24 to watch in 2024: Will she make history in Lexington’s 4th District council election?
The Lexington Herald-Leader is profiling 24 individuals this month that you should be keeping an eye on in 2024. The selected group represents a cross-section of industries, political parties, missions and the state itself. We believe each is notable for their contributions to Kentucky, as well as their plans for the next 12 months.
Who: Emma Curtis, candidate for Lexington’s 4th council district and vice president for recruitment and expansion for the Kentucky Young Democrats.
Background: A year ago, the Lexington resident and independent filmmaker thought the best way she could serve her community was showing up to support causes she believes in. Curtis became one of the most committed protesters opposing Senate Bill 150, which banned gender-affirming care for transgender kids and greatly limited discussion of trans issues in schools. Last summer, Curtis launched a campaign to become the first-ever transgender member of the state legislature and fill the 93rd District seat left open by the late Rep. Lamin Swann — who she said encouraged Curtis to run before his death.
Why 2024 will be notable: While her House bid ultimately fell short, Curtis will spend 2024 running for the 4th District seat on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, currently held by Brenda Monarrez. Should Curtis win, she’d be the first openly transgender person to sit on the council. The district, which encompasses neighborhoods between Nicholasville and Tates Creek roads, is diverse in background and economic status and features “a disproportionately high number of renters,” Curtis said. She plans to focus her campaign on affordable housing. As a renter and young person herself, she knows how hard it can be to find good housing options, Curtis said.
Recruiting other young people to run for office for the Democratic Party is also a major focus for Curtis as part of her role with the Kentucky Young Democrats. In recent years the state’s Democratic Party has lacked in building a slate of future candidates for public office and “it’s left a vacancy,” Curtis said. Through her role, she’s hoping to recruit and provide resources for those interested in running for office.
Why do you think she will be successful in 2024? “Emma’s somebody that I think deeply represents trans people in a positive light,” said Rebecca Blankenship, who worked with Curtis’ first campaign and is the executive director of Ban Conversion Therapy Kentucky. “Because she is incredibly articulate, incredibly smart and above all else, she is a servant leader. She understands that leaders are not here to bask in the glow of a light on a stage, but to deliver for people that need them to deliver.”
Why is 2024 such an important year for you or your organization? “I decided to run for council because I have spent so much time getting into the nitty gritty of what folks in my community are represented in government in which folks aren’t,” Curtis said. “And I’m a renter, so I know just how difficult it can be to find safe and affordable housing in the 4th District. I’m a young person and a working class person and I know what it’s like to watch my tax dollars go toward policies that actively make it harder for folks like me to thrive.”
