The city of Alexandria invited candidates for its open council seat to advocate for themselves at its meeting on April 17.
After reviewing applications and hearing from the candidates themselves, the council selected Laura Fincher. Ten people spoke at the meeting, and one submitted a video for consideration.
“We appreciate everyone who has applied,” said Alexandria Councilmember Stacey Graus, who was filling in for the absent mayor. “It shows great interest in the community. It shows great interest in wanting to assist the community and make it better.”
Fincher said her family moved to Alexandria in the summer of 2023 when her husband was hired as the pastor at Alexandria Community Church. Since moving to the city, Fincher said she has gotten involved in various ways, visiting the parks and serving on the city’s parks and recreation board, attending story times at the library, substitute teaching at Campbell County Middle School and high school, and community service through her church.
Fincher said she has high energy and the ability to see both sides of a situation.
“I personally believe in getting both sides,” Fincher said. “I read lots of different news sources. I like to be balanced and fair.”
She also said she supports small businesses. When Fincher worked in Frankfort, she was a manager of a farmers’ market where she said she helped market 40 small businesses.
Fincher has three small children whom she foresees raising in Alexandria.
The council appointment comes after the resignation of Shane Collins on March 13, who said he was stepping down due to “personal reasons.” Collins was sworn into office on Jan. 16 and was later arrested on Jan. 31 on domestic violence assault charges.
“It’s a really difficult task to determine who is going to sit up here as the next council member,” Graus said. “I could work with everyone here, and I wouldn’t have any problem, and there’s a role for everyone who came. If you want a role in the city of Alexandria, there’s a role. I started out on the sewer commission.”
Graus said Fincher’s appointment will leave a vacancy on the park board, which could allow other people who applied to get involved in the city.
He also encouraged those who didn’t get selected to run for a council seat when it is up for reelection. He said the last time they had an appointment to council, there were 10 applicants, but only seven candidates ran for six seats last November. Alexandria Council Member Patrick Blair was appointed in May 2024 to replace former councilmember Susan Vanlandingham, who moved out of the city, before he was elected to office in November.
