Bellevue City Attorney Declares Run for Mayorship; Charles Cleves Steps Down from Re-election
**Article Title: Dave Fessler Announces Candidacy for Bellevue Mayoral Election in 2026**
Dave Fessler, a respected legal professional and long-time Bellevue resident, has announced his candidacy for the mayoral election scheduled for 2026. Born in Dayton, just outside Bellevue, Fessler has deep roots in the community, a fact evident in his extensive history of involvement in local schools and sports teams.
Fessler's legal career spans 39 years, during which he has served as the City Attorney of Bellevue for the past six and a half years. Prior to this, he graduated with honors from Eastern Kentucky University and NKU’s Chase Law School in 1986.
In his announcement, Fessler expressed his intention to be a mayor who will capitalize on the strengths of Bellevue's residents and businesses. He sees the campaign as an opportunity to engage with the community, both to renew old friendships and to gather new ideas from residents on how to move Bellevue forward.
Fessler emphasized the importance of maintaining Bellevue's cohesive community, where residents feel welcome regardless of social or economic background. He aims to leverage this strength to compete in the modern marketplace of cities.
In terms of economic development, Fessler seeks to enhance Bellevue's economic prospects and competitiveness by capitalizing on the strengths of residents and businesses. He did not provide further details about his political platform in this announcement.
Fessler was a member of Bellevue High School’s state championship football team in 1977 and the mile-relay team that was runner-up in the Kentucky state track meet the following year. He and his wife Jill have four adult sons.
Notably, the incumbent mayor, Charlies Cleves, is not seeking re-election, opening the door for a new leader to take the helm in Bellevue. Fessler views the campaign as a process of education, wanting to hear all the good ideas for moving Bellevue forward.
As the race heats up, Fessler's experience, deep roots in the community, and commitment to Bellevue's future make him a strong contender for the mayoral position. The election is scheduled for 2026.
- Dave Fessler, a Bellevue resident with a long history of involvement in local education and sports teams, has announced his candidacy for the 2026 Bellevue mayoral election.
- In his announcement, Fessler, a seasoned lawyer with a focus on local business development and education, expressed his intent to capitalize on the strengths of Bellevue's residents and businesses, aiming to create an inclusive community that is competitive in the modern marketplace.
- The upcoming Bellevue mayoral election in 2026, with the incumbent mayor not seeking re-election, promises to be a significant event in the state's general news and politics, as Dave Fessler, a well-known figure in Bellevue and a strong contender, throws his hat in the ring.
