City & County: Understanding the Ballot

When participating in local elections, understanding the different roles of city and county governments can help voters make educated decisions about which candidates they believe are best qualified. On May 19, 2026, Kentucky will hold primary elections to determine who will appear on the official ballots in November, and Daviess County residents will see different offices on their primary ballots depending on whether they live within the Owensboro city limits. While some offices may have similar titles, their association with either the city or county government will shape the authorities and responsibilities granted to the eventual winning candidates.

In Kentucky, the legislative and executive functions of county governments are led by the Fiscal Court and County Judge/Executive who work alongside other county employees and the judicial system to implement state initiatives locally and advocate for the interests of the county at higher levels. Despite the names of these offices, they do not have a judicial role, and their responsibilities significantly exceed the fiscal tasks associated with planning and executing the county budget.

• The Kentucky Association of Counties describes county functions as including oversight and funding for public safety, emergency management, and quality-of-life resources and facilities; encouraging economic development and investing in local infrastructure; and managing county administrative functions such as recordkeeping and election oversight, among other duties and roles. Daviess County government works on behalf of all residents, including those who live within the city limits of Owensboro.

• Daviess County is in the minority of Kentucky counties that elects commissioners, not magistrates, to its fiscal court. Commissioners  are elected by the county at large but must reside within their specified districts. Daviess County’s fiscal court commissioners represent Eastern, Western, and Central districts, and all county residents can vote for candidates for every district.

• Other county offices on the ballot in 2026, including sheriff, property value administrator, jailer, and county clerk, are responsible for managing the day-to-day activities and personnel required to carry out the functions overseen by the fiscal court.

In contrast to counties, which implement and manage state programs at a local level, city governments are formed as self-governing corporate entities that provide municipal services for the benefit of local residents. Owensboro’s Board of Commissioners functions as a legislative and oversight body, similar to the county-level Fiscal Court, and includes the mayor, whose position is not up for election in 2026.

• In Owensboro, significant responsibility for running the day-to-day operations of the city is assigned to the city manager, an unelected administrative position similar to that of a chief operating officer within a private corporation.  Although voters do not directly select the person in this position, the Board of Commissioners appoints and initiates proceedings to remove a city manager, offering an indirect means through which residents can influence the role.

• The city of Owensboro performs some services also addressed at the county level, including law enforcement and economic development. Other city functions, including sanitation services, transit systems, and stormwater and drainage maintenance, are only available to city residents or those within the city limits temporarily, while county-managed services, such as animal control and emergency management, are available to all residents of Owensboro and Daviess County.