City Council
Meet the stewards of Highland Height’s future – your City Council. Committed to serving our community with integrity and dedication, our council members work tirelessly to address issues, enact policies, and ensure the prosperity of our city. Learn more about our councilors, their initiatives, and how they’re shaping the future of Highland Heights.
Greg Meyers, Mayor
Greg Meyers was elected to the position of mayor in 2006 and is currently serving his fifth four-year term. He began his first term on city council in 2003, serving two two-year terms, including two years as vice mayor.
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As mayor, he presides at council meetings, facilitates communication and understanding between elected and appointed officials, and assists the council in setting goals and advocating policy decisions that will benefit the community. He is responsible for overseeing the entire city budget process—from planning to approval by council to daily management—and for selecting committees and appointing key staff. He also represents the city in intergovernmental relations.
Under Meyers’ leadership, the city of Highland Heights has demonstrated a strong commitment to its longstanding motto of “growth through progress.” It began with the recognition that, in order to flourish, both the city and Northern Kentucky University (NKU) needed to work together. In 2008, after years of negotiation, Meyers and other city officials successfully orchestrated the annexation of NKU into Highland Heights, bringing the city a significant boost in tax revenue and setting the financial foundation to ensure continued services to residents for years to come. To date, the partnership has allowed the city to improve its administrative, police, public works and community recreation facilities and has stimulated development benefiting residents and students alike.
Meyers retired from a successful sales career with Ricoh USA, after dedicating more than 45 years to the company. He has a long history of volunteer civic leadership and is a passionate advocate for community service. Meyers has mentored many young people through his involvement with Boy Scouts of America and Optimist International.
A lifelong resident of Northern Kentucky and graduate of Newport Catholic High School, Meyers has called Highland Heights home since 1977. He and his wife, Pam, have two sons and four grandchildren.
John Hoffert, Council Member
John Hoffert was elected to a two year term on City Council beginning in January 2017. Previously John has served on the City Planning and Zoning Committee. John also serves on the City Finance Committee and the Communication Committee.
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John and his wife Kimberly have resided in Highland Heights since 2011. John was originally born in Highland Heights and lived in Campbell County until he moved to Chicago, Illinois for 20 years and Roanoke, Virginia for 4 years.
R. Alex Bramel, Council Member
Hello, Highland Heights! My name is Alex Bramel and I’d like to first say ‘thank you’ for electing me as one of your new City Councilmembers. It is certainly a privilege to serve you, the residents, in this capacity.
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A little bit about me: I grew up in Newport, KY and moved to Highland Heights in 2018. I have a degree in accounting and have worked for the Diocese of Covington as a business/finance manager for the past 9 years. Also, during this time, I served 6 years as the City Clerk/Treasurer for Woodlawn, KY. I know that my experience in the accounting field and my tenure as a City Clerk/Treasurer have prepared me for this new opportunity.
Many times, in the past month or so, I have been asked “what is your agenda?” My answer is simple: my agenda is the agenda of the people that I serve, the residents of Highland Heights. I did not choose to run for office so it could be a time of self service. I chose to run so that the residents have responsive representation to their concerns and needs within the city. As I was walking the city before the election, I had many great opportunities to talk with you, to hear your concerns, and your goals for the city. Goals that ranked at the top of your list were: effective communication from the city, pedestrian safety including sidewalk repairs and improvements (especially on the North side of town), updated street signs, re-painting of curbs, city park improvements, etc. With time and a bit of hard work, these are achievable and effective goals.
Please know that when I say I want to hear from you, I mean it! My email is r.alexbramel@gmail.com and my direct line is 859-750-1003. I will always give you a straightforward and honest answer; it may not be exactly what you want to hear, but it will be respectful and honest. I look forward to hearing your concerns and ideas for our city and serving as a Councilmember of such a wonderful community!
Rene Heinrich, Council Member
Rene Heinrich is a 2000 graduate of the Salmon P. Chase College of Law and a 1995 Honors graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, holding degrees in English, Speech and Theater.
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Born in Rosenheim, Germany and fluent in conversational German, Rene’s childhood was primarily in Mt. Sterling and Richmond, Kentucky. Following college, Rene worked at the Cincinnati Ballet Company and New York Stage and Film. After entering law school, Rene assistant-directed the Drama Desk, Pulitzer Prize and Tony-award winning Broadway production of Side Man that turned out to be Rene’s last professional job in the theater. She is licensed to practice law in all courts in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
In our home of Highland Heights, Rene has served multiple terms as a Council Member, and as a Member of the Planning and Zoning, Board of Adjustments, and several Comprehensive Plan Committees. Rene, along with the Mayor and Council, was instrumental in: NKU joining the City, the building our new City Building, Highland Heights’ hiring of an economic development professional and the hiring of our new city manager, Michael Giffen. Rene also has worked on committees in the hiring of our current Chief of Police, the development of TIFF districts in the Highland Heights, and passing measures for bonds to allow us to build our new Public Works facility.
As an experienced family law attorney, Rene’s day job consists of representing families through divorce, custody, adoption, and child protective cases. A long-time advocate for children, she has represented over two-thousand of our most vulnerable citizens through her Guardian Ad Litem roles in Kenton and Campbell counties. Rene also represents victims of sexual and other abuse/neglect situations, including those occurring in nursing homes. She also currently represents James Yates and Will Smith, two men who were denied access to their marriage license by clerk Kim Davis in Rowan County. Rene previously served as an appointed Administrative Law Judge for the Kentucky Parole Board.
More importantly than all the rest, Rene is happily married to Jack Hering and together they have raised four daughters to adulthood and have two more kids to go! In her spare time, Rene loves to travel, read, and giggle with her granddaughter, Addy.
Gary Chinn, Council Member
I moved to Highland Heights in 1976 with my wife Patty and we have two children who are grown. I have been involved with the city since 2006 on Recreation and City Council.
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After retiring, I got involved in the acting business my roles have been in the movies Carol, Clever Girl, Miles Ahead, In a Murder, All or Nothin’, and nine other movies. Also, I love my job on City Council, I love the city and have helped to bring the city to where it is today. I feel we live in a great town and hope to continue my work with the city.
THANK YOU
Deb Ball, Council Member
John Braun, Council Member
Hello Neighbors,
My name is John Braun and I am a newly elected member of city council. I have most recently served on the Planning and Zoning Commission and on the Code Enforcement Commission prior to that.
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I have lived in the city since 2017 with my wife and our doggos. We have found our forever home in Highland Heights, and I couldn’t be more excited to serve the city and you, it’s residents. I enjoy attending the events put on by our city and look forward to meeting many of you in the near future if you attend as well. Personally, I’m the store manager of Walgreens located in Norwood. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and my nieces. I also enjoy running (yes, for fun) and run the Flying Pig Marathon or Half-Marathon each year as well as the Flying Fur run with my dog, Colby. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you!