2026 Kentucky General Election

Candidates for Edgewood mayor answer questions - LINK nky

John David Link is a married father of four.

John is the current mayor of Edgewood and has served seven terms.

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

Education

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Public Services

Transportation & Infrastructure

Economy

John David Link

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

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Mike Thelen, challenger

Mike Thelen was born and raised in the city, is married and has a grown daughter.

Thelen attended Covington Latin School and Covington Catholic High School, from which he graduated. He went on to attend Thomas More College, and then received a Masters in safety management from West Virginia University in 1991.

Mike Thelen has extensive experience in managing worker’s compensation and in managing environmental management systems. He graduated from Thomas More College in business and West Virginia University with a masters in Safety Studies. He has been an active volunteer and member of the Edgewood Fire/EMS.

Kenton County Races - NKyTribune

Michael Thelen is originally from Edgewood. He attended Thomas More College and earned a master's degree in safety management from West Virginia University in 1991. Michael is married, has a daughter, and has volunteered with Edgewood Fire/EMS.

Kenton County Races - Northern Kentucky Tribune

Michael Thelen has experience managing workers' compensation and environmental management systems.

Michael has experience managing workers' compensation and environmental management systems.

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

“If I am elected mayor, I will institute that transparency in the city,” Thelen said of Edgewood.

“We need to sit down and talk about what regulations that we are compliant with, and what regulations we need to get into compliance,” he said. “We have to be compliant from the top down.”

Calls for city officials to identify applicable regulations and ensure compliance throughout city government.

- Calls for city officials to identify applicable regulations and ensure compliance throughout city government.

Transparency is also an issue in general, Thelen argues, and he wants Edgewood to be more like neighboring Ft. Wright, which Thelen argues sets a better example.

“If I am elected mayor, I will institute that transparency in the city,” Thelen said of Edgewood.

Thelen also criticized a monument outside the city building, erected this year to honor people who give back to the city. Thelen argued that the $30,000 could have been better applied to help residents.

“The type of toxic leadership in Edgewood first became known in the military,” Thelen said. “I am sick of it. If I am elected, I will allow and encourage people to speak at the meetings. I will also make the city more user friendly.”

Pledges to increase transparency in city government if elected mayor.

Plans to encourage public comment at city meetings and make city government more user-friendly if elected.

- Pledges to increase transparency in city government if elected mayor.
- Plans to encourage public comment at city meetings and make city government more user-friendly if elected.

Michael Thelen

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

- Supports requiring motorized scooters and bikes to stay off sidewalks, follow road rules, and be subject to enforcement.

Mauricio Mendez

- 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. 

Edgewood Mayor

Candidates (2)