COVINGTON, Ky. — This Black History Month, Spectrum News 1 asked the city of Covington’s newly elected mayor to reflect on some of the Black history he’s made himself. Mayor Ron Washington says his drive to serve others was instilled at a young age.
Any mayor will say the city they serve is home. For Washington, Covington is in every sense.
“I go to bed every night thinking about our citizens in Covington, and wake up thinking about them,” Washington said.“I go to bed every night thinking about our citizens in Covington, and wake up thinking about them,” Washington said. “And I would never have thought to be the mayor of the city I grew up in, and I cherish, and I love so much. But it truly is an honor to be elected by the people of our city.”
He came to Covington as a foster child and was adopted by his mother, Anna Washington. He grew up watching her help others.
“Help feed people, help direct them to get services,” he said. “She always beat into us about being community servants. I was always raised to be a community servant. And this is just a new role of being able to do that.”
For Washington, that meant becoming a police officer.
“I was the first African American officer in Florence,” he said.
Then he became chief deputy sheriff in Kenton County. His rank of “colonel” still makes him the highest-ranking Black officer to have ever worked in northern Kentucky.
He started serving on various boards in Covington and getting involved with various causes.
Washington was convinced by his predecessor Mayor Joseph Meyer to run for city commissioner.
“And to my surprise I was the highest vote getter as city commissioner, and in that role I became the vice mayor of the city,” he said.
This last election cycle, Meyer decided not to run for reelection.
“So I threw my hat in the ring, and surprisingly I did not receive any competition,” Washington said.
Washington was sworn in on Jan. 3. It’s been an eventful first month.
“I call it equivalent to drinking from a firehose. But it’s been fun. I’ve really enjoyed myself,” he said.“I call it equivalent to drinking from a firehose. But it’s been fun. I’ve really enjoyed myself,” he said.
According to Washington, he’s the first African American elected as mayor in any of Kentucky’s five largest cities.
“I was a little surprised about it. I thought that there would probably have been an African American mayor in one of our cities that are bigger than Covington,” he said. “But I’m not surprised by our community. I ran unopposed. And that wasn’t because I was African American. We have a very diverse community, and we have a very involved community, and I believe they voted for me based off my character. And at the same time, I realize to African Americans in my community, this is a big deal for them.”
Washington said he’s going to be mayor for all 40,000 citizens, regardless of political affiliation. His goals are to bring jobs, be welcoming to businesses, and take care of the community. Addressing the housing crisis is also at the top of the list.
“Do I go to bed thinking I’m the first Black mayor, and wake up? No, I don’t. But this is when I do realize it: when I come across someone in our community and they remind me of it, and I feel the significance when I look in their eyes, and they didn’t think that this would ever happen,” he said.
Washington received the Covington Education Foundation Person of the Year Award in 2023. He is also a member of the Holmes High TEAM Foundation and has served as a board member for Parish Kitchen.
He’s a pioneer in the fight against heroin and other opiate addiction, founding one of the largest medication-assisted treatment centers in Kentucky.
