Leaders

Laura White-Brown was sworn into office December 2018. Laura was born and raised in Morehead, Kentucky. She is a native of Morehead where she is raising her two children. Laura is a graduate of Morehead State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion. She started her career with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service where she taught nutrition and was a Regional Area Agent for the Nutrition Education Program. Laura furthered her career by joining her family business, Harold White Lumber, Inc., where she was the Export Logistics Coordinator. In this role, Laura spent much of her time traveling back and forth to China for trade shows and customer relations. Laura is the first female and youngest Mayor for the City of Morehead. She currently serves on the board of directors for Kentucky League of Cities and is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Appalachian Regional Commission Leadership Institute. Laura began her second term as Mayor in 2023.

Fire Chief Jeff Anderson is a 40-year veteran of the fire service. He was appointed as Fire Chief for the City of Morehead in 2009. Prior to his appointment as Morehead Fire Chief he served 29 years with the City of Wilmore, 10 years as Chief. Chief Anderson also served with the Jessamine County Fire District and the City of Nicholasville Fire Department. Chief Anderson is a Member of the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs which he serves as the 9th District Vice President.

Yvonne is a retired Morehead State University History Professor and administrator.  Originally from North Carolina, she and her family came to Morehead when her late husband, Alan, was posted to the ROTC Department at MSU. Their son and his family also reside in Morehead. Baldwin has a strong commitment to the city, favors strong and cordial working relationships between city and county, seeks continued development of the downtown area, city parks and recreation, and planned growth and expansion of city services.  She believes strongly that community action, civic engagement, and careful and wise consumption of information can effectively improve the quality of life for us all.

Derrick Blevins is a native of Morehead Kentucky and has spent his entire law enforcement career with the Morehead Police Department. He is a 2004 graduate of the Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Basic Training Class No. 348. He is also a graduate of the Criminal Justice Executive Development program at the Department of Criminal Justice Training. Chief Blevins has 19 years of law enforcement experience and rose through the ranks until he was appointed Chief on August 1st, 2016. He holds many commendations and awards for his service.

Rodney Fouch is a graduate of Rowan County Senior High School as salutatorian. He graduated from Morehead State University with a BBA in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration. He is a local businessman of over 30 years. Rodney has been married to his wife Crystal for 30 years. They have two children, one at Morehead State University who will be attending medical school at the University of Kentucky and the other is attending Rowan County Senior High School. Rodney is a level 1 residential and commercial building inspector.

Jenny Frazier has spent the majority of her adult life, living in Morehead, KY. As a two-time graduate of Morehead State University, she came here for school and never really left. Using her Bachelor’s in Business and her Master’s in Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis in Communications, Jenny spent many years working at Morehead State University, in many roles- Admissions, Student Life (Greek Life and Housing) and the majority spent in Communications and Marketing where she became the first official social media coordinator for the University. More recently she spent time in Huntington, WV working at the Mountain Health Arena now Marshall Health Network Arena and Convention Center, as the Marketing and Sales Manager and then at Marshall University working in Graduate Admissions. Jenny is very excited for her current role with the City of Morehead, to help educate and promote all of the extra benefits that happen here in our community.

In her spare time, you can find Jenny in downtown Morehead, frequenting all of our great shops, restaurants and attractions.

Born and raised in Morehead, Kentucky, Matt Hamilton is a 2003 graduate of Rowan County Senior High School. Matt began his career with the City of Morehead in March of 2007. In May 2019, he was named Parks and Recreation Director.  Today, Matt resides in Rowan County with his wife Michelle and four children; Jacob, Jordan, Jackson and Matthew.

Greg Jones was born in Morehead and hired by the City of Morehead as an equipment operator in September of 2003. He has spent his career devoted to improving the infrastructure of the Morehead community. He was named the Director of Public Works in January 2013.

Born and raised in Morehead, KY, Beth Ousley cites her parents and grandparents for the reason behind her involvement in business and civic activities, by nurturing her appreciation for the importance of service in her community. Ousley is a graduate of Rowan County Senior High School and a two-time graduate from Morehead State University, earning her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Master of Business Administration degrees. After graduation, she joined the Kentucky State Police and advanced through the ranks to retire as a Lieutenant. This rewarding career expanded Beth’s knowledge and heightened awareness of the significance of government entities. Her career provided opportunities for communication and interactions with people across the Commonwealth.

With almost 14 years of consecutive city council experience, Ousley states her individual perspective and experience have contributed to her participation and cooperation with fellow council members and the public in general. She believes that each council member, along with collaboration of the mayor, brings diversity and experience to complement one another and to fairly represent the citizens for the betterment of our city.

Throughout the years, service to others with fairness and empathy has and will continue to be a major part of Beth Ousley’s character.

Megan Hughes Richmond is a Rowan County Senior High School Class of 2007 graduate. She went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky in 2011 and the University of Kentucky College of Law in December 2013. She has been practicing law for 10 years in Morehead with Richardson Barber and Williamson, PSC. In addition to practicing law, Megan taught Business Law through the Elmer R. Smith College of Business and Technology at Morehead State University as an adjunct professor from 2018 – 2021. She currently serves on the Hope Hill Youth Services Board of Directors. Megan was appointed as the Morehead City Attorney in April 2022.

Megan has been married to her high school sweetheart and fellow Rowan County graduate, Daniel, for 9 years, and they are raising their three wild boys. She is passionate about supporting her local community and pursuing justice by advocating for her clients, especially focused on protecting the interests of children and youth.

Edna O. Schack was elected Councilmember and sworn in for the term beginning January 2023. She chose to run for office in the community she loves because Morehead is a small town with unique character that is on the cusp of growth. To be a successful city, Edna believes the community needs to prepare for and stay ahead of the growth. She leans on her experiences as a grant writer, a teacher, a former planning and zoning commission member, and her love of architecture to support her work as a Councilmember. In her first term, she led the writing of the Creating Vibrant Communities planning grant awarded to the city by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. She regularly attends conferences, various local committee meetings, and virtual webinars to increase her knowledge of the community, municipal government, grant opportunities, and issues facing Morehead and cities across the nation such as the housing gap, safety, and future growth. Her favorite aspects of Council are the opportunities to listen, ask questions, and work with others – Council, Mayor, Staff, citizens, and business owners – for the benefit of our community.

Councilmember Schack is retired from her 34-year career at Morehead State University where she prepared teachers, co-directed the MSUTeach Program, and was awarded and managed over $5 million in external grants. She and her husband, Mark, have four adult children who were born at St. Claire and all live in or visit Morehead often.

Helen Smith first arrived in Morehead back in 1987 as a student at Morehead State University. She enjoyed her time here so much, she decided to become a life-long resident. Her journey with the City of Morehead began in September 1999, as a deputy clerk/accounts receivable. In 2015, she moved to the position of deputy clerk/accounts payable. September 2021 brought the appointment of her current role as City Clerk. Helen is very involved in the Kentucky League of Cities, Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Helen completed her Certified Kentucky Municipal Clerk certification which is a 3-year program in 2003. In her personal time, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her family.