By Maria Rachal
Frank Friedman, who spent his youth at Waddell Elementary, Lylburn Downing Middle School and Lexington High School, will be the next mayor of Lexington.
The CornerStone Bank executive received 1,254 votes, or 54 percent, defeating his city council colleague Charles “Chuck” Smith, who garnered 1,049 votes.
“I’m just looking forward to carrying on the great traditions that Lexington has begun, and getting people working together,” Friedman said. He also congratulated the voters of Lexington on “having great candidates and for everyone acting civilized and respectful.”
Friedman, 50, was the “hometown” candidate in the mayor’s race, having grown up in Lexington before studying managerial economics at Hampden-Sydney College. He worked elsewhere in financial services and came back to work in Lexington in 1997.
Throughout his campaign, Friedman emphasized his desire for greater “economic empowerment” in Lexington, and his goal to grow the local workforce. Friedman served on the Lexington City Council from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 until now.
He will succeed Mayor Mimi Elrod, who has held the office since 2008. Unlike Elrod, who has been retired during her tenure as mayor, Friedman will balance his new leadership position with his job as vice president and financial advisor at CornerStone Bank, as well as his role as father to three children.
He’s looking forward to working with the new city council.
“Running the meetings with that group of folks will be very enjoyable,” he said.
Smith, a science teacher at Lylburn Downing Middle School and owner of Washington Street Purveyors, still has two years remaining in his city council term.
“I plan to pursue the platform that I was running on, to promote our environment, economic development, and education opportunities to make the Lexington region a stronger place than it already is,” Smith said.
As for when his city council seat expires in 2018, Smith said he has no set plans yet.
“That’s a little too far out to speculate on, but the six years [on city council] so far has been very rewarding,” he said. “I think I’ve helped the city a lot, and if that support continues, in a couple years I’ll probably keep going I think.”