By Katie Eubanks and Haley Stoltz
Interim Lexington Mayor David Sigler and city council member Nicholas Betts are facing off in a special election Tuesday that will determine who fills the remainder of former mayor Frank Friedman’s term. Friedman died unexpectedly in July at the age of 60.
Voters will choose between Sigler, a longtime councilman who was appointed interim mayor after Friedman’s death, and Betts, who is completing his first term on city council. The winner will serve through 2028.
City council unanimously appointed Sigler interim mayor in a 6-0 vote in July. He had already filed to run for another term on council before deciding to run for mayor. As a result, his name appears twice on the ballot, under both the city council and mayoral races. If elected to both offices, Sigler said, he would take the mayor’s office.
Betts, 36, a local attorney, had previously decided not to seek another city council term. He has served on the city’s planning commission and on the board of directors for the Rockbridge Area Relief Association. He said he decided to challenge Sigler for mayor because he has the experience and passion to continue serving.
The candidates discussed their leadership and the challenges facing the city during a Sept. 22 forum hosted by 50 Ways Rockbridge, a local nonprofit group.
Sigler, 47, has served on city council since 2014, working under former mayors Mimi Elrod and Friedman. He has also served on the boards of Main Street Lexington, the Regional Tourism Board and the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization.
Sigler has described his leadership style as dependent on the situation, saying he would adjust his approach based on whether council members needed him to lead a discussion or give others an opportunity to speak.
“I’ve been on a lot of projects on council, and these are all past experiences that will inform me and help me serve our community,” Sigler said.
The next mayor will have to contend with critical issues facing the city, including a shortage in affordable housing, aging infrastructure, and rising costs. The city’s budget for fiscal year 2027 allocates nearly $19.9 million for infrastructure.
Sigler identified affordability as one of the city’s greatest challenges, specifically regarding rising construction costs and the expense of maintaining municipal services.
“Lexington’s water and sewer rates have increased a good bit in the past eight or nine years,” he said in an interview. “And they are projected to continue to increase as we have to accomplish more and more projects.”
Betts emphasized communication and collaboration as a central part of his leadership philosophy, saying he wants to bridge the gap between new and old council members. He also emphasized the importance of being adaptable and being able to have difficult conversations.
Lexington’s mayor presides over a six-member city council, which serves as the city’s legislative and policy-making body. The mayor can participate in council discussions but votes only to break a tie.
The mayor also appoints council committees and represents the city at public events, while council members vote on ordinances, the annual budget and other city policies. The mayor has limited voting power, but the position plays an important role in guiding council discussions and building agreement on decisions affecting the city.
Betts said he would encourage council to hold work sessions on controversial issues, giving council members and residents more time to discuss proposals before a vote. One example he cited is a proposed policy that could require event organizers to pay for city services, including police security and street closures. The policy has raised questions about how to cover the costs of public events while protecting residents’ right to assemble and avoiding disruptions to downtown businesses.
Sigler emphasized that said the mayor can still participate in deliberations, share opinions and represent the city publicly, even without voting on every issue.