Joe Berkshire is one of the candidates seeking a seat on Florence City Council in the 2026 general election.
Berkshire is a longtime Florence resident and graduated from Boone County High School. Professionally, he has worked in various fields, including cattle farming, real estate, cleaning and restoration services, pool services and textile sales.
Now, Berkshire is pursuing politics, looking to earn a seat on his hometown city council. At 86 years old, he is the oldest candidate in the race. However, Berkshire told LINK nky he believes his age and experience can help him better understand his constituents.
“The last thing an 86-year-old would think about is to run for any office. My friends said that I was one person with my background that could make a change come about for the city government,” Berkshire wrote to LINK nky.
One issue Berkshire said he sees in the current city government is “short-term thinking and lack of attention to detail.”
In addition to his various careers, Berkshire has been involved with several community organizations, including the Boone County Farm Bureau, Florence Methodist Church, the National Association of Animal Breeders and the Boone County Historical Society, among others.