BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Let's dump the notebooks and files out and find our last few primary election tidbits.
Otto-matic: If there was an incumbent who looked vulnerable heading into the May 26 primary, it was Campbell County Commissioner Dave Otto.
Not only had the Fort Thomas Democrat switched parties -- often a kiss of death in politics -- but he switched from a Republican. Not exactly the trend in Northern Kentucky, where the GOP is gaining clout, nor in Fort Thomas, the Republican stronghold of Campbell County.
Then, a week before the filing deadline, Mr. Otto dropped out of the state Senate race in Campbell County, citing family and professional concerns, and decided to make another run at his fiscal court seat. That hacked off some Democrats who wanted to make a hard charge at the seat and take on state Rep. Katie Stine of Fort Thomas, the Republican's Senate candidate.
And finally, he had a fiscal court race against two pretty good Democrats, Steve Sandfoss of Fort Thomas -- who barely lost to Mr. Otto five years ago -- and former county commissioner Chuck Peters, whom Mr. Otto beat by just a few votes 13 years ago.
But the engaging, good-looking Mr. Otto campaigns well, works hard, knows how to tout his and the court's successes, and got a lot of help from his daughter, Nicole, who also worked hard on the campaign. He ended up winning the primary and looks strong heading into the general election against Jim Stegman, a Fort Thomas Republican who will have to work to build his name recognition against the incumbent.
The Gex and Mitch show:Seems Republicans Gex "Jay" Williams, the Fourth District Republican nominee, and Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, are new buddies.
Mr. Williams has said he is "building a relationship" with Mr. McConnell. And he recently admitted making several calls to the senator during the campaign for advice and to bounce ideas off him.
Mr. McConnell's smiling mug, along with a favorable plug, appeared in one of Mr. Williams' campaign mailings.
Why the cozy relationship, particularly when Mr. Williams ran in a contested primary with two other Republicans?
One theory making the rounds of GOP party insiders is that Mr. McConnell, whose profile seems to grow weekly in Washington, is sniffing out a possible vice presidential run on somebody's ticket in 2000.
If he can make nice with Mr. Williams and his gaggle of high-level conservative supporters -- the likes of Ralph Reed, Gary Bauer, Bill Bennett and more -- then he brings a tangible, valuable asset to any presidential ticket.
And that is bridging the gap between the right-wing and mainstream factions of the Republican Party, something Bob Dole failed to do and paid for in his run against Bill Clinton.
Stay tuned. This one is juicy.
Well Verst in raising money: Kenton County Judge-executive candidate Dick Murgatroyd beat him to it, but Campbell County attorney candidate Justin Verst, a Cold Spring Democrat, is holding one of the first campaign fund-raisers since the primary.
Mr. Murgatroyd held his just two days after the May 26 primary. Mr. Verst is holding his event June 17 at that most Republican of venues, Fort Thomas' Highland Country Club.
An invitation to the fund-raiser lists more than 90 co-sponsors, including State Rep. Jim Callahan, businessmen Wayne Carlisle, David Hosea, Jim Simpson and Bud Pogue, and lots and lots of attorneys. Look for this one to raise a whole lot of dough.
Mr. Verst is an assistant county attorney running against Fort Thomas Republican Bob Blau, a former Democrat. Incumbent Paul Twehues is not running for re-election. .
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
CROWLEY ARCHIVE