LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On a sunny, windy Sunday, Shameka Parrish-Wright made her way along the route of the Pegasus Parade, campaign flyers in hand. 

She met a man who said he had not yet decided on who he would support for Louisville mayor in the upcoming primary election. 

"I would hope you would consider me," she told the man. "I've been out here in the community helping people, helping make lives better. I just want to do it in a bigger way." 

The 45-year-old mother of six grew up in Cincinnati and moved to Louisville in the early 2000s. 

Parrish-Wright, a Democrat, is the only woman running in the primary election for mayor. 

Last month, Spectrum News 1 met with the candidate at 28th and Broadway, an intersection she considers pivotal for West Louisville.  

Democrat Shameka Parrish-Wright is running for Louisville mayor. (Spectrum News 1/Erin Kelly)

"The Kroger’s where I feed my children," she said. "The McDonald’s where I fed my children. All of these things have been important to the community. There used to be a factory there and now it’s going to be a Goodwill multi-complex, so it shows that this area is so important and more investment is coming."

Parrish-Wright was active in the racial justice protests that followed the police killing of Breonna Taylor and works for The Bail Project.

She said bail reform is important to her. 

"These are people who have not been convicted," said Parrish-Wright. "It’s important to me that they understand we need to see the human in them, that one bad night shouldn’t legislate the rest of someone’s life."

Since November, Louisville’s jail has reported the deaths of eight people who had been in the custody of Metro Corrections. 

Parrish-Wright is part of a coalition meeting weekly on the issue, she said. 

"I think the only way we’re going to do a full assessment to be able to get to the bottom of why these eight ... jail deaths have happened, is to get that jail as clear as possible, only keeping people who we have clear and convincing evidence that they pose a threat to themselves or someone else."

The city has set records for the number of homicides the last two years and statistics show the city may set another record this year. 

Parrish-Wright said she supports gun buybacks and and gun safety programs for children.

“We cannot just dump all of our problems and issues on LMPD and our court system, so we have to work together, so I will bring LMPD to the table," she said. "I will ask the officers, talk to them, ask them what to they see, what do they think needs to happen. I will also bring community leaders faith leaders, young people."

As someone who experienced homelessness years ago, Parrish-Wright considers affordable housing one of her top priorities and said she wants to see it available in every zip code. 

"The more homeowners you have, the more people who are housed securely and safely the better they feel, the better the production, the better the revenue, the better the tourism."

The primary election is set for Tuesday, May 17.