Five of the six at-large contenders were on stage at the Farish Theater where they took questions on student housing, public transit, parks, and a number of other key concerns.
Several questions dealt with housing costs and how the city should address the supply shortage that's putting a squeeze on residents and aspiring residents alike.
Former school board member Stephanie Spires, Vice Mayor Dan Wu, and Herbert Lynn, who is a member of the Bluegrass chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, offered their takes on an issue that's top of mind for many.
"It can take up to 500 days from purchase to shovel ready and... cities that are comparable our size are around 200 days. So what is the red tape? I think that's something council needs to look at," Spires said.
"I have been and I will continue to be a strong advocate for streamlining our approval processes, reforming our outdated zoning," Wu added, noting that there's no silver bullet that will solve the problem.
Lynn advocated for the city to take the lead and build on properties it owns. "We probably need to focus on building up instead of out. That means more dense urban housing in the downtown area," he said.
Several candidates expressed frustration with the growing off-campus student housing at UK, while some said the council can and should exercise more discretion in granting zoning changes requested by builders.
All candidates agreed that hyperscale data centers should not be allowed in Fayette County, but several took more nuanced positions on smaller facilities, especially those needed for health care and other services.
At-Large Councilmember James Brown and Tate Ohmer, a member of his family's contracting business and former non-profit lobbyist, said they have their eyes on what new data center rules state lawmakers might pass.
"It's an issue that's been pushed on us locally to make a decision and my concern, and we've seen it time and time again, is that we make our local policy that our community is okay with and then it gets preempted by the state," Brown said.
"I'm very, very confident that actually the state will come in and regulate over our heads and they'll make it apply to all city governments fairly equally because it has absolutely been catching fire in Frankfort," Ohmer advised.
City employee Christopher Shafer was the only candidate not in attendance.
In November, voters can select three at-large candidates. The top vote-getter becomes the vice mayor while the second and third place finishers will serve in regular council seats.