Jim Newberry

Jim Newberry was elected Mayor of Lexington in November 2006 by the largest margin since the city and county governments merged in 1974.

In his first six months in office, Mayor Newberry:

• Improved working relationship between the Council and Administration. 
• Unanimous passage of a budget that addresses goals identified by the Council and Administration and charts a new course for Lexington. 
• Reorganized government to improve efficiency and effectiveness. 
• Unshackled code enforcement to enforce standards. 
• Launched community clean-up campaign. 
• Expanded Summer Youth Employment Program. 
• Corrected problems with computer system to allow for accurate, reliable budgeting. 
• Worked toward goal of making Lexington most bike friendly city in Kentucky. 
• Visited elected officials in surrounding communities to underscore importance of regionalism.

Although this is his first elected position, Newberry is not new to public service, having served as an Executive Officer in the Office of Lieutenant Governor Brereton Jones, focusing on agriculture, economic development and health care issues. Later, he served as Acting Secretary of Kentucky’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.

In 1990, Newberry co-founded Newberry, Hargrove & Rambicure, where he practiced law until 1998, when he joined Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs.

Newberry received both his undergraduate and law school education at the University of Kentucky. He has served on numerous volunteer boards and as Deacon Chair at Calvary Baptist Church. Newberry and his wife, Cheryl Ann, have two sons, Drew and Will.