We, the residents of Lexington-Fayette County, are calling for the resignation of Mayor Linda Gorton due to repeated failures in winter-weather preparedness, response, and leadership accountability.

This is not about a single storm—it is about two separate winter-weather failures in the same season that have significantly impacted public safety, daily life, and trust in city leadership.

Earlier Winter Storm – Extended Disruption
During an earlier winter storm this season, Fayette County Public Schools remained closed for an extended period, creating widespread disruption for families.

Parents were forced to adjust work schedules, find last-minute childcare, and absorb financial strain. Even weeks later, families were still dealing with the impact.

As one parent said:
“We knew this was coming.”
(Source: LEX 18 – Day 10: Extended FCPS closure strains family routines)https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/day-10-extended-fcps-closure-strains-family-routines?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

 March 17, 2026 – Dangerous Conditions Across Lexington
A second winter-weather event on March 17 led to:

Over 150 crashes
Citywide traffic gridlock
Drivers stranded for hours
Emergency services overwhelmed
Police were forced to temporarily stop responding to non-injury crashes due to the volume of incidents.
(Source: LEX 18 – Mayor Gorton says ice… is to blame for chaotic commute)https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/mayor-gorton-says-ice-not-lack-of-preparation-is-to-blame-for-lexingtons-chaotic-morning-commute?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Despite these outcomes, Mayor Gorton stated the city had prepared and suggested many accidents were due to drivers “not driving slow.”
(Source: LEX 18)https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/mayor-gorton-says-ice-not-lack-of-preparation-is-to-blame-for-lexingtons-chaotic-morning-commute?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

 Leadership Response Raises Concerns Following the March 17 event:

Public Works Commissioner Nancy Albright resigned
Mayor Gorton stated: “Anything any city employee does, I’m responsible for”
The city admitted its snow response plan is “not working” and will be replaced
(Source: WKYT – Mayor Gorton addresses reporters)https://www.wkyt.com/2026/03/18/lexington-mayor-linda-gorton-addresses-reporters/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

While these admissions are important, they came after two major failures, raising concerns that issues were not addressed proactively after the first storm.

  A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident
These events point to a broader pattern of:

Inadequate preparation for foreseeable conditions
Repeated disruption to public safety and daily life
Reactive decision-making rather than proactive planning
Eroding public trust in city leadership
Local media commentary has also criticized the response, reinforcing community concerns.
(Source: Lexington Herald-Leader opinion column)

  Our Demand
Lexington deserves leadership that is prepared, accountable, and responsive.

For these reasons, we call for Mayor Linda Gorton to resign.

We also urge the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council to review these events and take appropriate action to restore public trust and ensure effective leadership moving forward.