LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Republican Councilman Robin Engel announced Thursday that he won't be seeking reelection next year for Metro Council.
In an emailed statement, Engel said that after "much prayerful consideration" and "discussions with family over the past several weeks" he will be stepping down from his position at the end of his term in December 2024.
Engel has served in District 22 for the past 20 years. He said it has been the "honor of a lifetime."
Engel told WHAS11 although the job is part-time, it's a full time job devoted to the community.
"It's the job of fixing a pothole it's not a republican or a democratic issue it's getting the job done for your constituents," he said.
"I am proud to have been an advocate for the Fern Creek area during my tenure and have had the pleasure of working with so many outstanding individuals throughout my career," Engel continued. "As a member of the inaugural Louisville Metro Council in 2003, I have had the pleasure of playing a role in the establishment of the foundation of our new merged government, working with three different Mayors and serving one of the fastest growing parts of the county."
Despite this announcement, Engel said he still has more than a year to close out many of the projects he has developing.
"In my final year on the Metro Council, we will hold town hall meetings on the new Fern Creek Library, and we will see the start of construction," Engel explained. "In the spring we will see even more improvements being made to Fern Creek Park with new pickleball courts being added and as the pavement warms following this winter, we will see unprecedented investment in paving District 22 streets as well as work to fix broken sidewalks. This final year, I promise to run through the finish-line and make sure that my successor is ready to continue the important work we have taken on together."
He ended his statement thanking everyone for their trust over the years and said he looks forward to seeing everyone around the district.
In the mean time, Republican State Rep. Kevin Bratcher said he's done with Frankfort and his eye is on Engel's local, council seat.
"The older I get, the more interested I am in local issues; everything from MSD to planning and zoning to working with LMPD and firefighters," Bratcher said.
Bratcher said he plans to file candidacy papers next week to run for Engel's seat. Because of this, he will not be seeking reelection for his current seat in the Kentucky Legislature.
Bratcher has worked in Frankfort for 28 years; one of his most recent legislations is about bringing a youth detention center to downtown Louisville next year.
He and Rep. Josie Raymond are now two state legislators going for Metro Council seats.
"I've worked with Josie in Frankfort and hopefully I'll be able to work with her in Louisville and I hope she'll be as nice to me as I was to her as the majority," Bratcher said.
He feels moving to Metro Council means he can continue his work.
"I have enjoyed every minute of my long tenure representing Southern Jefferson County in Frankfort, but now I believe I can be more effective working on local issues needed to make my community of Fern Creek (and Louisville) a better place to live, work and raise a family," Bratcher said. "Issues such as planning and zoning, fighting crime, improving local infrastructure and services will be my sole focus as I ask my Fern Creek neighbors to allow me to serve them in this new capacity.”
Chris Lewis, who works for Engel, has also filed to run for Bratcher's state house seat in district 29.
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