Park Hills is a city of approximately 3,100 people in northern Kenton County.
Park Hill’s city government operates under a council-style format. Voters elect a group of councilors who serve as the city’s legislative and policymaking body. They are responsible for deciding issues such as local tax rates and city budgets.
The city council is in council is made up of six members that are elected every two years.
Park Hills City Council (11 candidates, vote for 6)
Click on the candidate’s names to learn more about them:
- Matthew Breeze
- David Costas
- Greg Claypole
- Joe Daugherty
- Steve Elkins
- Sarah Froelich
- Laura Rippe Cardosi
- Emily Sayers
- Pamela Spoor
- Carlton Trinkle
- Dan Warner
David Costas
David Costas and his wife Jasmine have lived in Park Hills for over five years. He currently captains a Boeing 767 for a cargo airline.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Costas said he decided to run for public office to investigate what he believes are improprieties with the city’s government. He accused some of the city’s sitting officials and mayor of “abuse of power.”
Costas identified three issues he would tackle if elected: transparency, term limits and infrastructure. Regarding transparency, Costas said residents should be aware of city affairs. Furthermore, he advocates that residents should be allotted a guaranteed amount of speaking time during public comment periods at every city council meeting.
Costas is a proponent of implementing term limits, an idea he feels will mitigate “crony leadership.”
On infrastructure, Costas said it’s important for the city government to solicit the input of tax-paying residents to identify and solve infrastructure needs on an immediate basis.
Joe Daugherty
Joe Daugherty is a sitting Park Hills City Councilman seeking reelection.
Daughtery is a retired internal medicine physician. He is also a former small business owner, computer programmer, and board chairman for The New School, an independent Montessori school in Cincinnati’s North Avondale neighborhood.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Daugherty said he decided to run for office to improve communication within the city, urban forestry practices and invasive plant control, the efficiency of city spending and reduce the tax burden on residents.
Daugherty highlighted the need to improve pedestrian safety as a critical issue facing Park Hills. He advocates for greater enforcement of existing laws regarding speeding and complete stops at city stop signs.
Additionally, Daugherty wants to preserve Park Hills tree canopy, remove invasive plants, and promote a subsidized tree replacement plan.
Daughtery also touted some of Park Hill’s wins since he took office, like moving the police department into a better space and lowering the city’s business tax rate.
Greg Claypole
Greg Claypole and his family have lived in Park Hills for 38 years. He has intermittently served on the Park Hills City Council since 1990. During his most recent term, Claypole was on the city’s Infrastructure Committee, focusing on street repair, sidewalks, and city lighting.
Professionally, he started his career maintaining machinery at the American Bakery Company before founding his own contracting company, Claypole Painting.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Claypole said he decided to run for office to make a difference in the community he loves.
If elected, Claypole said some of the projects he would focus on include improving city lighting and completing the sidewalk on Arlington Road. He also wants to explore installing restrooms in Trolley Park. Furthermore, he’d like the city to consider building a park on the south side of Dixie Highway. Besides infrastructure, Claypole said he wants to recruit new businesses to Park Hills.
As a contractor, Claypole said he possesses a business-savvy skillset with experience in communicating and negotiating – skills he says are transferable to city government.
Pamela Spoor
Pamela Spoor is a sitting Park Hills City Councilwoman seeking reelection. Before retirement, Spoor worked as a municipal securities lawyer and public financial advisor.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Spoor said she first ran for city council in 2010, when the city was in what she described as financial distress. Over the years, Spoor has been involved in helping restore the city’s financial health, including initiatives like lowering taxes and eliminating the city’s sticker fee. Spoor said she’s also an advocate for public transparency.
She highlighted some of the most significant issues facing Park Hills, including maintaining the city’s financial health without raising taxes and controlling expenses. On the infrastructure side, Spoor said Park Hills must maintain roads, expand walkability, parks, community gardens and historic street lights.
Spoor said her background in law and finance allows her to adequately evaluate issues facing the city and possess a style of listening, researching and thinking hard about a matter before making a decision.
Dan Warner
Dan Warner has been a homeowner in Park Hills for around three years. Professionally, Warner managed millions of dollars worth of shipping inventory across multiple United States regions. More recently, Warner transitioned into data analysis and system administration.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Warner said he decided to run for city council because he’s always been interested in local-level governance.
If elected, Warner said he wants to preserve the city’s financial health, police and fire departments, well-maintained roads, and reputation as a clean and walkable family-friendly city.
Warner said he aims to keep property taxes low for residents and support the city’s small business sector.
Warner touted his background in data analysis as an essential skill that would help him make informed decisions.
