Greg Fischer

Greg Fischer
Born	Gregory Edward Fischer 14 1, 1958
Birthplace	Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, politician
Known for	58th Mayor of Louisville (2011–2023), President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (2020–2021)
Education	Vanderbilt University (BA)
Spouse(s)	Alexandra Gerassimides
Children	4

Gregory Edward Fischer (born January 14, 1958) is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and politician who served as the 58th mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, from 2011 to 2023 — the second mayor of the consolidated Louisville Metro government. Over three terms in office, Fischer presided over a period of significant economic growth in Louisville, during which the city gained approximately 80,000 new jobs and 3,000 new businesses, while attracting billions of dollars in capital investment. Before entering politics, Fischer built a career as an entrepreneur and business leader in Louisville's private sector, co-founding and leading multiple ventures. He first sought public office in 2008, running in the Democratic primary for the United States Senate seat held by Mitch McConnell, finishing second. Two years later, he won the Louisville mayoral race in a competitive contest against Republican Metro Council member Hal Heiner. He was reelected in 2014 and again in 2018, winning his third term by a decisive margin. In 2019, Fischer was elected vice president of the United States Conference of Mayors, and in 2020, he assumed the organization's presidency. After leaving office in January 2023 due to term limits, Fischer has remained active in civic and media endeavors in the greater Louisville and Northern Kentucky region.

Early Life

Gregory Edward Fischer was born on January 14, 1958, in Louisville, Kentucky. He grew up in a family with deep roots in the Louisville business community. His father was involved in the family's business enterprises, and the Fischer family became well known in the region for their entrepreneurial activities. Fischer attended Trinity High School, a Catholic all-boys school in Louisville, where he was recognized as a distinguished alumnus and later inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.

The Fischer family's business legacy has continued to be a significant presence in the region. Fischer Homes, the family's home building and real estate development company, has grown into one of the largest home builders in the greater Louisville and Cincinnati area. In May 2025, the Fischer Group announced plans to relocate the corporate headquarters of Fischer Homes to Covington, Kentucky, a move expected to bring approximately 350 jobs to the city's business district.

In December 2025, the Louisville Metro Council honored Fischer's parents by naming a street after them, a recognition of the family's contributions to the Louisville community. Fischer dedicated the newly named street in a public ceremony.

Education

Fischer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His educational background provided a foundation for his later career in business and entrepreneurship before he entered public service.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Fischer established himself as a businessman and entrepreneur in Louisville. He co-founded and served in leadership roles at several ventures. He was involved with Iceberg Ventures, a management and investment firm. He was also associated with bCatalyst, a business consulting and development organization. Fischer's entrepreneurial experience and family business background were central themes in his subsequent political campaigns, where he frequently emphasized his private-sector credentials as qualifications for public management and economic development leadership.

2008 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2008, Fischer entered the Kentucky Democratic primary for the United States Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell. The primary was characterized by some commentators as a "battle of millionaires," with Fischer and businessman Bruce Lunsford as the leading contenders. Fischer finished second in the primary, earning approximately 34% of the vote, while Lunsford won the nomination. Lunsford went on to face McConnell in the general election but was unsuccessful, as McConnell held off the challenge to retain his seat.

Election as Mayor of Louisville

In 2010, Fischer ran for mayor of Louisville Metro as the Democratic nominee. He faced Republican Metro Council member Hal Heiner in what became a closely contested general election. Fischer won the race in November 2010, becoming the second mayor of the consolidated Louisville Metro government, succeeding Jerry Abramson, who had served as the first mayor of the merged city-county government. Fischer took office on January 3, 2011.

Fischer was reelected in 2014, securing a second term. In 2018, he won a third term by a substantial margin, defeating Republican Metro Council member Angela Leet with 61% of the vote to Leet's 37%. Due to term limits established under the Louisville Metro government charter, Fischer was ineligible to seek a fourth term in the 2022 mayoral election. He was succeeded by Craig Greenberg, who took office on January 2, 2023.

Economic Development

Economic development was a central focus of Fischer's tenure as mayor. Under his administration, Louisville Metro gained approximately 80,000 new jobs and 3,000 new businesses. The city attracted an estimated $24 billion in capital investment since the Great Recession, including a renovated and expanded convention center, dozens of new hotels, and multiple tourist attractions centered around the bourbon industry.

Fischer's administration restructured the city's approach to economic development. In 2014, Louisville Metro cut ties with its existing economic development partnership and created a new entity called Louisville Forward, which consolidated business attraction, retention, and expansion functions under a single umbrella within city government. The Louisville Forward model drew national attention and recognition. The team was credited with earning national acclaim for its approach to economic development.

