COVINGTON, Ky. — Covington residents voted yes on a ballot measure that changes the city’s government structure.

What You Need To Know

  • Covington’s government structure, for a long time, has been what’s called a city manager form

  • Four elected commissioners and the mayor share legislative duties evenly

  • Mayor Joseph Meyer was a proponent to change to a mayor-council form of government, which Covington voters approved of as well, voting yes on a ballot measure to change it

  • The new system gives the mayor more authority, and gives voters more representation with up to six council members

Covington’s government structure, for a long time, has been what’s called a city manager form. Four elected commissioners and the mayor share legislative duties evenly, and the city manager is in a prominent leadership role, handling many city business responsibilities.

Mayor Joseph Meyer is finishing up his last few months as mayor before Ron Washington, who ran unopposed, takes over. Meyer told Spectrum News 1 under the current system, the chain of command is not always clear, and too much has been placed upon the city manager in the past.

Meyer was a proponent to change to a mayor-council form of government, which Covington voters approved of as well, voting yes on a ballot measure to change it.

The new system gives the mayor more authority, and gives voters more representation with up to six council members, as opposed to the current four. It’s the system most Kentucky cities use.

Meyer said after he’s done as mayor, when he looks back, he’ll be proud of the part he played in making the change. 

Covington’s newly elected city commissioners will be responsible for coming up with the details on the new structure. Residents will vote for the new council seats in 2026.

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