Thursday, March 11, 1999
GOP in search mode for Lucas challenger
Party looks longingly at legislator Draud
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Jon Draud, you're it. In the game of tag that has become the Republican Party's effort to draft a congressional candidate, the newest player is Mr. Draud — a former Ludlow School superintendent who has served three whole months in the Kentucky General Assembly.
Not that the GOP is getting desperate or anything in their attempts at recruiting a pigeon, er, candidate, to run against Democrat Ken Lucas in 2000.
But the short list of potential candidates is getting a whole lot shorter.
Even though battle-weary voters are still recovering from the political blood bath that was last year's congressional race between Mr. Lucas and Republican Gex “Jay” Williams — an eye-gougin', head-bangin', mud-slingin' rumble if there ever was one — it's not too early to start raising money and organizing a campaign for a full-blown race for the U.S. House.
In fact, it's getting kind of late. The GOP wanted a candidate by January. And they don't have one.
State Sen. Katie Stine, a Fort Thomas Republican, was wooed by party leaders but apparently isn't interested in running for Congress, at least not this year.
She has young children and probably figures with Mr. Lucas limiting himself to three terms, 2004 looks a whole lot better than 2000.
Then there is Villa Hills lawyer Lawson Walker, a GOP leader and former state legislator who is still thinking about getting in the race.
But Mr. Walker isn't really eager to give up his law practice right now and party leaders think he'll eventually bow out and stay put in Northern Kentucky.
Mr. Williams says he “isn't even thinking” about politics now. But he won't say for sure whether he will sit out next year's U.S. House primary.
The candidate Mr. Williams beat in last year's GOP congressional primary, Fort Mitchell lawyer Rick Robinson, says he is definitely out.
So that explains why State Republican Party Vice Chairman Damon Thayer has been huddling with Mr. Draud, most recently Wednesday at the Florence O'Charley's restaurant.
Mr. Draud, a former Democrat, made noise about running for Congress shortly after Mr. Lucas won the seat in November, but he was quickly muffled by the party apparatus.
Pay your dues, he was told.
Well, Mr. Draud has somehow apparently paid up. Funny how a dwindling pool of candidates can help somebody cash in those dues.
“A lot of us underestimated Jon Draud,” Mr. Thayer said. “Jon has proven he can raise money, organize a campaign, run a hard race and build an organization, all of which are keys to running a good congressional race.
“We think Jon would be a great candidate.”
Mr. Draud, who lives in the heavy GOP enclave of Crestview Hills, would probably be a pretty decent candidate.
He's articulate, personable and confident, a respected community leader and a good family man who would rather talk about his kids than himself.
He makes a great appearance, would work hard on the campaign trail and has proven he can appeal to voters when he won a three-way Republican primary last year in taking his statehouse race.
But most of the above sounds like somebody else already in the race — Mr. Lucas.
Therein lies the problem for the GOP as it struggles to find a candidate to take on Mr. Lucas.
So far Mr. Lucas has made all the right moves in Washington, at least when it comes to appealing to the conservative 4th District.
Voters need a contrast, a reason to choose somebody other than an incumbent. On the surface and at this very early stage, Mr. Lucas and Mr. Draud seem a whole lot alike.
But there will be differences, the Republicans say. Both Mr. Thayer and Mr. Draud, a career educator, say polling shows that education is one of the top issues on voters' minds.
Well, Mr. Lucas is on board with the Republicans on the first big education bill being debated by Congress, the so-called "ed-flex' bill designed to return more authority and money back to local schools.
Republicans say that the 4th District has been carried by GOP presidential candidates in the last few elections and that Mr. Draud will ride the coattails of the party's next nominee for the White House.
Democrats say Mr. Lucas' incumbency and the conservative record he is building will neutralize any coattail effect for the GOP.
And so it goes.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for The Kentucky Enquirer. His column appears Thursdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 578-5581, or 502-875-7526 in Frankfort, or by e-mail at crowleys@cinci.infi.net.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for the Enquirer. He can be reached at 578-5581, or (502) 875-7526 in Frankfort.
CROWLEY ARCHIVE
