LOUISVILLE, Ky. — During her third term, Kentucky Rep. Josie Raymond announced Monday that she's leaving Frankfort, and instead, running for Louisville Metro Council.
Raymond is running to represent District 10, after Councilman Pat Mulvihill announced he is not running for reelection.
District 10 includes neighborhoods like Belknap, Bashford Manor, and Poplar Level.
"We've often seen metro council members run for the General Assembly and move to Frankfort, we've not often see it go the other way," Raymond said.
Raymond said her decision to run for Metro Council was about efficacy.
"I think I can be more effective at the local level for the people I really care about," she said. "I've been involved in several state budgets, I'm familiar with members of the governor's administration and the mayor's administration, I know the community groups and the stakeholders at the state level and at the city level, and I think that experience is something that we don't often get as a council candidate – so I'm really excited to bring that to the Democratic caucus."
Raymond said she has been frustrated in the General Assembly and wants to be a part of more opportunities for change at the local level.
"I had a bill in Frankfort to provide paid leave to state employees," she said. "It didn't pass the Republican super majority, but Louisville Metro Council passed it for city employees. I had another that would mitigate lead in the homes of children who were literally having their brains eaten by lead damage…and we didn't pass it in Frankfort, but Louisville Metro Council passed a law to mitigate lead here in the city."
Raymond will be running in the new District 10, established in the 2022 redistricting. The newly outlined district has never had a council race before.
"I already represent a lot of the folks that I'm running to represent, just in a different capacity," she said. "I'm saying even though I'm leaving my service in Frankfort, I still want to represent my neighbors – I just want to do it in the most effective way that I can and I really believe that's on the Metro Council."
A few hours after Raymond filed for Metro Council, former State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian announced she will be making a bid for Raymond's seat in the General Assembly.
After the 2022 redistricting, Marzian and Raymond both became part of House District 41. Marzian dropped out of her 2022 reelection bid, and expressed her support for Raymond as state representative.
Raymond said she will fulfill her term as state representative and continue to serve House District 41 for the next 13 months. After that, her name will be on the ballot for the 2024 Louisville Metro Council election.
"For five years in Frankfort I've been playing defense, and I'd really like to join a majority on Louisville Metro Council that's working to improve the quality of people's lives," Raymond said. "I want to be on the offense."
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