Why do you want to be a member of the Midway City Council?
Harvey Couch: Rachel and I moved to Midway 20 years ago and raised our two sons here. Midway is home. When my friend Patrick Hall decided not to seek re-election, I felt called to give back. I spent eight years on the Northridge Estates HOA board, two as president, where I listened to neighbors, managed budgets, and built consensus. In my 20 years working for the Frankfort Plant Board, a municipal utility, I have learned how essential services are planned, funded, and delivered to a community that depends on them. Midway already works well. I want to help keep it on track.
Logan Nance: We’re so fortunate to get to call Midway our home. Communities like Midway are becoming fewer and fewer. What we have is special and worth preserving. Since being elected to the city council, I see my role as an advocate for Midway. I will always stand up to outside interest groups who want to take advantage of our town. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past few years, and hope to continue to serve. I hope my fellow Midwegians know I can be counted on to be reachable, to listen, and to act with integrity.
Mary Raglin: I want to continue to be a member of the Midway City Council because I want to continue to learn as I serve. I have learned so much since I first entered this race of serving my community. Having a voice, a vote in what is considered best for Midway is my way of serving my community, and most of all, I can continue to bring diversity to the table.
Zachary Rankin: I want to bring my experience and unique perspective as a resident, former business owner and member of Midway Business Association. I love this city and want to continue to fight to preserve our small-town charm while continuing to improve the city for our both our citizens and businesses. It is important to listen to citizens and collaborate with our small businesses.
Steve Simoff: With three terms under my belt, I understand how local government works and that all issues must be studied thoroughly and without bias to make workable, common-sense solutions. We’ve seen the results that good governance brings and I would grateful to have another opportunity to serve the community.
Ian VanSteenbergh: I’m running for re-election to continue serving the community and keep local government working for the people of Midway. We lowered the property tax rate in 2025, held it steady in 2026, and passed balanced budgets. We invested in our parks and are planning to pave the Midway Cemetery. Our work isn’t finished. As a business owner, the son of small-business owners, and someone with a public policy background, I bring a business-minded, community-driven perspective. My priorities: parks, supporting local businesses, roads and sidewalks, and responsible tax stewardship. I love this town and want to see projects through.
With the continued growth of Fall Festival, do you favor making the recent expansion to Bruen Street?
Couch: The expansion eased crowding on Railroad Street, added shade, and gave the festival room to breathe. The indoor space at Midway Christian Church also made it possible to welcome new vendors. I commend the organizers for continually working to improve the experience.
Fall Festival is a tremendous opportunity for Midway to show itself to visitors, but we must be considerate of everyone who lives and works nearby. Before making the change permanent, I would want to hear from Bruen Street residents, nearby businesses, organizers, and public safety officials. If that feedback is positive, I would support it.
Nance: I was unsure how the addition would work at first, but I think it’s safe to say it went off without a hitch. All feedback I’ve received has been supportive, even from residents who live on Bruen. Being a public servant requires you to be open to hearing different perspectives, listening, and then making the best possible decision. You’re not always going to make people happy 100% of the time, but you have to be decisive, and you need to be proactive and seek out feedback from everyone involved to make the most informed decisions that you can.
Raglin: Yes. The Midway Fall Festival is Midway’s biggest fundraising festival for the community. I hope there are plans for future expansions to share Midway’s beauty beyond downtown and bring more funds to our community.
Rankin: I believe it was well executed to accommodate the citizens who live on Bruen, provided a fundraising mechanism for the Christian church who gives back to the community in many ways and helped spread the crowd out. It caused minimal traffic impact, received praise from residents. Therefore, I am in favor of making it permanent.
Simoff: The decision to expand the festival was studied at great lengths before it was decided upon. It was considered a success because of thorough and thoughtful planning. It will always be considered on a year-by-year basis, but as it gives so much back to the community and provided for a smoother flow of visitors to Midway’s signature festival, I am in favor of trying it again next year.
VanSteenbergh: I serve on the board of the Midway Business Association, and we received positive feedback on the Bruen Street expansion. Midway Christian Church proposed it as a fundraising mechanism for their community work, with the MBA donating its time as organizers. Fall Festival is a long-standing tradition that brings neighbors and visitors together and supports our small businesses, and this expansion supports the church’s community work. I support making it permanent as long as the Midway Christian Church, the Business Association, and neighbors continue to back it. If concerns arise, we can listen and re-evaluate.
Are you in favor of some type of speed reduction devices, such as a speed bench or speed bump, placed on S. Stephens Street?
Couch: Yes, residents should be able to walk, bike, and cross Stephens Street comfortably and safely, and slower traffic helps make that possible. I would also like to significantly improve pedestrian safety along E. Stephens, especially from Brand St. to the Homeplace. Walkability is a top priority for me, and this stretch keeps some neighborhoods from being safely connected to the rest of town. The first step is research. A speed table, speed bump, or another measure may work best, but the council should consider every option with traffic data and neighbor input guiding the decision.
Nance: Residents on E. Stephens St. will tell you we have a speeding problem in that area. My family takes regular walks through there. People do drive too fast. I’m in favor of placing stop signs at the intersection of S. Gratz and E. Stephens. I believe with flashing lights or signs we can draw public attention to this change which will naturally slow down traffic and make it safer for families to cross the street. I know speed bumps, even stop signs, are not universally loved, but we do need to try something before an accident happens.
Raglin: Yes, I am in favor of some type of speed reduction device on South Stephen. The question is….What is the most effective and most affordable way for us?
Rankin: As a resident of Campus Gate, I am in favor of finding some creative solutions to the speeding issues. Until we can find a way to design and fund a sidewalk or walking path from Mill Rd place to Brand St, it’s a dangerous road for pedestrians. Signage and occasional police presence is not enough.
Simoff: I’m in favor of speed tables on E. Stephen’s that slow traffic but cause no harm to vehicles. If it proves successful, we could possibly consider them on other streets where it could be of benefit to the safety of neighborhoods.
VanSteenbergh: Absolutely; I’d start with a pilot project on Stephens Street. My degree from the University of Kentucky focused on urban planning, and speed tables are a common traffic-calming tool. Unlike a speed bump, a speed table’s gentler, flat-topped design is easier on emergency vehicles while slowing traffic and making crossings safer for pedestrians. UK has them on campus. We can hear from the community and add more if it works. We have to be responsible by testing before committing more tax dollars. It’s part of a safer, more walkable and bikeable Midway that I am running to accomplish.