Meet Josh:
Josh Berkley grew up on a cattle farm in Western Kentucky, where he learned the values of faith, family, and small-town community. After graduating from Caldwell County High in 2004, he earned a Presidential Scholarship to the University of Kentucky, completing his B.A. in English and later his J.D. from UK’s Rosenberg College of Law.
Josh and his wife, Katie, made Shelbyville their home, raising their daughter Sophie with the same values they grew up with. In 2016, Josh opened his law practice in a one-room office on Washington Street. Today, Berkley Oliver PLLC has grown into a full-service firm focused on Estate Planning, Probate, and Elder Law—helping families protect their futures and provide for loved ones.
Beyond his practice, Josh is deeply involved in the Shelby County community. He serves on numerous boards, including the Dorman Center Preschool, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Shelby, Shelby County Community Theatre, and more. He is also an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville.
A Message From the Candidate:
Dear Friend,
Thank you for taking the time to visit my website. As you can see, I am running for Mayor of Shelbyville. The decision to seek this position was the result of much thought, prayer, and discussion between myself, my wife Katie, and members of our community about the future and direction of our city.
2026 will be 10 years since I first opened my law practice in a one room office on Washington Street. My wife and I love Shelbyville. It is our home and, most importantly, our daughter’s hometown. We have always believed that leadership starts with service and that, in order to reap the benefits of a community, you have to invest in and serve that community. That is why we are deeply committed to this race and to shaping the bright future ahead for our town.
The Mayor is more than a tie-breaking vote. The Mayor is the Chief Ambassador for the City and should be skilled in both negotiation and diplomacy. Diplomacy is a big fancy word - but it doesn’t begin and end with international relations. Diplomacy is what (hopefully) we show each other in Church … or serving on the amazing nonprofit boards in this community. It’s cooperation with others in spite of having different ideas or methods. It’s in the way that, despite our differences, we work together to make decisions for the benefit of everyone involved.
Shelbyville is an amazing place. The community is vibrant, thriving, and growing. But everyone knows even great things can be made better and we must also be vigilant to make sure Shelbyville retains the very character that makes it so special.
We want a city that is accessible and an administration that is available to all citizens. We must provide our citizens with opportunities, not only for ourselves, but for the next generation and the generation after that - and we must do so without compromising the warm and inviting sense of community that defines our Shelbyville, Kentucky. That is exactly what I am about – kindness, accountability, and opportunities for everyone in a way that preserves the traditions that are the heart and soul of our town.
We’re not just citizens of Shelbyville or Simpsonville or Bagdad or Waddy – we are all citizens of Shelby County and we are one community. A rising tide raises all ships and we must all work together to build a future for our community that does not leave our hometown-feeling and agricultural traditions in the past, but instead adds to the opportunities for our children to spend their lives here and continue to call Shelbyville “home”.
I look forward to meeting with many of you over the next year and engaging in lively discussion about what is best for our city. If you have a question about my position on an issue, please reach out so we can schedule some time to talk. There is no single person in the world that any of us agree with 100% of the time, but my pledge to you is that I will always keep an open mind, welcome input, and maintain respect and kindness, even in the face of disagreement.
I look forward to building the future of Shelbyville together through tradition, vision, and cooperation.
Warmly,
