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.
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 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.
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Alessandro faces 10 opponents in the Nov. 3 general election: Steve Arey, Ken Bowman, Adam Blau, Mary Anne Brown, Brad Fennell, Frances Hoffman, Lauren McIntosh, Ben Pendery, Brandon Roller and Eric Strange.
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 an interested party, it often declines to get involved, leaving neighbors to navigate situations without support or resolution. She said that the approach is not leadership. It is avoidance.
“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.”
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.