BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
News, notes and events on the Northern Kentucky political beat:
The national spotlight -- Newspapers, magazines and political newsletters and publications are continuing to pay lots of attention to the 4th District congressional race between Republican Gex "Jay" Williams, a state senator from Verona, and Democrat Ken Lucas, the Boone County judge-executive.
The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and U.S. News and World Report have written about the candidates in the last week, with the latter news magazine featuring a photo of Mr. Williams campaigning for the May 26 GOP primary.
"In several open (congressional) seats," the Washington Post reported, "(Democrats) have well-funded candidates who "fit' their districts with a more conservative profile than party leaders might traditionally accept."
The paper lists Mr. Lucas in that group. It also states the buzz about the race is that "underdog Lucas hopes for upset by linking Williams to extreme right."
The Lucas camp, however, has been careful not to characterize Mr. Williams as an extremist.
But they are calling him an "obstructionist" who, as a state lawmaker, stood in the way of projects and proposals benefitting Northern Kentucky.
Mr. Williams goes to Washington -- Mr. Williams will head to the nation's capital next week to meet and talk strategy with national GOP leaders and to raise campaign money.
House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, has assisted in putting together a Political Action Committee fund-raiser in Washington.
Mr. Armey's leadership PAC has contributed $5,000 to Mr. Williams' campaign.
Business ranks the Senate -- Kentucky Forward, the political arm of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, has released its evaluation of the Senate's performance during the 1998 General Assembly session. Of the Senate's 38 members, Ernie Harris, R-Crestwood, scored the best among Northern Kentucky lawmakers with a ranking of ninth. He is followed by Dick Roeding, R-Lakeside Park, ranked 26th; Jack Westwood, R-Erlanger, 36th; and Mr. Williams 38th.
The rankings are based on voting records and by evaluations from lobbyists and business people.
Republican women meet_ Three longtime GOP activists will be honored at Monday'smeeting of the Kenton County Republican Women's Club.
The event, the club's annual Honoree's Luncheon, will be a tribute to three women with more than 100 years of service to the GOP among them -- Kay Berkshire, Janet Kautz and Edna Whitus.
The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Wood Bros. Smokehouse & Grill, 1622 Dixie Highway in Park Hills.
For more information or reservations, call Sherry Wilder at 331-8621.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
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