Meet the Berea City Council Candidates : Part II

Steve Davis

My name is Steve Davis, and I am running for Berea City Council. I have been married to my wife Paula for 37 years. We have raised five children and have eight grandchildren. I moved to Berea in 1986. I have been a tax accountant for approximately 40 years. I am currently a partner at Davis & Hessel Tax Services on Clay Drive in Berea.

This is my first time running for Berea City Council. I am running for office for three basic reasons:1) to give something back to a city that has been good to me and my family. 2) I believe my experience as a tax professional will guide me in decisions that would be valuable to Berea. 3) I believe I can bring people together despite our differences to benefit our city.

The single biggest issue facing Berea is our future. What we do as council members today affects Berea’s future tomorrow. We often lack cohesiveness in Berea while working toward the betterment of Berea. There are many remarkable things about Berea, but we need all those remarkable things to work together.

City government is designed to help grow Berea as we provide the proper infrastructure to manage that growth – water, utilities, garbage, police, fire, affordable housing, health care and proper city government. Doing all this in a fiscally responsible way without losing who we are – a college town with a uniqueness that only Berea can have with its dining experiences, parks, schools, concerts, performing arts and artists.

Jerry Little

I am 76-years-old and was born in Sand Gap. When I turned 18 I moved to Lexington and got a job with IBM. I worked my way up to manager but at the age of 35 decided I wanted to go into business for myself and moved to Berea. 

I have had several business ventures since including a used car dealership, convenient stores, new home construction/development and rental business.

I originally ran for City Council because I have been blessed to live in Berea and wanted to give back to my community. I have served 8 consecutive terms and feel we have made many good accomplishments over the last 16 years.

City government’s role is to make sure we have a very efficient city with a good police and fire department maintain our infrastructures and parks, be a good steward of tax payer money while maintaining a rainy day fund, and take care of our employees.

Chris Preece

This is my first time running for Berea City Council. I am running to represent the lovely people who live in our historic city. As a husband, father, comic creator, business owner, chocolate maker, and Berea Community High School chemistry teacher I interact with our city in many different ways. As your future council member, I will lead with compassion, a listening ear, and determination to find solutions to the problems we are facing, with a vision for our future to be sustainable and resilient to future crises.

There are many concerns within our community. Amongst the top of those concerns is affordable housing. The simple answer is to make it easier for people to build or provide affordable housing. The solution to this problem must be tackled from several angles like attracting developers and removing ordinances that are serving as barriers to solving this problem. 

The role of government is to represent the will of the people within the bounds of the law with integrity and transparency. 

Martin Richards

My name is Martin Richards, and I have experience as an architect, farmer, builder, business owner, community organizer, and nonprofit director, along with over 20 years in agriculture, construction, and economic development, including policy work with the Kentucky Legislature.

With a background in architecture, I have over 20 years of experience in agriculture, economic development, and land use, including policy work with the Kentucky Legislature. My ten years on Berea’s Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment have deepened my understanding of residents’ needs and aspirations for our community’s future.

Although I have many years of experience with the State government and Berea’s local government, I have never run for public office. I possess the time and experience to elevate my public service to the next level.

Berea is currently facing a housing crisis, which is crucial for economic development. Without adequate and affordable housing, new jobs may remain unfilled. Even those who currently have stable housing are affected by this crisis through increased insurance rates, higher interest rates, elevated taxes, and overall economic stagnation.

By collaborating with Richmond and Madison County, we can explore effective strategies and secure financial assistance. The 2025 update of the Comprehensive Zoning Plan will be an opportunity to address our community’s needs.

The Berea City government must provide essential services such as public safety, clean water, reliable utilities, and well-maintained infrastructure to support growth and empower citizens in their pursuit of happiness.