LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville mayoral candidates made their pitch for the city Tuesday night, with public safety, mental health and housing at the forefront of the first mayoral forum.
Eight candidates took part in the public forum at Central High School, part of Louisville's first nonpartisan mayoral primary, which features a crowded field of 11 candidates.
Participants included:
- Shameka Parrish-Wright
- Tina Burnell
- Dr. Lisa Holliday Harris
- Bob DeVore
- Jeffrey Yokum
- Stephen Dattilo
- Matthew Solomon Bailey
- Jody Hurt
Incumbent Mayor Craig Greenberg, who is seeking reelection, did not attend.
Candidates debated public safety and mental health response policies, with several pointing to the handling of the Katelyn Hall case as a key example of needed change.
Solomon Bailey emphasized the need for a different approach.
"Mental health is a big issue in our community, and we need to deal with it by helping people, not going there and shooting them," Bailey said.
Yokum, a U.S. Navy veteran, said more could have been done, calling for alternatives to the use of force.
"There should have been other things, less lethal, something else done. You know what I mean? I wish they had a negotiator," he said.
Shameka Parrish-Wright directly criticized policies tied to the case.
"This was a policy failure for Katelyn Hall and her family. And we have a job to do when it's our turn to make sure these policies don't kill any more Louisvillians," Parrish-Wright said.
Affordable housing was also major focus, with candidates offering different approaches to expanding access and addressing rising costs.
 Hurt proposed city-backed housing development.
"City-owned apartments, rented at 70% of the market rate, built on vacant lots and city owned buildings that we're going to tear down and build apartments on top of," Hurt said.
Parrish-Wright, on the other hand, called for expanded housing protections.
"Fund anti-displacement policies, expand housing trust funds, support co-ops. I do believe in social housing," she said.
Harris said housing policies should prioritize accessibility.
"We will build universal designs, accessible and mandated, not an option, for veterans, those that are disabled and the elderly," Harris said.
The forum also featured a range of discussions on other issues in Louisville, including early childhood education, immigration enforcement and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The discussion highlighted clear differences in how candidates would approach a mayorship as voters prepare to choose from a large field in the upcoming primary.
Click here to watch the full debate.
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