Carol Franzen, who currently serves as an Independence city council member, announced Thursday she would run for the city’s mayoral seat in 2026. Franzen has served on the council since 2002.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the diverse voices of Independence on city council,” Franzen wrote in a statement. “I believe now is the time to leverage that extensive experience and step forward as the next mayor, to lead Independence with a blend of proven leadership and renewed energy.”
The mayor’s seat is currently occupied by Chris Reinersman, who also announced Thursday that he would not seek reelection in 2026 and would instead run for the office of the Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator. Reinersman and Franzen both filed for their respective candidacies on Thursday, according to the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office.
In her statement, Franzen pointed to previous support of “fiscal responsibility, public safety initiatives, infrastructure improvements, economic development, revitalization projects and community engagement programs,” as a window in her platform.
Independence operates under a mayor-council form of government. Read LINK nky’s explainer to learn more about the roles of mayors in Kentucky.