Thursday, January 13, 2000
Covington mayoral race jumping
With Bowman out, primary likely
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — A state law prohibiting Denny Bowman from seeking a fourth term as Covington's mayor has sparked one of the most hotly contested races in decades.
Veteran City Commissioner Butch Callery and longtime law enforcement officer Ray Murphy entered the mayoral race last week, while former Mayor Bernie Moorman said Monday that he plans to file.
Also considering runs are Covington commissioners Jim Eggemeier and Jerry Bamberger.
Because of the interest, the nonpartisan Covington mayor's race is expected to have its first primary in 21 years.
“We knew going into this race the field could get crowded because Mayor Bowman wasn't running for re-election,” Mr. Murphy said. “The seat is open, and we anticipated a primary.”
If three or more candidates file for Covington mayor by the Jan. 25 deadline, there must be a May 23 primary to decide which two go on the November ballot.
While term limits prohibit Mr. Bowman from seeking the mayor's job, he recently focused attention on the mayor's race when he withdrew his name from consideration for city recreation director, saying the process had become too politicized.
By removing his name from consideration, the 50-year-old sales representative for Marshall Dodge stopped what some had suggested was an effort to remove him from a city commission where he often votes in the minority. Mr. Bowman's appointment as recreation director also could have helped the chances of the three city commissioners considering mayoral runs, by allowing one of them to run as an incumbent.
The last time political observers can recall a Covington mayoral primary was in 1979, when Mr. Moorman; Eddie Thompson; Foster Raper; and Mr. Bowman's father, the late Carl Bowman, ran for mayor.
Mr. Moorman, owner/operator of the Amos Shinkle Townhouse in Covington's Licking Riverside neighborhood, served four years as Covington mayor and 13 years on Kenton Fiscal Court, losing his re-election bid last November.
Now 61, the former Covington mayor said that he has a broad base of support for his campaign.
“I've had a lot of neighborhood people come forward and ask me to consider running, including some from Latonia,” Mr. Moorman said.
Mr. Murphy, a Kenton County deputy sheriff who retired from the Covington Police Department after 23 years, has Mr. Bowman's backing in his race. He has said that his law enforcement background will be a centerpiece of his campaign.
Mr. Bowman attended a Saturday night fund-raiser for Mr. Murphy that drew a crowd of about 200.
“Being a newcomer to Covington politics, having Denny Bowman behind me is very important,” Mr. Murphy said. “He's done a great job for the city. People know and respect him, and that will help me with the voters.”
Mr. Murphy, a 48-year-old Peaselburg native also has said that he will lobby for more and improved parks, including in south Covington, and that he will reconfigure the city's economic development department so that tax breaks and other incentives now offered to businesses would be available to residents.
Mr. Callery, who turns 59 this month, said that he will work to ensure that the police and fire departments are adequately staffed and equipped.
The 21-year Covington commissioner added the city also needs to continue its promotion of the Riverfront West project and pursue funding for the project's infrastructure, as well as enhance recreational opportunities in south Covington and work with developers to get more land for recreational use.
A Latonia resident who has been active in neighborhood concerns since the 1970s, Mr. Callery is an investment securities operation manager at Conners and Co.
He cited his political experience as an asset in his mayoral campaign.
“I'm in my 21st year on the commission, and I think that I'm a consensus-builder on a lot of issues,” Mr. Callery said.
Reporter Patrick Crowley contributed.
