London City Council appoints interim mayor following Weddle's resignation
By Shepherd Snyder
July 13, 2026 at 3:43 PM EDT
The council previously voted to impeach Mayor Randall Weddle in September, though he was later reinstated by a judge.
The London City Council reappointed Tracie Handley as interim mayor Monday afternoon following Randall Weddle’s resignation from the city’s top post last week.
It’s Handley’s second time being appointed to the position. She was originally sworn in as interim mayor in September after the council temporarily removed Weddle from office over OKing a $5 million mortgage on city property and other misconduct charges.
A Laurel County judge reinstated Weddle later that month. Friday morning, the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed that decision, and Weddle resigned shortly after.
Last month, a Laurel County judge ruled Weddle is ineligible to run for re-election because his primary residence is located outside London. Because of the decision, Matt Orr will be the only mayoral candidate on the November ballot. Handley ran and lost against Orr and Weddle in May’s nonpartisan primary election.
In addition, the now-former mayor is also facing felony charges for allegedly making illegal campaign contributions to the Kentucky Democratic Party and Gov. Andy Beshear’s 2023 re-election campaign.
Weddle was indicted on those charges in March and pleaded not guilty in April.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled Wednesday to discuss a motion to change the trial’s venue from Laurel County to Franklin County.
Handley was approved as London’s interim mayor Friday by council members Judd Weaver, Donna House, Kelly Smith Greene and Justin Young. Council members John Bruner and Jim Baker abstained from the vote.
It’s Handley’s second time being appointed to the position. She was originally sworn in as interim mayor in September after the council temporarily removed Weddle from office over OKing a $5 million mortgage on city property and other misconduct charges.
A Laurel County judge reinstated Weddle later that month. Friday morning, the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed that decision, and Weddle resigned shortly after.
Last month, a Laurel County judge ruled Weddle is ineligible to run for re-election because his primary residence is located outside London. Because of the decision, Matt Orr will be the only mayoral candidate on the November ballot. Handley ran and lost against Orr and Weddle in May’s nonpartisan primary election.
In addition, the now-former mayor is also facing felony charges for allegedly making illegal campaign contributions to the Kentucky Democratic Party and Gov. Andy Beshear’s 2023 re-election campaign.
Weddle was indicted on those charges in March and pleaded not guilty in April.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled Wednesday to discuss a motion to change the trial’s venue from Laurel County to Franklin County.
Handley was approved as London’s interim mayor Friday by council members Judd Weaver, Donna House, Kelly Smith Greene and Justin Young. Council members John Bruner and Jim Baker abstained from the vote.