Troy Ethington
KY · Mayor of Shelbyville
Troy Ethington is Shelbyville's mayor, a former six-year city council member, and a retired assistant fire chief after 25 years with Shelbyville Fire & Rescue. His priorities are public safety, infrastructure, a new comprehensive plan, and downtown beautification.
Where Troy Ethington stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (4 records), Public Infrastructure (3 records)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 oppose
Presented his first city budget as mayor, a balanced plan for 2023-24. It made public safety the top priority with more staff, equipment and training, and added Public Works staff and road paving money.
May 18, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 4 support
Asked the council to buy a new $1.46 million aerial ladder truck to replace a 28-year-old truck with mechanical problems. The council approved the purchase.
November 20, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: pmg-ky1.com
Presented his first city budget as mayor, a balanced plan for 2023-24. It made public safety the top priority with more staff, equipment and training, and added Public Works staff and road paving money.
May 18, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Moved to spend $170,000 in federal pandemic relief money on new police vehicle and body cameras. The council approved it unanimously.
June 2, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Moved to buy a new fire truck from Pierce Manufacturing for about $1.06 million. The council approved it unanimously.
February 6, 2020Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
Presented his first city budget as mayor, a balanced plan for 2023-24. It made public safety the top priority with more staff, equipment and training, and added Public Works staff and road paving money.
May 18, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Moved to award a $1,303,865 contract to repave 46 city streets, about 10 miles of road. The council approved it 5-1.
March 7, 2019Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Voted yes as a city council member to buy land on Taylorsville Road for a water pumping station, using eminent domain if needed. The motion passed 4-1.
March 1, 2018Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Track record — General
General · 10 records
Backed the temporary ban on new data center applications that the council passed in August 2026, calling it "proactive rather than reactive." The ban runs through Dec. 31, 2026, while planners study effects on water, power and emergency services.
August 24, 2026
Source: pmg-ky1.com
Emailed council members asking them not to raise questions about city departments, staff or operations during council reports, and to bring them to him first. Council member Shane Suttor called it a transparency concern.
July 2, 2026
Source: pmg-ky1.com
Sent a letter to the state economic development cabinet backing incentives for Steris Corp., which chose Shelbyville for a surgical-instrument plant with about 20 jobs. The state board approved the incentives.
February 26, 2026
Source: pmg-ky1.com
Was elected to the Kentucky League of Cities Board of Directors, which sets the group's legislative agenda for Kentucky cities.
October 16, 2025
Source: pmg-ky1.com
Named Carlton Holbert as Shelbyville's new fire chief. The city council approved the appointment unanimously.
March 20, 2025
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Received the Kentucky League of Cities' Level 1 City Governance award after finishing 30 hours of training for city officials.
November 28, 2024
Source: pmg-ky1.com
Proposed a resolution to let city voters decide whether medical cannabis businesses can operate in Shelbyville. The council approved putting the question on the November 2024 ballot.
August 5, 2024
Source: pmg-ky1.com
Won the election for Shelbyville mayor with 1,409 votes, beating Norris Beckley (1,334) and Shane Suttor (1,278).
November 8, 2022
Source: elect.ky.gov
Voted no on letting the mayor sign a permanent deal to share city business license tax money with Shelby County. The measure passed 4-2.
November 7, 2019
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Moved to approve a tax break for Bemis Packaging that cut its local payroll tax from 1.5% to 0.75% for seven years after it met state job-expansion terms. The council approved it unanimously.
September 5, 2019
Source: shelbyvillekentucky.com
Past race Troy Ethington ran in:
- Shelbyville Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Shelbyville city, Kentucky · incumbent