City Council
City governments in Kentucky operate under one of three models: mayor-council, commission or city manager. Although the mayor-council form is the most prevalent, each form has specific advantages for different needs facing cities.
The Mayor-Council plan operates much like any executive-legislative form of government. The council, as the legislative body, performs legislative duties such as enacting ordinances, levying taxes, and adopting a budget. The mayor holds executive powers such as vetoing legislation, overseeing personnel and managing the daily affairs of the city. The mayor may also vote to break most ties in council meetings. Around 53 percent of Kentucky cities use this form, and all have between six and 12 council members. (Source: KLC.org)
The City of Erlanger operates under a Mayor-Council form of government with nine elected council members as the legislative body and one elected Mayor as the executive authority.
Chris
Farmer
Councilman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- First Term of Two Years
- Serving His First Term
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
Serving His First Term
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Continue to promote Erlanger as a destination and welcoming city for families
- Develop projects and initiatives that enhance quality of life, improve public amenities, and create a vibrant community where families want to settle and raise their children
- Explore new and creative ways to increase Erlanger’s revenue without placing an additional burden on our residents
- Work towards reducing the current insurance premium tax rate of 9.5% through alternative revenue streams, such as promoting economic development, attracting new businesses, and possibly implementing other city-wide initiatives that will generate sustainable income for the city
- Commit to maintaining an open mind on all matters that come before the city council while approaching every issue with careful consideration
- Listen to all voices—residents, businesses, and fellow council members- to make decisions based on what will most positively impact the city as a whole
Diana
Niceley
Councilwoman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- Second Term of Two Years
- Four Years of Service
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
Councilwoman Diana Niceley has been a resident of Erlanger since she was eight years old. She is a graduate of Lloyd Memorial High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies. Diana raised her sons in Erlanger and both are graduates of Lloyd as well. Diana worked for Duke Energy before joining her family’s Erlanger business over 20 years ago. Diana holds the position of Office Manager at Niceley’s. She attends church at Erlanger Baptist and stays active in the community. She serves on the Lloyd Memorial High School Alumni Association and has been a member of the Board of Directors, holding the office of Secretary, for over 10 years. In this position, she helps procure donations for the scholarship fund. Diana has also held various leadership positions in local business groups such as Erlanger Business Council, Northern Kentucky Business Referral Group, and BNI. As a council member, she loves being involved in the city and being available for citizens’ questions and concerns. Since being on council, she has co-chaired the Emergency Preparation Task Force and has served on the Parks Master Planning Task Force, Fire/EMS Future Task Force, City Beautification Task Force, Farmer’s Market Task Force and helped organize the first Arbor Day in the City.
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Support a fiscally responsible budget
- Continue to work on lowering taxes
- Commit to always being responsive to citizens and businesses
- Continue to make Erlanger a great place to live and work
Jennifer
Jasper-Lucas
Councilwoman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- Second Term of Two Years
- Four Years of Service
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
Mrs. Jasper-Lucas is an Erlanger native and graduate of Lloyd Memorial High School. After graduating from Eastern Kentucky University and beginning her career, Mrs. Jasper-Lucas returned to Erlanger in 2012 to raise her family. She is married to Erlanger native and Lloyd graduate, Trey, and together they have a blended family with five children and two dogs. Mrs. Jasper-Lucas has over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, management and insurance and currently works as a Commercial Lines Account Manager for CAI Insurance in Cincinnati. As a city councilwoman, Mrs. Jasper-Lucas has worked to continue to make Erlanger a great place to live and work through her support of fiscally responsible projects, lowering taxes and encouraging transparency. She previously served as the chair of the Race Relations and Diversity Task Force and the Cherry Hill Semi Truck Task Force and is a member of the Small Business Task Force, Parks Task Force and Budget Committee
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Support a fiscally responsible budget
- Continue to work on plans for building a dog park in Erlanger
- Ensure city employees are fairly compensated
- Continue to make Erlanger a great place to live and work
Michele Fields
Councilwoman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- First Term of Two Years
- Serving Her First Term
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
Serving her first term
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
Serving her first term
Rebecca Reckers
Councilwoman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- Third Term of Two Years
- Six Years of Service
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
Councilwoman Rebecca Reckers has her BS from Wright State University and her MBA from Northern Kentucky University. She has worked in the private sector in corporate compliance and risk management for over 18 years. She lives in the Lakemont community with her husband, Ted, and their 5-year-old son. On Erlanger City Council, she works to improve financial transparency, advocate for public safety, and support practical capital improvements.
