BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ERLANGER -- You could say the relationship between Republicans Gex "Jay" Williams and Craig Hendricks has come full circle, at least politically. In was early 1990 when Mr. Hendricks lived in Boone County and was preparing to take on longtime State Rep. Bill McBee, D-Burlington, in the November election.
But a new president at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., where Mr. Hendricks worked in human resources and project development, didn't want his workers dabbling in politics.
"So I was out, and we had to find another candidate, and quick," Mr. Hendricks recalled.
The Boone County Republican Party turned to a relative newcomer who had lived in the area only a few years and had just begun getting involved in politics. His name was Gex Williams.
Mr. Williams won that race and the next two he ran for the Kentucky Statehouse. The Boone County state senator, fresh off his win in last month's Republican primary, is taking on Democrat and Boone County Judge-executive Ken Lucas in November's 4th District congressional race.
And Mr. Hendricks is Mr. Williams' campaign manager.
Though the campaign takes him away from his family and his career, Mr. Hendricks said signing on with the Williams campaign was a good decision.
"I've been following politics since I was 5 years old," Mr. Hendricks, 43, said in the uncharacteristically quiet Williams campaign headquarters on Commonwealth Avenue in Erlanger.
"I can remember watching the Kennedy-Nixon debates in 1960. I can remember handing out campaign materials for Barry Goldwater. Politics is something I've always really loved, and this is a great opportunity for me that I just couldn't pass up," he said.
Mr. Hendricks said Mr. Williams has three politically rare qualities he finds inspiring and encouraging.
"Gex is principled, he has courage and he practices diplomacy," Mr. Hendricks said. "Unfortunately, those are rare qualities in politics, but that's what attracts me to Gex."
Mr. Hendricks grew up in a suburb near Detroit. His wife, Shiela, and their four children -- ages 10 down to 4 months -- have remained there while Mr. Hendricks has been working on the campaign. He lives in a small apartment in the campaign headquarters' basement and commutes home on the weekends.
Mr. Hendricks, who has worked for the Kroger Co. and Whirlpool Corp., lived in Boone County from 1982 to 1993.
"Don't call me a carpetbagger," he jokes. "Three of my four kids were born in Kentucky. They're (University of Kentucky) Wildcat fans."
Mr. Hendricks worked in the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson.
He was involved in joining with other strong conservatives in taking over the Boone County Republican Party in 1989, an overthrow party insiders have partially linked with Mr. Williams' rise in politics.
In addition to working on the Williams campaign almost full time, Mr. Hendricks is consulting for Display Specialties in Wilder. Campaign insiders say Mr. Hendricks likely would become Mr. Williams' chief of staff should he win the election.
"Craig is a multitalented guy, but I'm really amazed at how he can work to inspire people and get them to work hard and stay focused on what people have to do to win this race," Mr. Williams said. "He's brought so much to the campaign."
