Jody Hurt, one of several candidates running for Louisville mayor, says many of the city’s biggest challenges trace back to the 2003 city-county merger.
Hurt, a classical musician and educator, is campaigning on proposals such as fare-free public buses, building thousands of affordable housing units, and improving snow removal. However, he argues that Louisville’s merged government structure makes these goals harder to achieve.
“More than 20 years later, it has led to blurred authority, weaker voter representation, misaligned spending priorities, and a government too large and scattered to act effectively,” Hurt wrote in his campaign platform.
He believes reversing the merger—restoring separate governments for Jefferson County and the City of Louisville—would bring residents closer to decision-making and prevent groups with differing priorities from shaping policies for one another.
Hurt, a father of four, has worked as both an educator and musician, teaching students in public schools and colleges. He also serves as an officer in the Libertarian Party of Louisville.
He said his decision to run comes from a belief that Louisville is being treated more as a destination than a place where people live.
Along with undoing the merger, Hurt supports making the TARC bus system free for riders. He also proposes constructing 10,000 city-owned housing units downtown, with rents capped at 80% of market rates and available to all residents.
“We already have properties throughout the county and downtown,” Hurt said. “Instead of leaving them unused or selling them for single homes, we can develop them into dense, attractive apartment complexes.”
Hurt argues the housing plan could be achieved without taxpayer cost, saying increased density would boost economic activity and workforce participation.
If elected, he also plans to end the Louisville Metro Police Department’s use of pretextual stops, arguing the practice does not improve safety and creates tension between officers and residents.
Interview Highlights
Roberto Roldan: You grew up in Prestonsburg as the son of a coal miner. Is that correct?
Jody Hurt: Yes.
RR: When did you move to Louisville?
JH: I came for undergraduate studies in 1998, then returned in 2010 after completing graduate work in Los Angeles.
RR: Why run for mayor now?
JH: I’m rejecting the idea that we have to accept things as they are. Whether it’s long-term vision or basic services like clearing snow, Louisville is being managed like a destination instead of a place where people live.
RR: Your top issue is undoing the 2003 merger. Why do you think it failed?
JH: The merger barely passed, with 54% support. It promised accountability and better services, but instead created confusion, reduced transparency, and added bureaucracy. People now have less insight into government than before.
RR: You’ve proposed fare-free transit. How would that work?
JH: We need to make buses more efficient, including giving them priority at traffic signals. Free transit allows people to move easily, get to work faster, and spend money more quickly, which boosts the economy.
RR: So increased economic activity would fund it?
JH: Exactly.
RR: You’ve also talked about improving infrastructure. What needs to change?
JH: We need to prioritize the lived experience of residents when designing roads and public spaces. But meaningful improvements are difficult under the current merged government structure.
RR: So infrastructure improvements tie back to undoing the merger?
JH: Yes, absolutely.
Leave a Comment