Few candidates for Florence City Council have as much experience in city government as Diane Whalen.
Whalen spent 24 years as Florence mayor before deciding not to seek another term in 2022. After two years away from elected office, she returned to the ballot in 2024 and won a seat on the city council. She currently serves as vice mayor and is seeking another two-year term.
Whalen said her approach to the council is shaped by her decades in city government and a belief that disagreements among elected officials should ultimately lead to consensus on decisions affecting the broader community.
“I served as Mayor of Florence for 24 years,” she told LINK nky. “I have held leadership roles in civic organizations. I believe that I can provide background and history that will allow all of those in all leadership roles to move forward in a positive manner.”
A lifelong Florence resident, Whalen graduated from Boone County High School and attended Northern Kentucky University. Her involvement in the community began well before elected office, including serving as a PTA president.
Whalen was first elected to Florence City Council in 1997 and became mayor in 1999. During her tenure, she was involved in several major city initiatives, including efforts to establish the Florence Senior Activity Center, which opened in 2012.
Whalen said she returned to city government because she missed being involved in the community and believed her experience could provide institutional knowledge as Florence’s leadership changed.
As she seeks another council term, Whalen identified growth and traffic among the most significant issues facing Florence. She said the challenge for city leaders is accommodating additional housing and development without losing the qualities that have made Florence an attractive place to live and work.