow > Government > City Council

Paula currently serves on the Ludlow City Council.

Ludlow City Council Meeting Minutes — September 11, 2025 (PDF)

Graszus and Matthews Frank encouraged the residents to contact them if they had problems with the construction.

“If people don’t come and complain and tell people what is happening in their home or to their home, how’s the council supposed to know?” Graszus said.

Encourages residents to report construction-related problems to the city council.

- Encourages residents to report construction-related problems to the city council.

Thompson and several members of the city council have made clear that they do not want data centers in Ludlow. Thompson said she has reviewed concerns raised in other cities that host data centers, along with worries expressed by local residents.

Thompson said that Ludlow wants to utilize the Kenton County Planning Commission to review the impacts of data center uses and impacts such as electricity, ground pollution, and water pollution, as well as the evaluation of the appropriate zoning districts and regulations and amendments for consideration.

“We’re a small town,” said Councilmember Paula Graszus. “We want to keep a small-town feel. Do we need the economic help? Yes, we do. But we’re going to find it somewhere else.”

Ludlow approves moratorium on data centers, other IT infrastructure projects

Said Ludlow should seek economic help elsewhere, rather than from data centers, to preserve its small-town feel.

- Said Ludlow should seek economic help elsewhere, rather than from data centers, to preserve its small-town feel.

As of September 15, 2026, Paula Hughes Graszus did not have a website or any information online.

The compensating plus + 2% rate would bring the real estate rate up to $0.534 per $100 and the personal property rate up to $1.842 per $100. The compensating plus + 4% rate would bring the real estate rate up to $0.551 per $100 and the personal property rate to $1.905 per $100.

Navarre then recommended calling for another vote on the middle rate.

The council voted again; this time Chapman, Graszus and Navarre voted in favor of the middle rate. Council Members David Ziegler and Abby Miller voted against it.

Ludlow raises taxes after stalled votes

Voted for Ludlow's compensating property-tax rate plus 2%.

- Voted for Ludlow's compensating property-tax rate plus 2%.

Paula Hughes Graszus

As of September 15, 2026, Paula Hughes Graszus’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Facebook

Said that Kentucky League Cities training advised cities to use the compensating property-tax rate plus 4%.

- 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.

Ludlow City Council Member

Candidates (8)