Emma Curtis wins contentious, historic 4th Council race

Challenger Emma Curtis defeated incumbent Lexington Councilmember Brenda Monarrez on Tuesday in a closely fought race to represent Lexington’s 4th Council District.

According to unofficial results, Curtis received 52% of the vote, compared to Monarrez’s 48%, with 285 of 286 precincts reporting.

Curtis, 28, an independent filmmaker and organizer for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, made history with her win Tuesday night. She will become the first transgender person elected to the 15-member Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council.

Curtis is also believed to be the first transgender person in Kentucky history to be elected to city office.

The district includes neighborhoods south of New Circle Road between Nicholasville Road and Tates Creek.

The race to represent the people of the 4th Council District has been overshadowed by allegations of sexual assault.

Fayette Circuit Judge Traci Brislin entered a three-year protective order Monarrez on October 16preventing her from entering City Hall and contacting fellow council member Denise Gray.

Gray accused Monarrez of sexually assaulting her twice in three years, most recently in August.

In her Oct. 16 ruling, Brislin sided with Gray and said the assault had occurred.

Protection orders are civil orders. No criminal charges have been filed.

Monarrez, 53, has denied the allegations and appealed the protective order that denied her access to City Hall. A Kentucky Court of Appeals judge denied her appeal on November 1.

Curtis called on Monarrez to resign following the October 16 decision. Monarrez refused and has maintained her innocence.

During her campaign, Monarrez touted her ability to address long-standing issues in the 4th District. That includes the completion of the long-stalled sidewalk project on Wilson Downing Road, as well as a host of other traffic improvements around Nicholasville Road.

Monarrez also said she has been aggressive in addressing odor complaints emanating from the city’s West Hickman sewage treatment plant, which is located near many 4th District neighborhoods.

Curtis has said she would focus on solutions to issues with Nicholasville Road, develop more affordable housing options and support proposed changes to city rules regarding short-term rentals. That would allow city officials to reject potential short-term rentals if there are too many Airbnb or VRBO operators in certain neighborhoods.

In the May primaries, Monarrez was in the lead, with 48% of the vote to Curtis’ 30%. Brack Marquette, who finished in third place, received 22%. The top two vote-getters in the primaries advance to the general election.

Curtis out-raised Monarrez and outspent, campaign finance reports show.

Curtis raised $9,455 and spent nearly $6,000, according to Oct. 23 Kentucky Registry of Election Finance reports.

Monarrez raised $2,378, with nearly $1,000 coming from the Kentucky Realtors political action committee.

Council members serve a two-year term. Council races are nonpartisan.