Despite the overall job growth numbers, Louisville faced challenges in attracting higher-wage employment during Fischer's time in office. A 2015 report noted that the city struggled to attract high-wage jobs even as overall employment expanded.

Social Issues and Controversies

Fischer's time as mayor included navigating several significant social and political controversies. In 2017, the state of California enacted a ban on state-funded travel to Kentucky, along with several other states, in response to legislation that California officials deemed discriminatory. Fischer spoke publicly about the travel ban's potential impact on Louisville, stating that a convention had pulled out of Louisville as a result of the ban. However, Kentucky lawmakers subsequently accused Fischer of exaggerating the impact of the California travel ban on Louisville. U.S. Senator Rand Paul also criticized the California travel ban and its implications for Kentucky.

In 2015, Fischer attended the White House ceremony welcoming Pope Francis during the Pope's historic visit to the United States.

One of the most challenging periods of Fischer's mayoralty came in May 2020, when Louisville became a focal point of national protests following the police killing of Breonna Taylor in March of that year. As protests intensified and violence erupted in downtown Louisville, Fischer implemented a curfew and worked with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to bring in the Kentucky National Guard to address the situation. The Breonna Taylor case and the subsequent protests placed Fischer and the Louisville Metro Police Department under intense national scrutiny and dominated the final years of his administration.

U.S. Conference of Mayors

Fischer's leadership in Louisville led to his growing involvement in national municipal governance. In 2019, he was elected vice president of the United States Conference of Mayors. In 2020, he assumed the role of president of the organization, succeeding Bryan Barnett, the mayor of Rochester Hills, Michigan. Fischer served as the 78th president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors from 2020 to 2021, during which time he helped lead the organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on American cities. He was succeeded as president by Nan Whaley, the mayor of Dayton, Ohio.

Post-Mayoral Activities

After leaving the mayor's office in January 2023, Fischer has remained engaged in civic and media activities in the greater Louisville and Northern Kentucky region. He has served as the founding chairman of LINK nky, a news organization covering Northern Kentucky. In a July 2025 column, Fischer wrote about the organization's launch in 2021 and its mission, noting: "When we launched LINK in 2021, we weren't just starting a news organization."

Personal Life

Greg Fischer is married to Alexandra Gerassimides. The couple has four children. The Fischer family has been a prominent presence in the Louisville community, with deep ties to the city's business and civic life. Fischer's father was a significant influence on his career, and the two have spoken publicly about the experience of growing a family business.

In December 2025, the Louisville Metro Council honored Fischer's parents by naming a street after them, a testament to the family's longstanding contributions to the Louisville community. Fischer attended the dedication ceremony.

Fischer attended Trinity High School in Louisville and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.

Recognition

Fischer received several notable honors and recognitions during his tenure as mayor. In 2013, Governing magazine named him its Public Official of the Year, recognizing his leadership and management of Louisville Metro government. In 2016, a Politico survey recognized Fischer as the most innovative mayor in the United States, a distinction that highlighted his administration's approach to economic development and city management.

His administration's restructuring of Louisville's economic development apparatus through the creation of Louisville Forward garnered national recognition. The organization earned acclaim from national economic development industry groups for its integrated approach to business attraction and retention.

Fischer's election as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2020 represented a further recognition of his standing among the nation's municipal leaders. The position placed him at the forefront of national advocacy for cities during a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, and civil unrest.

At the local level, Fischer was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of Trinity High School, where he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.

Legacy

Greg Fischer's twelve-year tenure as mayor of Louisville represents the longest continuous service in that office under the consolidated Louisville Metro government. His three terms in office spanned a transformative period for Louisville, during which the city experienced significant economic growth, physical redevelopment, and national recognition.

The economic development record of Fischer's administration — 80,000 new jobs, 3,000 new businesses, and $24 billion in capital investment — formed the core of his legacy as a pro-growth, business-oriented Democratic mayor. The restructuring of Louisville's economic development functions through Louisville Forward became a model studied by other cities, and the city's investment in bourbon-related tourism infrastructure helped define Louisville's national brand during this period.

However, Fischer's legacy is also shaped by the events surrounding the Breonna Taylor case and the civil unrest of 2020, which exposed deep tensions between the city's leadership and segments of its population regarding policing, racial equity, and government accountability. The final years of Fischer's administration were marked by these challenges, and the issues raised during that period continued to influence Louisville politics after his departure from office.

Following his time as mayor, Fischer has continued to contribute to civic life in the region, including through his involvement with LINK nky, a news organization serving Northern Kentucky. The Fischer family's business presence in the region also continues, with Fischer Homes announcing in 2025 a relocation of its headquarters to Covington, Kentucky, expected to bring approximately 350 jobs.