Somerset Mayor Alan Keck announces he will not seek third term

SOAR award city of Somerset Alan Keck

SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (September 2, 2025) — Somerset Mayor Alan Keck announced today during his seventh State of the City address at the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon that he will not seek a third term.

“It’s been an unbelievable honor, privilege and joy to lead and serve this community,” Keck said. “But I want to make something clear — this work was never about me. It was never about my future or what I might accomplish. It was and remains about transforming our community, and that work will continue with vigor and passion.”

Elected to his second term in 2022, Keck has presided over a period of unprecedented change in his hometown, unifying Somerset and transforming it through economic development, tourism, and fostering a strong sense of community spirit. During his time in office, Somerset has:

• Rebranded the city with a bold, new identity.
• Generated new revenue through business growth while saving millions through responsible fiscal management.
• Made record investments in first responders.
• Attracted thousands of visitors downtown with new festivals and events.
• Revived downtown with new parks, wayfinding, and the restoration of the historic Virginia Theater.

• Helped reimagine economic development in Somerset by creating a new city-county partnership.
• Helped recruit more than $500 million in new and existing business investment — including a future site on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Horse Soldier Farms by Horse Soldier Bourbon, set to open July 4, 2026.
• Assembled a comprehensive planning team — including a diverse group of city employees, appointees, city council members and community leaders — to create Somerset 2050, a 25-year road map for the city’s future.

As a result, Somerset’s growth has outpaced the state average by double.

For this leadership, Keck was named 2021 Kentucky League of Cities Elected Official of the Year, and in 2024, Shaping Our Appalachian Region named Somerset the Downtown of the Year. He was also recognized by his alma mater, Western Kentucky University, as a member of the inaugural Under 40 at the Top class.

Keck’s decision to step aside, he said, is rooted in a belief that Somerset’s progress must extend beyond any one person.

“When I first took office, I asked this community to do something different — to believe in itself,” Keck said. “Today, I can say with confidence that we finally do. I am not leaving because I don’t enjoy this work, or because there isn’t more to be done. I’m leaving because this mission has to be bigger than one man or one woman. Progress isn’t about me. It’s bigger than all of us. It’s about building a better Somerset. And the best is yet to come.”

Keck, a Somerset native, is a graduate of Somerset High School and Western Kentucky University, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of the Cumberlands. A 2017 graduate of Leadership Kentucky, he now serves on its board of directors and on the Kentucky League of Cities board.

Keck will continue to serve as mayor through the remainder of his term, which ends in December 2026. He said he is focused on finishing strong, executing several projects over the next 16 months that residents requested during the Somerset 2050 comprehensive planning process.

“Aside from my role as a husband and father, serving alongside the amazing team at the City of Somerset has been my life’s greatest privilege,” Keck said. “This team is the best in the state, hands down, and I am so proud of the work we have accomplished together.”