Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton appointed former Herald-Leader editor and columnist Tom Eblen to the city council’s vacant District 3 council seat Tuesday morning.
The district represents much of downtown and the University of Kentucky’s campus. He said during a conference announcing his appointment that he would be interested in looking at how to balance housing density and historical preservation in those areas.
“A lot of it is just being sensitive to our current neighborhoods and looking for ways to kind of fit density in where it won't disrupt other people's lives, but I think one of the main ways we can do that is to look at some of our corridors and some of our underutilized land,” he said.
Eblen is also an employee at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, a member of the Kentucky Heritage Council and the University Press of Kentucky’s editorial board, and chairs the Mary Todd Lincoln House board.
He said his passion for researching local history will shape his time on the council.
“That history has a lot of greatness and shame, but that research makes me think that Lexington is better positioned for long-term success now than probably at any point in the past two centuries,” he said.
Eblen replaces former councilmember Hannah LeGris, who resigned from her position last month, citing financial reasons.
The appointment comes as significant turnover is expected at the urban county council after this year’s city elections. Councilmembers Liz Sheehan, Chuck Ellinger, Dave Sevigny and Jennifer Reynolds have all announced they will not be seeking reelection.
District 6 Councilmember Lisa Higgins-Hord, who was appointed by Mayor Gorton in August following Denise Gray’s resignation, also will not be seeking a full term.
Eblen will stay on the council through December.
