Eric Bunzow, former deputy clerk at the Kenton County Clerk’s office known locally as the “Elsmere chicken man,” announced his intention to run for Elsmere’s mayoral seat.
He made the announcement on Friday after filing a statement of spending intent with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.
“I’m running for mayor because I believe in Elsmere’s potential and want to ensure our city continues to move forward with integrity, transparency and unity,” Bunzow wrote in a statement to LINK nky.
Although candidates cannot officially file to run with county clerks until Nov. 5, they’re required to declare with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance if they want to spend more than $5,000 during a campaign. Filing with the registry is often seen as a first step in a candidate’s campaign.
Bunzow resigned from the clerk’s office on Wednesday, thereby allowing himself to run for office – clerks’ employees aren’t allowed to run for elections since they deal with voter information as part of their jobs. He’d worked there since December 2022 while also working as a self-employed realtor. He’s also previously worked in IT.
Bunzow has been a frequent advocate of allowing residents to legally keep chickens at their homes, hence his nickname. He was also a leading critic of former Elsmere Council Member Serena Owen, who was removed from her seat on council earlier this year.
“As mayor, my focus will be on strengthening the foundation of our community — improving public services, supporting local businesses, maintaining safe and welcoming neighborhoods, and ensuring every voice is heard in City Hall,” Bunzow said in his statement. “I believe leadership means listening, being accessible and working together toward common goals that benefit all residents.”
Mayoral terms in Kentucky are four years. The current mayor of Elsmere is Marty Lenhof, who was first elected to the office in 2010 and then subsequently re-elected in 2014, 2018 and 2022.