Vote For Brenda Monarrez on November 8th!
Vote For Brenda Monarrez on November 8th!
I am a small business owner and believe in well-researched, intentional solutions for Lexington. My mission is for families and businesses to thrive. See how I approach the important issues facing Lexington, and let's talk.
Lexington has been home for over 30 years, and 26 of those years have been in the house I purchased in the 4th district. I come from a family who is passionate about community involvement. From a young age, I have had parents who modeled and instilled community engagement such as participation in neighborhood watch organizations, volunteering with public and private organizations, and being an informed citizens when exercising their right to vote.
I am a University of Kentucky graduate, having studied Management/Economics, and lifetime member of Delta Epsilon Iota and Phi Sigma Theta, both honor societies. Lexington has provided me with an array of professional opportunities which gives me unique skills and abilities to effectively serve on city council.
I gained housing, development and real estate experience by being a real estate agent over 7 years, and by working at Kentucky Housing Corporation, Kentucky’s state housing finance agency. There, as a Business Development Officer, I worked to increase home ownership amongst low-income and under-represented applicants statewide by 10% through data analysis and innovation, as well as develop a mortgage option for individuals with non-traditional credit.
I have International business experience working in the Latin America Division of Lexmark International for 5 years, overseeing Service and Support in 12 Latin American countries. Prior to owning my own landscaping business, I worked concurrently as Director of Human Resources, OSHA safety officer, and Marketing manager for what was the largest landscaping and lawn maintenance company in Central Kentucky at the time.
I previously owned a tax preparation company and most recently a landscaping and lawn maintenance company for 8 years which I sold at the end of the 2021 season. As a business owner, I’ve managed the HR aspects, accounts receivables and payables, marketing, supply chain, budgeting and customer service responsibilities.
I served on the LFUCG board for Raven Run and SBDM board for Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.
I am committed to bringing openness and transparency to city hall. I will be responsive and listen to my constituents because I genuinely care about the issues at hand.
I am the only candidate endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Lexington Firefighters and LiUNA to represent the 4thDistrict. Crime is at an all-time high. The Lexington community is struggling. Supporting our officers and first responders does not have to mean other needs and concerns in the community are not addressed. Lexington residents need access to mental health services, affordable housing, youth services and so much more. I am committed to addressing all of these needs, and am honored to be chosen the candidate our Police and Firefighters believe is best suited to address our public safety issues.
Please message me monarrez4lex@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
I am proudly endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Bluegrass Lodge 4. I respect and understand the decisions police officers are forced to make each day. Police officers must receive the support, tools training and compensation they need and deserve so they can remain safe as they protect our communities. I will have an open dialogue with the Lexington Police Department on how we can work together for the greater good of Lexington. This year there have been over 120 vacancies in the police department. While recruits continue to be trained, not enough are being hired to offset the number of officers who continue to resign and retire. The Lexington community is struggling. Supporting our officers does not have to mean other needs and concerns in the community are not addressed. Lexington residents need access to mental health services, affordable housing, youth services and so much more. I am committed to addressing all of these needs, and am honored to be chosen the candidate our Police believe is best suited to address our public safety issues.
Juveniles are committing a third of the crimes this year, when Lexington is setting a new record for the number of homicides in a calendar year and crime has increased overall. On June 2nd, 2022 the Herald Leader reported that the percentage of principal visits for skipping class in Fayette county nearly tripled after COVID in 2022 (32.32%) Absences have increased across all grade levels. Failing grades have also tripled in Fayette middle and high schools. Families are facing even more barriers to getting to and participating in class. The emotional toll from losing relatives, economic stress, needing to work to help the family and feeling discouraged because they have fallen behind. It’s worse for students living in low-income communities. ONE Lexington was created by the city to address issues with our youth. However, the individuals who work within the organization cannot do so alone. Lexington needs strong community involvement at all levels. I will work cooperatively with school boards, administrators, organizations both public and private and with our community members to ensure not just quality education, but also reaching the youth who are at risk.
Affordable housing uplifts residents, encourages social connections, attracts businesses and jobs and lowers crime rates. Access to affordable housing means families can better afford items such as food, medical care and clothing, since families with high rent burdens often must divert resources away from those needs. A recent report stated rent in Fayette county increased by up to 35% in 2022 over 2021 numbers. Affordable housing improves the quality of life of residents by leading to better health, adequate jobs, financial stability and security. I am committed to continue supporting incentivizing creation of affordable housing in Lexington. Affordable housing is not a handout, it is a necessity.
The focus of economic growth and job creation has many aspects. The four main factors of economic growth are land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship. As our city grows, our development needs to be well planned and solutions should be specific to the needs of our unique city. I owned my own business for the last 8 years. I know the struggles businesses of all sizes are facing due to labor shortages and increased costs. Our city is growing and it is necessary to make sure our growth takes into account the needs our communities have today and tomorrow.
Primary Day is May 17th. Registered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents can vote in this non-partisan race.
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