Thursday, October 28, 1999
Money train rolls for 2003 election
Eric Deters has $40K for far-away attorney race
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL — In a perfect political world — maybe one without politicians — money, connections, power and personality wouldn't mean much when it comes to winning office.
But they do, and everybody knows it.
A candidate needs the dough, the buzz, the flash, the contacts and the political organization as much as, if not more, than the platform and the ability to do the job.
Cringe if you want. It's absolute truth.
We don't know much yet about the campaign ideas and proposals Republican Eric Deters will have in the 2003 Kenton County attorney's race.
Voters don't care about an election that is three years away. Many of them won't care three days before the election.
But we do know this. Based on a fund-raiser Mr. Deters had Tuesday night at the home of his campaign manager, Paula Miller, his candidacy is off to one of the strongest starts we've ever seen for a county race in Northern Kentucky.
How's this for a race that won't be held for three years — $40,000 raised. There are candidates for county, state and even federal office who haven't raised that much just before Election Day, let alone 36 months out.
Mrs. Miller's beautiful Victorian-style home, which she shares with husband Dr. George Miller, was packed Tuesday night and made for the liveliest campaign event in this lifeless campaign season.
There was Joe Deters, the former Hamilton County prosecutor, current Ohio treasurer and future Ohio gubernatorial candidate, knocking the crowd dead with the funniest, most entertaining speech heard in a long time. He's a distant relation who has agreed to help on the campaign.
There were just about every Republican member of the region's statehouse delegation, including Rep. Joe Fischer, who came over from Campbell County, and Rep. Jon David Reinhardt of Claryville, who rarely comes out for political events and fund raisers.
Northern Kentucky business leaders who showed up or contributed money included developers Paul Hemmer, Bill Hemmer and Bill Erpenbeck; road contractors Dick Crist and R.C. Durr; grocery chain owner Bill Remke;, banker Mer Grayson;, and attorneys Carlo Wessels, Larry Grause, Lawson Walker and Kevin Murphy.
There was even some big money flowing across the Ohio River from new Cincinnati Reds owner Carl Lindner and former Reds majority owner Marge Schott.
There were lots of Republican elected and party officials, including all three Kenton County commissioners.
“I was blown away,” Eric Deters said the next morning. “I can't believe that many people showed up three years before an election. It's amazing to me.”
Of course, many will say the long arm of the Deters family — Eric's dad, Charlie, is a well known attorney and businessman — helped bring out the crowd of big money folks.
My point is? Politicians run on money. It's their gas, their fuel.
Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson, the Democratic incumbent Mr. Deters wants to knock off in 2003, hasn't held any campaign events, at least none talked about.
He might want to start. Because at this pace, Mr. Deters could have $150,000 or more by the time the election rolls around.
Having money in a campaign does matter. It's not all that's important, but it's darn important.
That may not be right, that may not be fair. But that's the way it is.
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
