Thursday, July 15, 1999
GOP leader's leaving is big chance
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
There's no doubt that the Campbell County Republican Party Executive Committee will miss Lloyd Rogers.
But there is also an opportunity for the committee, which Mr. Rogers left last week, to reach out to the Fort Thomas Republicans who for the most part have shunned the GOP's official party apparatus for years.
From the basement of his Alexandria home, a lair often referred to as “the bunker,” Mr. Rogers worked with incredible energy and zeal on a number of political campaigns, including his own unsuccessful runs for Alexandria mayor.
He also helped organize party activities and initiatives, including voter registration drives, fund-raising events and rallies.
A former county judge-executive and one-time candidate for Congress, Mr. Rogers also helped plenty of candidates plot their campaign strategies. He even self-published a book on running in a local campaign called The Campaign Guide for Winning.
On the book's back cover, former state Sen. Art Schmidt of Cold Spring calls it “the best "how-do-do-it' book I can recommend to anyone who is serious about getting elected.”
But for all the good he did for the party, the executive committee and GOP candidates, Mr. Rogers was often divisive and controlling.
Using his political skills, Mr. Rogers forged his own power base within the committee. While the strength and success of that faction is debatable, there was a perception — particularly among some Fort Thomas Republicans and party leaders from outside that county — that Mr. Rogers was in control of the group and that he would often circumvent Chairwoman Ruth “Sam” Smith.
Mr. Rogers quit the committee after Mrs. Smith put him second and Fort Thomas Republican Party strategist and fund-raiser Barb Haas first on a list of nominees for an opening on the Campbell County Board of Elections.
Because he has clashed in the past with some Republicans from Fort Thomas — a powerful political and fund-raising base for the GOP — Mr. Rog ers was angry and upset that Mrs. Smith put Mrs. Haas first on that list of nominees. He felt that a Republican more loyal to the executive committee should have been given top billing for the board of elections seat.
But Mrs. Smith could very well turn out to be a hero in this episode.
While some Fort Thomas Republican elected officials have recently reached out to the executive committee — including county coroner Mark Schweitzer and state Rep. Joe Fischer — the effort hasn't been returned by the committee. Many on and around the committee blame Mr. Rogers and the long-running feud he has had with U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, who lives in Southgate but has a strong political power base in Fort Thomas, for driv ing a wedge in the party.
By putting Mrs. Haas first on that list of board of elections nominees, Mrs. Smith smartly extended an olive branch to Fort Thomas. With Mr. Rogers off the committee, Mrs. Smith could appoint a Fort Thomas Republican, possibly Mrs. Haas, to the executive committee.
Unlike Boone and Kenton counties, the Democratic Party is still a strong — and in some places, such as the county courthouse — a dominant force in Campbell County politics.
The Republicans have had some success, including winning statehouse seats and last year's county judge-executive and coroner races.
But the Democrats remain far more unified and focused.
Take the race for Campbell County Property Value Administrator. Though the Democrats are faced with the task of trying to hold on to an office surrounded by scandal — former Democratic Property Value Administrator Bill Kaiser has resigned because of allegations of money missing from the office — they have put together a strong campaign with a good candidate in Mariann Dunn.
Big names in the party, in cluding Southgate Schools superintendent Bernie Sandfoss, former Dayton Schools superin-
tendent Jack Moreland and retired state legislator Bill Donnermeyer, immediately stepped up to help Mrs. Dunn's campaign.
As of a few weeks ago, Kevin Gordon, the Republican candidate for property value administrator, still couldn't get his phone calls returned from some in the Fort Thomas GOP crowd.
If the Republicans really want to compete for more county offices such as property value administrator, they'll have to get together and work as a single party instead of a fractured and ineffective political machine that blesses some candidates but dumps on others.
Mrs. Smith recognizes that unity is key to victory. Lloyd Rogers may be gone, but Republicans from Fort Thomas may start showing up at more party meetings and events.
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
