BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MELBOURNE -- Want some Mickey Foellger playing cards, a Steve Pendery magnifying glass or a Katie Stine note pad?
How about a Ken Cooper emery board, a biographical sheet on Terry Rasche, a Kentucky horse pin from Ken Paul or a sticker from just about every candidate on the Campbell County ballot this fall? Those items, and so very much more, were among the booty given away during Wednesday's annual senior citizens picnic at Campbell County's Pendery Park.
If you think ants love a picnic, politicians put the bugs to shame. They swarm to a gathering of senior citizens, probably the most faithful voting bloc there is, with their Mike Daley pencils, Joe Fischer notebooks and John Dunn hats.
And a lot of the seniors don't mind. As long as they aren't bothered during the bingo game.
"You go up to somebody while they're waiting for their numbers to be called," one smart pol told another, "and you'll get your head taken off."
Keith Daniels, a California resident and Republican candidate for Campbell County Fiscal Court, said he was impressed that so many of the seniors he approached were gracious and open to meeting him and hearing his brief campaign pitch.
"For the most part people are just as friendly as can be," said Mr. Daniels, a political rookie making his first run for office. "I can see why the candidates all come out to this. The people are so nice."
But as soon as the caller was through hollering out "B-17" and other numbers, the seniors were fair game. And that was just fine with Mary Lou Kruse of Southgate, who wore eight campaign stickers and held a pack of Mr. Foellger's playing cards in her hand.
"The cards have extra large numbers," said Mr. Foellger, a Campbell County district judge seeking re-election, as he handed out the cards.
"I like talking to the politicians," Ms. Kruse said. "You get a chance to meet them, see what they're like and ask them about the issues. It's one of the reasons I come to the picnic, to meet the Democrats I'm going to vote for."
Informed she was wearing stickers of two Republican candidates, she briskly pulled them from her shirt.
"I didn't know they were Republicans. They'll have to go." But at least one Republican was picking up some support.
State Sen. Gex "Jay" Williams, a Boone County Republican running for Congress, was talking to a reporter when he was approached by Ed and Dolores Schroeder, of near Pendery Park on Upper Eight Mile Road.
"I like you, and I'm going to vote for you," Mrs. Schroeder told a beaming Mr. Williams.
"She's a Republican, but I'm a Democrat and I'm going to vote for you, too," said Mr. Schroeder, slapping Mr. Williams on the back. "We usually cancel each other out, but this year we're both going for you."
Some candidates couldn't make the picnic but sent their spouses to shake hands on their behalf.
"I like getting out and meeting the people," said Mary Lucas, whose husband, Ken, a Boone County Democrat, is running against Mr. Williams. Mr. Lucas was in Washington on Wednesday.
Mary Bunning, wife of U.S. House member and Senate candidate Jim Bunning, a Southgate Republican, worked the crowd for her husband.
Not all the candidates just shook hands or handed out campaign trinkets and stickers.
Mr. Fischer, a Fort Thomas Republican running for state representative in Campbell County's 68th District, was talking taxes to the crowd. "People want the state portion of the property tax on automobiles eliminated," he said. "I'm going to make eliminating that tax the first bill I put in when I'm elected."
Maybe Mr. Fischer's opponent, Mr. Daley, a Cold Spring Democrat, and county jailer candidate Greg Buckler had the best idea when it came to handing out the goodies. Both were seen with their hands filled with hot dogs from the grill.
"Got to feed the troops," Mr. Daley laughed as he disappeared into the crowd.
State Senate candidate George "Buddy" Merritt, a Newport Democrat, is short on campaign funds but long on ingenuity. He gave out a single piece of white paper that included the phone numbers of various senior citizen service agencies and organizations. "When you don't have much campaign money, you have to be smart," he said.
The long day of politicking, and Wednesday's muggy weather, took its toll on most of the pols.
"I talk for a living," said Campbell County District Judge candidate Tom Beiting, a lawyer from Newport, "and I'm all talked out."
Good news to the bingo crowd.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
CROWLEY ARCHIVE