Incumbent Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves will face challenger Chasity Bothman this November.
Cleves is a lifelong Bellevue resident seeking his second four-year term in office.
He said he is running for reelection to see through the $115 million development deal he recently signed.
The project includes building homes, businesses, office space, a hotel, and parking along the river.
Cleves said the development is “transformational to the financial health” of Bellevue and called it a complex deal.
“All due respect, I am concerned about the ability of anyone in the mayor’s office having the capacity, history, and understanding of the details and importance of moving this project forward,” Cleves said. “It will more than likely take until the end of 2026 to complete the development.”
Cleves said one of his most significant accomplishments as mayor thus far is consistently bringing people to Fairfield Avenue to help support small businesses there.
He noted that he helped start the “Bellevue Entertainment District,” where people can buy alcoholic drinks in approved Bellevue Entertainment District cups between 9 a.m. and midnight. The program allows people to walk along Fairfield Avenue and enjoy a drink while shopping.
Other accomplishments Cleves noted:
- $34 million project at the former Shady Terrace Mobile Home Park to transform the area into 74-single family homes.
- $792,000 grant for Donnermeyer Drive to rebuild the street and sidewalks with underground utilities.
- $1.6 million grant for Covert Run to build new sidewalks connecting the new 74-single-family homes development with the sidewalk at the 300 block of Taylor Avenue. New gutters and street resurfacing.
- $604,000 grant for Fairfield Avenue to replace the sidewalk on the block in front of the Bellevue Vets and across the street up to Berry Avenue.
- $760,000 grant for the Riverfront Commons project to build a path along the Ohio River between Patchen Avenue and Lafayette Avenue.
- Five other grants totaling $736,000.
“We only receive about $120,000 a year in Road Aid money. This is inadequate,” Cleves said. “We have tried to be creative to rebuild our streets. I try to work with the council and work together as a team. We have really accomplished a lot in a relatively short period of time.”
Bothman, Cleves’ opponent, is originally from Maysville, Kentucky, and chose to make Bellevue her forever home in 2020.
She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in History from Transylvania University. After college, her career took her to Atlanta, and New Haven, Connecticut. Bothman has worked in nonprofits since the early 2000s. She returned to Northern Kentucky in 2017. Â
She currently works as the director of advancement for a local Northern Kentucky nonprofit. Bothman said the experience and skill sets she developed from working in the nonprofit sector for almost two decades have prepared her to serve the people of Bellevue as mayor.
“My job involves working towards a multi-million-dollar fundraising goal that provides the necessary funds to sustain the organization,” Bothman said. “As the director of advancement, I raise funds through a combination of grant writing, peer-to-peer fundraising, annual giving campaigns, direct asks, and other revenue-generating channels.” Â
Bothman said she decided to run for mayor after speaking with residents and small business owners and listening to their needs and concerns.
“I am running for mayor to ignite a culture of listening, respect, and inclusiveness within our town,” Bothman said.
Bothman said she believes in transparency in government, sound decision-making based on facts and the greater good, and problem-solving to respond to the city’s needs.
“I am inspired and motivated by the people of Bellevue to learn, listen and lead,” Bothman said. “To learn about the pressing issues affecting our citizens. To listen to their needs and the expert advice of our committees and advisory boards within our local community and region, and to lead as a public servant with compassion while implementing action plans that help our entire city and are inclusive to all.”
Bothman said should she be elected mayor, her top priorities depend on the community’s short and long-term needs.
“The input I am hearing while campaigning is the need to invest in our infrastructure,” Bothman said. “The potholes and deteriorating streets, cracked and uneven sidewalks, and pedestrian safety are the most pressing concerns to our citizens today.”
Some issues Bothman said she would tackle are a plan to fix cracked and dangerous sidewalks. She noted that if trees caused the damage, the city should cover the costs so as not to “disincentivize the willingness to build a tree canopy in Bellevue like in the City of Newport.”
As for pedestrian safety, Bothman said, “nearly everyone shares a story of a near miss by a car while walking and even driving in Bellevue.” She said citizens want a walkable community, which small businesses rely on, but noted that the city fails to address the problem.
She also said she would like to see vacant buildings in the city filled with new businesses.
“We need to support and retain our existing small businesses while attracting quality new ones,” Bothman said.
Pursuing grants is another priority she said she would like to take on should she be elected.
“We do not collect enough funds in taxes and fees to fund all that is required to support the city – developing a clear understanding of budget trends, actuals, and projections,” Bothman said.
She would also like to look into staff satisfaction, update the city’s website, add transparency to how tax dollars are being spent, and encourage citizens to join committees, boards, and commissions.
Should he be reelected, Cleves said his top priority would be rebuilding the city streets and infrastructure with their “limited resources.”Â
He said he would focus on improving Bellevue parks to include more shade while taking a conservative approach to spending.
“Most of the federal grants are only available to start two years after you receive them,” Cleves said. “I need to complete all of them first. I am trying to get a grant to connect the road in front of the beach park over to O’Fallon and add the piece of the Riverfront Commons and a 23-car parking lot on our easement.”
Cleves said he is also trying to get a fishing pier and a kayak launch in the beach park.
He is also working on a safety grant to resurface Poplar Street because the police garage is located on the deteriorating street.
“Street and sidewalk replacement are high on the list,” Cleves said.
He said he is a better candidate than his opponent because he has lived and worked in Bellevue his whole life.
“My opponent has only been here about two years. I think she is a nice person, but I wonder why she is running,” Cleves said. “To my knowledge, she doesn’t attend council meetings, does not show up much for events, and does not have the education and experience necessary to move the city forward.”
His background in business and past four years working as mayor, he said, are “important considerations.” Cleves added that he would like voters to compare his record with his opponents.
“One of the hardest parts of my job is balancing old Bellevue with new Bellevue. I am retired and work approximately 30 hours per week for the city,” Cleves said. “I was president of In Vue the first two years (2002 and 2003) before the name change and have worked on every project setting them up and running them.”
Cleves noted that he is active in multiple meetings and groups, including the Bellevue Neighborhood Association, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, Tri-ED meetings, Kentucky League of City events, Chamber meetings, and all of the mayor meetings.
He is also the chairman of the Ethics Commission and president of the Carpenter Art Enamel Foundation and Museum in Bellevue.
“I have traveled to Frankfort whenever it was necessary to get a job done,” Cleves said. “I have the time, knowledge, and connections to accomplish what needs to be done to move Bellevue forward. We have a great council and staff, and I’d hate to see our efforts disrupted. I know that I’m not perfect, and I always try to do better, but I really do think I’m the best candidate in this race.”
Bothman said she is the better candidate for Bellevue mayor because she strives to be “the people’s mayor,” which includes being a public servant who will work for the residents of Bellevue. Â
“I am here to listen, not dictate,” Bothman said. “Not all decisions are easy or popular, but I will make every effort to explain why I support or do not support decisions and be open to feedback. I believe in having mentors, but not a group of elitists who are out of touch with the needs of the people of Bellevue.”
Bothman said her experience and leadership style would bring a fresh perspective to the role of mayor.
“This is a crucial time in our city,” Bothman said. “It is a period of rapid growth and development. We must ensure that our citizens are included in the conversations about Bellevue’s balance of preserving our historic small-town charm with needed growth – growth that is contextual to our community.”
She said the city could not afford to make mistakes they would have to live with for generations.
“As mayor, I will have an open-door policy, promote transparency and inclusivity, and encourage civic engagement from all citizens,” Bothman said. “I believe that all citizens matter, and I am here to serve them.”