She created the Small Business Task Force in 2019 and has served as chairwoman since inception. She has also served as chair of the ad hoc budget committee since it was established in 2021. With the small business task force, she has helped create grant programs to tackle blight, demolition, and economic development. Those programs have led to more than $300,000 in grant funding disbursements and more than a million dollars in reinvestment by our business community.
In 2020, she helped organize a city event in conjunction with TriEd and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to highlight underutilized tax credits available to Kentucky businesses. During the pandemic, she organized a campaign in partnership with CincyShirts to raise money for Erlanger small businesses who were financially impacted by the shutdown and pandemic.
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Continue financial transparency efforts
- Help to establish funding plan for a new firehouse
- Seek cost saving measures for taxpayer dollars
- Prioritize sidewalk and street repair planning
- Enhance business development grant initiatives and planning, including site readiness
Renee Skidmore
Councilwoman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- Ninth Term of Two Years
- 18 Years of Service
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
Renee participated in the field trip for the sixth graders while narrating every year of her participation. The field trip consisted of a tour of the City of Erlanger with the chance to learn from the General Government and various City departmental staff. During the field trip, Kenton County Alliance provided giveaway trinkets to the students. This was a coveted opportunity that students had to earn the chance to come in.
She and Don also played a big part in the Heritage Day event with their carriage rides. Heritage Day was a well-attended event with lots of room for communicating with the residents of Erlanger, which she enjoyed.
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Focus on collaboration between everyone to better the City of Erlanger – “Remember that there is no “I” in team!”
Renee Wilson
Councilwoman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- Third Term of Two Years
- Six Years of Service
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
Councilwoman Renee Wilson is a loving mother, Deaconess, and Missionary with 40+ years of serving KY communities. She’s a retired Legal Secretary and has worked Election Polls for 25+ years. Renee enjoys time with family and friends and helping others. She was honored as a Hometown Hero, NKY Woman Who Leads, and Community Hero for helping folk and families with food, serving as a Boys/Girls Scouts volunteer, teaching Sunday School, and community outreach. Councilwoman Wilson graduated from the Kenton County and Erlanger Government Academies. She worked across city and party lines advocating with Elsmere City Councilwoman Owen and other leaders for transportation that resulted in the #10 TANK bus pilot helping Erlanger and Elsmere residents, students, workers, and businesses, and she served on the Erlanger Race Relations & Diversity Task Force that created legislation supporting fairness and inclusion in the city. She was honored by the Erlanger-Elsmere School Board for volunteer service in the school district and she serves as a tutor and mentor. As a Commonwealth Ambassador, a loving community leader, and the first person of Color elected to the Erlanger City Council, Councilwoman Renee Wilson is invested in helping every member in the community and Commonwealth thrive.
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Support improvement of Erlanger parks, roads, and sidewalks.
- Support Erlanger businesses through economic growth and development.
- Promote Education and Public Service.
- Support a fiscally responsible budget that lowers property taxes and improves our city.
- Continue to help make Erlanger a welcoming, healthy, safe, great place to work and live!
Tom Cahill
Councilman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- Ninth Term of Two Years
- 18 Years of Service
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
- Lakemont Park Development committee
- Increased Street Budgets
- Clean up Erlanger Committee
- OKI
- Health Department Facilities Task Force
- Stevenson Road Taskforce
- Public Works Director Interview committee
- Served on the Finance Committee and Public Works Committee
- Representative to the Northern Kentucky District Board of Health Department
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Develop a master plan/roadmap for City of Erlanger facilities upgrades.
Tyson Hermes
Councilman
Number of Terms Served on City Council
- Third Term of Two Years
- Six Years of Service
Most Notable Accomplishments and Projects Led
- Lowering Erlanger’s property taxes.
- Increasing the rate of repairs of streets and sidewalks throughout the city.
- Developing incentives to combat blight.
- Developing incentives to encourage development.
- Serving on the Summer Sendoff festival committee.
- Holding SD1 accountable.
- Being recognized twice by the Kentucky League of Cities for Excellence in City Governance.
- Being a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and Pro Life advocate.
- Leading the concept of decreasing our city council size from 12 members.
- Assist the Fire/EMS Department in developing a long-term solution to staffing issues.
Goals for 2025/2026 council term
- Continue lowering property taxes.
- Lower insurance premium taxes.
- Lower franchise fee taxes.
- Improve the Erlanger parks.
- Continue the street and sidewalk repair/replacement program