Cold Spring City Council

The Cold Spring City Council will see nine candidates compete for six seats in November.

Incumbents Chris Ampfer, Lisa Schmidt Cavanaugh, Paul Kloeker, Cindy Moore, and Adam Craig Sandfoss are seeking reelection. Steve Cunningham, Brian King, Mark Majors, and Laura Vroegindewey are also seeking election.

Cold Spring City Council (10 candidates, vote for 6)

Click on the candidate’s names to learn more about the:

• Chris Ampfer* 
• Lisa Schmidt Cavanaugh* 
• Steve Cunningham 
• Brian King 
• Paul Kloeker* – did not respond for comment
• Mark Majors 
• Cindy Moore* 
• Adam Sandfoss* 
• Laura Vroegindewey 

Chris Ampfer

Chris Ampfer said he decided to run again because he believes Cold Spring Mayor Angelo Penque is a great mayor and he enjoys serving the city with him. Ampfer said he thinks the city has progressed greatly under Penque’s leadership.

The biggest issue Ampfer said he hears from citizens is concerns about traffic.

Should he be reelected Ampfer said he will see through the development of the former DAV headquarters and the Cold Spring Pointe development going in across from Meijer on U.S. 27.

“I would like the city to work with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to reduce traffic on U.S. 27 and make the corridor through the city more visually appealing,” Ampfer said. “Mayor Penque has mentioned initial conversations he has had with KYTC.”

He said his employment as an engineer with over 30 years of experience sets him apart from his running mates. Ampfer said his technical and analytical background allows him to easily understand issues that are brought before the council.

Lisa Schmidt Cavanaugh

Lisa Schmidt Cavanaugh is looking to be reelected to continue being a voice for the residents and to continue serving the city with the same philosophy that she has since first elected, “putting what is in the overall best interest of the city first.”

Schmidt Cavanaugh said the biggest issues facing Cold Spring is ensuring the police department salaries are competitive with those of surrounding cities that are similar in size and securing long-term revenue so that the city is able to continue providing city services they are accustomed to.

Her top priority, if elected, is to get park and playground equipment updated over the next couple of years.

Schmidt Cavanaugh said her 12 years of city council experience sets her apart from the competition.

“Although I’m classified as a politician, I don’t consider myself one,” she said. “I’m just a citizen trying my best to serve the city. I believe in weighing the pros and cons of every issue and making decisions based on what is in the overall best interest of the city, not personal opinions or political agendas.”

Schmidt Cavanaugh said she also makes herself available to every resident and will continue to do anything she can regarding their concerns.

Lisa Schmidt Cavanaugh did not submit a headshot to LINK nky.

Steve Cunningham

Steve Cunningham said he believes the top concern for Cold Spring is moderating development.

“We have room for improvement,” Cunningham said. “Our kids are growing up in this city. I care about Cold Spring and our citizens.”

Should he be elected, he said his top priority is improving the city’s parks.

Cunningham said he has had success in business operations and is accessible and accountable, which sets him apart. He said he would think independently and work for the citizens if elected.

Steve Cunningham did not submit a headshot to LINK nky.

Brian King

Brian King said he is running for city council because of the actions and comments made by current council members (during the April 22 meeting), including a council member who questioned the need for handicapped accessible playground equipment and a mayor who yelled at a council member for asking for additional budget information. King said he believes these actions are unacceptable and wants a city council to stand up to the mayor and call out inappropriate behavior.

“I think that city council members should bear witness to any inappropriate behavior by city representatives and be prepared to call it out and work to mitigate it rather than leave the situation,” King said. “I have a level head and will work to rein in any inappropriate behavior at these city council meetings so that the city’s business can be discussed in a calm and respectful manner.”

He said one of Cold Spring’s top concerns today is the lack of communication regarding the zone change to the former DAV headquarters site. He said when the city purchased the property, residents were told a medical facility would go on the property fronting U.S. 27. He said the phase one plan also includes three smaller lots for possible restaurants and a back portion for future residential development.

King said his top priority during his term would be to “fill the void” left by Dave Guidugli, who is not seeking reelection.

King said he has attended over 90% of the council meetings since January 2023, which has helped set him apart from his running mates.

Mark Majors

Mark Majors said he is running for city council to make the city a great place to raise a family or retire.

Majors said one of the top concerns in the city is traffic.

Majors also expressed concern that the council doesn’t know how to apply for grants that could help provide better parks for citizens. He said by applying for grants, the city would be able to provide more without using local taxpayer funding.

He said there also seems to be a lack of concern on behalf of the current council to hear resident’s concerns.

“They seem to pass it off as someone else’s problem and not their own,” Majors said. “I feel that the council could look into these concerns and get back to them with a solution. I would like to work with the other council members to get answers to the concerns of our citizens.”

If elected, his top priorities include traffic concerns, park conditions and smart growth. Majors said he thinks establishing city committees to handle specific responsibilities would be beneficial.

Majors said some things that help set him apart from his competition are his past experience working with other communities in Northern Kentucky and Ohio. He said he also has experience making budgets in other communities, which will help with negotiating and approving the budget for Cold Spring.

Majors said he would be open to all sides of concerns and would be open to any professional or personal development that would improve his performance as a council member.

Mark Majors did not submit a headshot to LINK nky.

Cindy Moore

Cindy Moore has been on the city council for eight years and is seeking reelection to help complete current projects in the city.

The most pressing issue in the city today, Moore said, is the city budget and current funds available to continue and improve the city’s public areas. She also said keeping taxes lower and keeping green space in the city is of concern.

“Unfortunately, council members only have control of the budget in the City of Cold Spring,” Moore said. “I’d like to see each council member be more involved in city business. I’d like to bring back council committees and strengthen the knowledge of current activity within the city.”

Moore said her compassion, confidence, integrity, honesty, courage and self-control makes her the best choice for Cold Spring City Council.

Adam Sandfoss

Adam Sandfoss said he is seeking reelection because he is proud of what has been accomplished over the last 14 years he has been on council and thinks there is more work to be done.

He said the most pressing issues of a small municipality is job growth and economic opportunity which he said also happen to be two of Cold Spring’s biggest strengths.

Should he be reelected, his top priorities include continuing economic growth, securing the city’s financial outlook and maintaining more respect among elected officials.

“I believe in working with others you may disagree with but also standing firm in my beliefs,” he said. “As a registered nurse, I am also used to high-pressure situations and dealing with multiple challenges at once. I am proud of what has been accomplished over the last decade and look forward to continuing that journey.”

Adam Sandfoss did not submit a headshot to LINK nky.

Laura Vroegindewey

Laura Vroegindewey is seeking a spot on the Cold Spring City Council to ensure the city is where people want to live or do business, knowing each citizen’s voice has a right to be heard.

She said the most pressing issue in the city is the recent growth, which arrived with opportunities and challenges regarding zoning and community planning.

If elected, Vroegindewey said she would continue to listen and grow with each constituent she interacts with.

“I will take each and every opinion and dream for our city, combine that with information given to members of council, and steer our community’s future in a way which reflects a common vision of the citizens of Cold Spring both today and in the future,” she said.

Vroegindewey is a local home care physical therapist and engages daily in communication, advocacy and coordination of services with health partners. She said she plans to utilize these skills and collaboration to act as a liaison between the citizens and city government.

  Paul Kloeker chose not to comment for this story.