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Reynolds elected chair of Lexington City Social Services and Public Safety Committee
Summary
Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds was elected chair of Lexington City's Social Services and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 14, 2025, following nominations and brief remarks from nominees. Reynolds appointed Councilmember Whitney Elliot Baxter as vice chair.
Lexington City — Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds was elected chair of the Social Services and Public Safety Committee at a committee meeting on Jan. 14, 2025.
The committee met with one item of business: electing a committee chair. Councilmember Ehlinger nominated Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds, a nomination seconded by Councilmember Whitney Elliot Baxter. Councilmember Denise Gray then nominated herself, with Councilmember Lynch offering a second. The vice mayor explained the process: the committee would vote first on Reynolds' nomination; if it failed, members would then vote on Gray's nomination. The committee took a voice vote on Reynolds' nomination; the vice mayor announced that the motion carried.
Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds, who said she had served as chair for the previous two years, spoke after her nomination. "It has been an absolute honor to serve as chair of the social services and public safety committee for the past 2 years," Reynolds said. She asked colleagues for support to continue chairing the committee so it could "work with [social services and public safety], giving them the opportunity to present in committee, and, working together, in order to address issues that are important to our constituents."
Councilmember Denise Gray, who nominated herself, also addressed the committee. "A well run meeting involves the opportunity for all people to engage, without cutting off or moving along the meeting without everyone having the opportunity to being heard," Gray said. She said her background is in social services and argued for greater attention to social-service strategies alongside public-safety efforts.
After the vote, Reynolds — now chair — appointed Councilmember Whitney Elliot Baxter as vice chair; Baxter accepted. The vice mayor said there was no other business on the agenda and welcomed newly seated council members Hill Boone, Joseph Hale, Tyler Morton, Emma Curtis and Amy Beasley before adjourning the meeting and noting the committee would reconvene at 12:45 p.m. for the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee.
The meeting record shows this was an organizational meeting with no policy items or votes on ordinances or resolutions.