Warner, who is only 28 years old, wants to serve on the city council as a representative of the next generation of the Park Hills community.
Sarah Froelich
Sarah Froelich is a sitting Park Hills City Councilwoman seeking reelection. She has extensive experience serving the city, including chairing the Economic Development and Business Committee and serving on the Financial Oversight and Historic Preservation committees.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Froelich detailed her involvement with several city initiatives, including funding essential services and infrastructure, enhancing infrastructure through road resurfacing and sidewalk repairs, fostering community engagement through events like the Plan Park Hills town hall, promoting government transparency, and contributing to the zoning modernization effort.
Froelich said she first decided to run for public office because she believes in the power of community-driven change.
From her perspective, some of the most pressing issues facing Park Hills include strengthening government transparency, securing a sustainable financial future and promoting healthier lifestyles by enhancing walkability, bikeability and green spaces.
Froelich said she brings skills such as critical thinking and leading diverse teams.
Emily Sayers
Emily Sayers works develops workforce and economic development programs for the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. Since moving to Park Hills in 2002, she has served on the Park Hills Economic Development Committee.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Sayers said she decided to run for public office because she has a deeply rooted love for the community.
From her perspective, Park Hills is facing a number of challenges including preserving the character of the city, developing sustainable infrastructure such as roas and public spaces, and increasing transparency and citizen involvement.
Sayers campaign slogan is “Community First” – something she says looks to building stronger connections between residents.
Sayers said she brings a “collaborative and community-focused” to leadership and touted her background in workforce development as evidence her leadership was able to bring together diverse groups to achieve common goals. She also said he leadership style is characterized by transparency and open communication.
Laura Rippe Cardosi
Laura Rippe Cardosi has lived in Park Hills for nearly 40 years. As a retired nurse, she devotes much of her time to her community and volunteer work.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Cardosi said she was always interested in campaigning for public office. Now that her children are grown and she is retired, she is ready to serve her community publicly. Cardosi said she also values the principles of fairness, equity, and transparency.
Cardosi pinpointed several issues she’d like to focus on if elected, including moving Park Hills toward becoming a green community, attracting new businesses and improving the city’s business district.
When Cardosi was a nurse, she described herself as a good manager who led her team fairly and conscientiously.
Cardosi said she’s pledged to be a fair, transparent, equitable and inclusive member of the city council who is willing to learn more about the workings of local government through training opportunities.
Matthew Breeze
Matthew Breeze has lived in Park Hills for nearly nine years. He is a professional electrician with IBEW Local 212 in Cincinnati.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Breeze said he decided to run for public office to be a strong voice for residents and bring a fresh perspective.
Breeze said some of the biggest challenges facing Park Hills are infrastructure maintenance and improvement, specifically improving roads, sidewalks, and city buildings. Additionally, Breeze wants to improve communication between the city and its residents.
Breeze gained much of his leadership experience as a foreman. This experience allowed him to become adept at solving job site conflicts. He said these experiences will help him collaborate and negotiate with other council members if elected.
Breeze said he has the skills to help Park Hills grow and believes the council needs fresh ideas to move beyond what he called “outdated and unpopular approaches” for maintaining and improving the city.
Steve Elkins
Steve Elkins is an incumbent Park Hills City councilman seeking reelection. He’s served on the council for over ten years and has lived in Park Hills for 24 years.
Professionally, Elkins has held several senior management positions for a global logistics/aviation company for several years. While there, he was responsible for a sizeable staff and budgets exceeding $10 million.
In an email interview with LINK nky, Elkins said he first decided to run for office because he loves Park Hills. Throughout his time in office, Elkins touted several city successes, namely improving the city budget and addressing city infrastructure.
Looking toward the future, Elkins said Park Hills must manage its finances well and find creative ways to attract businesses to the city.
Elkins described his leadership style as level-headed and logical. He also looks to treat everyone with respect, regardless of any differences in opinions on specific topics.
Carlton Trinkle
Carlton Trinkle grew up in rural Boone County and moved to Park Hills in 2022. During his career, he founded and ran an aerospace manufacturing company for over 30 years.
In an interview with LINK nky, Trinkle described himself as “mostly retired,” which gives him more time to focus on running for office.
If elected, Trinkle aims to enhance the quality of life for Park Hills residents, preserve or improve the city’s charm, and ensure that every tax dollar is spent wisely. He also pledged never to vote to increase tax rates.
Trinkle said his past business experience will translate into public leadership. He has experience working with people, communicating effectively, managing large projects with limited resources, and completing things on time.
