Boone County voters will decide many contested local races on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The ballot includes Florence mayor, Florence City Council, Boone County judge/executive, two county commissioner seats, Union mayor and a school board seat.

The races below are drawn from the official sample ballot published by County Clerk Justin Crigler and candidate profiles compiled by LINK nky on Oct. 12.

Florence mayor

Mayor Julie Metzger Aubuchon, who has served more than two decades in city government, is seeking a second term. She faces David Rose, a retired U.S. Postal Service employee and 1989 Boone County High School graduate who has lived in the county his entire life.

On Aug. 27, Aubuchon announced a new investment strategy she said would generate $2.6 million annually from city reserves, first reported by the NKY Tribune. "We have worked hard to put Florence in a strong financial position, and now we are making sure those dollars are working for our community," she said at the time.

Both Florence city races are non-partisan.

Florence City Council

Twelve candidates are competing for six seats. Voters may pick up to six. The field includes five current or recent council members: Lesley Chambers, David M. Schneider, Diane Ewing Whalen, Gary Winn and Angie Cable. Schneider was appointed to fill a vacancy in early 2025.

Also running are Duane Froelicher, who served three consecutive terms from 2015 through 2020, and Aaron Gillum, who brings roughly three decades of technology experience and involvement in local government and community organizations. Challengers Jeffrey R. Whittaker, Shari Kilmer, Jim Leach, Brian Kinross and Joe Clinton Berkshire round out the field.

Chambers was among residents who fought to keep the Florence Aquatic Center open in 2022 when the city considered demolishing the facility. Several challengers have attended recent council meetings. Kilmer and Leach sat in the audience at the July 28 business meeting, according to official minutes.

Boone County judge/executive

Republican Chet Hand, currently a Boone County commissioner representing District 2, faces Independent candidate Timothy Johnson. Hand won the Republican primary over incumbent Judge/Executive Gary W. Moore. Johnson has lived in Boone County for more than 50 years.

The Boone County Public Library scheduled a debate between the two for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Main Library, 1786 Burlington Pike in Burlington, according to the NKY Tribune. Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson is moderating, and Norse Media will livestream the event.

County commissioner

District 1: Incumbent Republican Cathy Flaig faces Democrat Debra Waller, a Verona-based conservationist and longtime county resident.

District 2: Republican John Schickel faces Democrat Lianna Nguyen. Nguyen owns a nail trade school on Mall Road in Florence and was appointed to the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology in 2024 by Governor Andy Beshear. In a candidate questionnaire, she called for a moratorium on data centers near homes, citing concerns about home values, utility costs and noise.

Union mayor

Commissioner John Mefford and U.S. Navy veteran Chris Courtney are competing to succeed outgoing Mayor Larry Solomon, who is stepping down after three terms. Solomon is running for a seat on the Union City Commission, where five candidates are vying for four seats.

School board District 4

Robin Shumate is challenging incumbent Cindy Young for the Division 4 seat on the five-member Boone County Board of Education. The race is non-partisan.

What's next

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Florence City Council's first scheduled business meetings after Election Day are Nov. 10 and Nov. 24.