Strong Field of Candidates Turns Out for Maysville 2026 Forum
MAYSVILLE, Ky. (Mason County Post) — Dozens of candidates seeking local and state offices gathered at CrossPoint Community Church on Wednesday, April 29, for the 2026 Candidate Forum, giving Mason County residents a direct look at those hoping to represent them in the upcoming elections.
The event, co-hosted by the Maysville Area Chamber of Commerce, The Ledger Independent, and Soft 96 (WFTM-Maysville), featured a structured lineup of races with each candidate receiving two minutes for an introduction and two minutes to answer voter-submitted questions.
Travis Skaggs and Drew Spangler from WFTM moderated the forum and posed tough questions to the candidates.
Who Attended
City Commissioner candidates in attendance included:
Brey Foster, David Irwin, Tommy Marshall Jr., David Cartmell, Rick Lawrence, Steve Chandler, David Doyle, Ann Brammer, Kirby Bennett, Laron Washington, and Victor McKay. John Meng was not in attendance.
County Commissioner candidates turned out strongly. For District 2, Republicans Dwayne Sharp, Jason Sheppeck, and Larry Fetters participated, along with Democrat Janet Garrison. Democrat Henry Clay Boone was absent. For District 1, Republicans Glenny Riggs Jr. and Paula Cokonougher, and Democrats Noah Kalb and Rebecca Cartmell were present.
Judge Executive candidates included Republicans Peggy Frame, Max Moran, and Eric Bach.
State Representative candidates Travis Huber and Mike Fisher (both Republicans) attended, along with Republican Constable candidates Joe Collins and James Conley.
Candidate Priorities and Responses
The forum gave voters a clear window into the priorities of those seeking office. When asked what they saw as the biggest challenges facing the community right now and how they would address them if elected, the majority of candidates pointed to infrastructure — citing needs such as road and bridge repairs, water and sewer improvements, and overall community maintenance.
Brey Foster, however, offered a notably different response, focusing instead on homelessness.
“What I see as the biggest challenge in our community right now is the homeless,” Foster said. “What are we doing for our people who are unhoused?”
She outlined a collaborative approach centered on strengthening partnerships with existing organizations such as the Welcome House and the Buffalo Homeless Coalition. Foster emphasized practical solutions that connect individuals to housing resources, mental health services, and job support, while stressing that the issue requires both compassion and responsibility. She highlighted her experience with the Municipal Human Rights Commission as valuable preparation for building these relationships.
View our series of each of the candidates' response to WFTM’s and the Ledger Independent's questionnaire: here