The Gist
County Judge/Executive, Mercer County

Sarah Gray Steele

Candidate for County Judge/Executive, Mercer County

RepublicanIncumbent

Background

Occupation
Mercer County judge/executive

Mercer County judge/executive, elected in 2022 over incumbent Scott Moseley.

Report

Documented positions

Economy & jobs

  • Supported a temporary county pause on data center projects

    The fiscal court voted to draft a data center moratorium, to last until the joint planning and zoning commission's data center ordinance takes effect; she said it would not cover the city of Burgin.

    Joe Monroe Is Burgin's New Mayor…Again

    News coverage · Harrodsburg Herald · Jul 21, 2026 · harrodsburgherald.com

    “Steele called the moratorium a pause to give them time to work on the ordinance.”
    Report

Roads & infrastructure

  • Opposed adopting the county's data center zoning rules as drafted

    At a Sept. 28, 2026, special meeting she moved to deny the joint planning commission's data center zoning amendment and send it back; the motion carried. She said the draft would put some protections in place but more work was needed.

    Mercer County Fiscal Court Denies Data Center Ordinance

    News coverage · Harrodsburg Herald · Sep 30, 2026 · harrodsburgherald.com

    “I'd like to go ahead and move to deny it and return it to the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Joint Planning and Zoning Commission”
    Report

Government & transparency

  • Supports state guardrails on hyperscale data center development

    As reported by the Harrodsburg Herald from the Sept. 28, 2026, fiscal court meeting.

    Mercer County Fiscal Court Denies Data Center Ordinance

    News coverage · Harrodsburg Herald · Sep 30, 2026 · harrodsburgherald.com

    “She said she hopes the state legislature will put guardrails in place on hyperscale data center development in its upcoming legislative session.”
    Report

All sources (7)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.