Councilmember Liz Sheehan was first elected to represent the residents of the 5th District in November of 2020; she was re-elected in 2022. In addition to her role as Councilmember, Liz works as a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky.
Liz completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Virginia Tech University before earning her Master's degree and PhD in Psychology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Liz began her educational career while in her Master's program, and has taught at the collegiate level for over 15 years.
With her research and education background, Liz prioritizes data-driven, collaborative, and innovative solutions to our most pressing issues. She values civic engagement, responsible growth, good stewardship of our natural resources, fostering a welcoming community, and economic development.
Liz and her husband Dr. Dan Sheehan have a middle school-aged daughter, who attends Fayette County Public Schools. The Sheehans welcomed a new furry family member, a rescue dog named Jaja (Ya-Ya), in 2020.
Councilmember Sheehan’s unique perspective as an educator, civic leader, and working mother guides her service to the 5th District and the city of Lexington.
Liz Serves
Councilmember Sheehan serves on the following committees, boards, and commissions for the Urban County Council:
- Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee (Chair)
- Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee
- General Government & Planning Committee
- Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board
- Access Lexington (formerly the Commission for People with Disabilities)
- Senior Services Commission
- Commission on Veterans' Affairs
Additionally, Liz is currently a member of Junior League of Lexington, the Women’s Network, League of Women Voters, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road Council, and serves as a board member of the nonprofit she co-founded, Compassionate Lexington.
Liz previously served as the Chair of Lexington Fairness, the Vice Chair of the Environmental Commission, a Lexington Fair Housing Council board member, an Ashland Neighborhood Association board member, and member of the CivicLex Governance Board.
Liz is a graduate of the Citizens’ Police Academy (class of 2021), the Community Environmental Academy (class of 2019-2020), Leadership Lexington (class of 2017-2018), and helped create the Public Engagement Toolkit for ImagineLexington.
About the 5th District
Lexington’s 5th Council District is home to many historic neighborhoods and numerous active neighborhood associations spanning across parts of the 40502, 40505 and 40517 zip codes. The district encompasses areas from Kenwick, to Idle Hour, Chevy Chase, Ashland, Ecton Park, Lansdowne-Merrick, Patchen Village, Plainview, Lakeview, and many others. Visitors may find themselves traveling through parts of the 5th District as they commute, work, shop, and dine along the Richmond Road corridor, Winchester and Liberty Road, as well as Alumni and Tates Creek Drive. The Senior Center, located off of Richmond Road near Idle Hour Park, provides many services and activities to Lexington's senior community. With eight unique parks ranging in size and many walkable neighborhoods, residents and visitors alike can take time to appreciate the natural beauty and greenspaces found here. The 5th District is a wonderful place to work, own a business, find leisure, appreciate history, and call home.
District 5 Projects
Town Branch 5 Sub Drainage Area Study
- Water Quality is completing an assessment of the Town Branch 5 Sub Drainage Area. This area is surrounded by Richmond Road, Barrow Road, Fontaine Road and Desha Road. The assessment includes mapping, infrastructure inspection, modeling the flow of water and public outreach.
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The infrastructure inspection may include land surveying, video inspections of sewer lines, smoke testing and flow monitoring. You may see crews in your neighborhood inspecting manholes or doing work in sanitary sewer and stormwater easements. Smoke testing involves putting non-toxic, white smoke into the sewer systems to look for cracks and other defects. It is completely normal for the smoke to exit from your roof vent pipe during these inspections.
The majority of the field work will be finished by January 2023.
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If you received a letter about this project, please fill out the survey.
Mt Tabor Sidewalk Construction and Improvement
- Lexington is adding and improving sidewalks in many areas of town, with a focus on areas with many pedestrians and connecting existing sidewalks.
- Improve bike lanes, sidewalks and intersections along Mt. Tabor Road. in the Gribbon Dr. and Patchen areas.
Lakeshore Drive Pump Station Improvement
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Nearby residents may hear construction noise during daytime hours.
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Traffic may be impacted by deliveries and construction, but residents will always be able to reach their homes.