Candidate spotlight
Candidate for: Fort Thomas City Council
Status: Challenger
Allison Alessandro said she is running for Fort Thomas City Council because she believes the city deserves a government that is welcoming, effective, accountable and responsive.
Too often, Alessandro said, she sees an administration that prioritizes appearances over substance. She said Fort Thomas has a beautiful city building, a friendly front desk and a strong sense of community pride. But behind that, she said, there is a lack of follow-through on the basic responsibilities of city government. Alessandro said important issues are delayed, passed off or avoided altogether, especially when they require difficult decisions or direct involvement.
Click here to find out more about how city councils work in Kentucky
Alessandro faces a Fort Thomas City Council primary on May 19 against: Steve Arey, Ken Bowman, Adam Blau, Mary Anne Brown, Brad Fennell, Frances Hoffman, Brandon Long, Lauren McIntosh, Ben Pendery, Huey Pergrem, Brandon Roller, Hunter Schlosser, Eric Strange and Ashley Sullivan.
As a former homeowner on Greene Street, a former member of a local HOA board and an engaged citizen, Alessandro said she has seen firsthand how resident concerns are handled. When the city is clearly an interested party, it too often declines to get involved, leaving neighbors to navigate complex situations without support or resolution. She said that the approach is not leadership. It is avoidance.
Here are the other races that have primaries in May
“One example that stands out is the One Highland development,” Alessandro said. “While the city may have legally met public notice requirements, I believe the process lacked true transparency. Residents were not given the full picture or a meaningful opportunity to understand and engage before decisions were made. Regardless of where people stand on the project itself, we should all expect openness and honesty in how those decisions happen.”
Alessandro said she is running because she can help improve how the city functions. Her focus, she said, will be on strengthening accountability, increasing transparency and ensuring that the local government works consistently and effectively for all residents, not just when it is easy, but when it matters most.