BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT THOMAS -- The Campbell County Fiscal Court's worst political nightmare is seated around a conference table at an office that sits along North Ft. Thomas Avenue right in the middle of town.
Republicans Steve Pendery, Terry Rasche, Jim Stegman and Keith Daniels are going to haunt the court's four Democrats from now until the Nov. 3 election.
It's not just the fact that the Republicans have an aggressive slate of candidates that will likely cause the Dems a few sleepless nights. It's also that the incumbent court is facing its toughest challenge since three quarters of the group were elected 13 years ago.
No predictions here, except that this is probably going to be the best courthouse race in Northern Kentucky this fall.
It's lunch time at Mr. Pendery's Fort Thomas Avenue insurance office, and although a couple of thick ham and cheese sandwiches await unwrapping, no one is digging in. These guys would literally rather talk politics and their campaigns than eat.
"The main thing I hear time and again as I go to events, walk door-to-door, just talking to people on the street," Mr. Pendery said, "is that we need a change in Campbell County."
A change in leadership. A change in direction. A change in the way county government operates and co-exists. That's the message Mr. Pendery, the mayor of Fort Thomas, is espousing with the three Republican county commissioner candidates:
- Mr. Stegman, a business consultant from Fort Thomas.
- Mr. Rasche, the former mayor of Woodlawn and a real estate broker and renovator of historic property who ran unsuccessfully for the court in 1985.
- Mr. Daniels, a Cincinnati Bell manager and political newcomer from California in the far south end of the county.
It's not easy being a Democrat in Northern Kentucky these days. The Republicans are on the move and on the rise. And even though the Democrats have what is probably the strongest slate of incumbent courthouse candidates in Northern Kentucky, the Republican fiscal court candidates have to be taken seriously in Campbell County. Very seriously.
The GOP slate will get some coat-tail effect by the top of the Republican ticket, which features U.S. House member and Campbell County native and resident Jim Bunning running for the U.S. Senate; State Sen. Gex "Jay" Williams of Boone County, who has represented Campbell County in the Kentucky statehouse and is running for Mr. Bunning's U.S. House seat; and State Rep. Katie Stine of Fort Thomas, an adept campaigner and popular pol running for Mr. Williams state senate seat.
And while the party's fiscal court candidates clearly lack the political experience of their Democrat opponents, they have put together campaigns that will be well-financed and brimming with ideas, platforms and tough criticism of the incumbents.
For instance, the Republicans have been accused of wanting to pursue development at all costs and "pave over the south end" of the county, according to some Democrats.
But Mr. Daniels, while agreeing the county does need to be more aggressive in development, was part of a citizens' group that fought a small factory planned for a site near Washington Trace Road.
"What we need," Mr. Stegman said, "is development, and growththat is planned and orderly. You want the development, but you want to do it right and not just go after it for the sake of going after it."
"We understand the needs and desires of people in the north end of the county versus the south end of the county," Mr. Pendery said. "We want to involve people in decisions and planning, and that hasn't always been done in this county."
The Democrats are planning to convene a study group of government, community, business and civic leaders to help map out the next 20 years of planning and growth in Campbell County.
"About time," Mr. Rasche quipped. "Must be an election year." The Dems will also try to saddle the Republicans with the Fort Thomas tag, claiming GOP leaders in the city hand-picked the party's ticket.
"That's just not true at all," Mr. Stegman said. "Nobody told me to do a thing. This is my decision and my race."
And that argument won't hold up considering that three of the Democrats -- Judge-executive Ken Paul and commissioners Dave Otto and Roland Vories -- live in Fort Thomas compared with just two of the Republicans. Only Democrat Bill Verst of Wilder doesn't call Fort Thomas home.
The Republicans also plan to campaign on giving the south end of the county a voice on the fiscal court.
"There's no representation on the fiscal court . . . in the south end of the county," Mr. Daniels said. "And there hasn't been for a long, long time, but this is an area that is the fastest growing part of the county."
There are other ideas. Improving recreation programs and activities for kids, more than just building ballfields.
"Ballfields are great, and we need them," Mr. Stegman said. "But we need some real parks and recreation programs."
"Maybe even some computer camps or activities like that for kids," Mr. Daniels added.
The Republicans also want to pursue economic development by making it easier for companies to do business in the county. Mr. Rasche's pet project is streamlining the occupational license and permit process.
"It's just too hard to do business in this county," he said. There's more, much more from the GOP. And this race is about to really heat up in a big way.
The Republicans may not win. But they sure are going to try.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
CROWLEY ARCHIVE