The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Who makes up Louisville’s Metro Council
Teachers, lawyers and retirees among group
Louisville Metro Council members are not just politicians — they are also teachers, lawyers, business owners and retirees.
Being a council member is designed to be a part-time gig paying approximately $50,000 annually. Many members have other careers, from working in human resources to leading grassroots organizations.
To learn more about who makes decisions for the city, The Courier Journal reviewed council members’ job paths and found:
● 35% of council members are either currently or were previously in a job connected to education
● At least 23% have started their own businesses, companies or firms
● 19% are retired
● 8% are in law
● 8% are former healthcare workers Here’s more information about the background of your city council representatives. Find your council district at lojic.org/metro-council-districts.
District 1: Tammy Hawkins
Hawkins is a small business owner but declined to comment on the name of her business.
She is also a former licensed practical nurse and worked in the health field for 10 years before switching career paths.
District 2: Barbara Shanklin
While Shanklin is now retired, she previously assembled refrigerators for GE Appliances and wrote the union paper for hourly employees. She also holds a doctorate in education from Spalding University.
District 3: Shameka Parrish-Wright
Parrish-Wright is the executive director of VOCAL-KY, a grassroots organization focused on advocating for people with HIV/AIDS, homelessness and mass incarceration, among other issues.
District 4: Jecorey Arthur
Arthur is a professor at the Simmons College of Kentucky, where he teaches in both the music and sociology departments. He is also involved with the school’s Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. Center for Racial Justice.
District 5: Donna Purvis
Purvis works as a substitute teacher for Jefferson County Public Schools.
District 6: Phillip Baker
Baker works at Coleridge-Taylor Elementary in JCPS as a family resource and youth center coordinator. He has also been a multiple-line agent at State Farm Insurance.
District 7: Paula McCraney
McCraney owns P Mc & Associates, a consultant business, and The Traveling Boutique, which sells jewelry, hats and fascinators. She has a background in banking and obtained her doctorate from Spaulding University in 2023.
District 8: Ben Reno-Weber
Reno-Weber is the deputy director of Humana’s Health Equity Innovation Hub at the University of Louisville.
District 9: Andrew Owen
Owen is the co-founder, president and principal broker of Preston Thomas Properties, a commercial real estate investment, management and brokerage company.
District 10: Pat Mulvihill
Mulvihill serves as the general counsel for the Transit Authority of River City (TARC).
District 11: Kevin Kramer
Kramer has been a teacher at Mercy Academy for over 20 years. He has also taught at several other Catholic schools, often on the subjects of history and religion.
District 12: Rick Blackwell
Blackwell is the president of St. Francis DeSales High School, an all-male Catholic high school focused on faith, brotherhood and tradition. Prior to assuming the leadership role in 2018, Blackwell worked for over 30 years at Mercy Academy.
District 13: Dan Seum, Jr.
Seum is retired from his job as a youth football coach at Farnsely Middle School.
District 14: Cindi Fowler
Fowler was a legislative aide for former Councilman Bob Henderson, a Democrat who served from the citycounty merger until 2012. Fowler won the seat after Henderson retired. Before that, Fowler worked in JCPS.
District 15: Jennifer Chappell
Chappell works in digital marketing as an account manager and strategist for ProMedia Group, a company based in New Albany, Indiana.
District 16: Scott Reed
Reed works as the vice president of business and development at V.G. Reed & Sons, Inc., a fourth-generation family-owned print fulfillment company started in 1938, according to the company’s website.
District 17: Markus Winkler
Winkler, the Louisville Metro Council president, is a human resources information system manager. He did not specify which company he works for.
District 18: Marilyn Parker
Parker is a former trauma ICU nurse and current business owner of Club K-9, an entertainment venue for people to attend with their dogs.
District 19: Anthony Piagentini
Piagentini is the vice president of strategic business expansion for NeuLife Rehabilitation, Inc., a Florida-based rehabilitation company.
District 20: Stuart Benson
Benson is now retired but used to teach machine tool technology at Southern High School.
District 21: Betsy Ruhe
Ruhe is retired but volunteers at several organizations including the Louisville Nature Center, Orchards of Beechmont and the Friends of Iroquois Park.
District 22: Robin Engel
Engel is a senior sales representative for RJ Schinner, a wholesale distribution company headquartered in Wisconsin.
District 23: Jeff Hudson
Hudson is a residential real estate agent. He used to work as a mechanical engineer and machine programmer at GE Appliances for over 25 years.
District 24: Madonna Flood
Flood has been retired since 2008 but previously worked in property maintenance for more than 30 years. Her last position before retirement was with Medford Property.
District 25: Khalil Batshon
Batshon is the owner of Khalil’s, a restaurant, bar and catering business he started in 2012.
District 26: Brent Ackerson
Ackerson is a practicing attorney at his own firm, Ackerson Law Offices, which focuses mainly on personal injury, wills and employment law.