BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT THOMAS -- With the chance to take control of the state Senate and make history, the six Republican women running for senator are coming together to campaign and raise money for their elections.
The group will kick off their joint political effort Saturdaywith a noon fund-raiser in Edgewood, said State Rep. Katie Stine, R-Fort Thomas, who is running against Newport Democrat George "Buddy" Merritt in the 24th Senate District.
The candidates also plan to campaign, attend joint fund-raisers and hold press conferences during a two-day tour of the Senate districts they are trying to win or hold on to, Mrs. Stine said.
The date of the tour has not yet been set.
"We have a historic situation here in Kentucky," Mrs. Stine said. "We've never had this many women running, and it's also possible this year that we could have a Republican majority for the first time ever in the Senate.
"If these candidates win, we take the Senate," she said.
Democrats now hold a 20-18 majority in the Kentucky General Assembly's upper chamber. However, just two members are women and both are Republicans -- Sen. Julie Rose of Louisville and Senate Minority Whip Elizabeth Tori of Radcliff.
In addition to the 24th District race between Mrs. Stine and Mr. Merritt, the seats the GOP women are trying to win are:
- District 2: Incumbent Sen. Bob Leeper, D-Paducah, is being challenged by State Rep. Kathy Hogancamp, R-Paducah.
- District 10: Ms. Tori is challenged by Democrat Charles Wise, a contractor.
- District 12: The seat is open and the candidates are Democrat Don Todd, a Lexington attorney, and Republican Alice Forgy Kerr, a community activist and sister-in-law of State Rep. Tom Kerr, D-Taylor Mill.
- District 30: The seat is open and the candidates are Republican Ethyle Noel, a Georgetown attorney, and Cynthiana Democrat Ed Miller, a retired state worker.
- District 36: Ms. Rose, a business owner, is being challenged by Democrat Teena Halbig, an artist and author from Louisville.
Mrs. Stine said none of the women is neglecting her own race to help one another.
"But we just see a real opportunity to elect women, and Republicans, to the Senate and we want to work together and we all work toward that goal," she said.
Mr. Todd, who served 10 years as a Fayette County prosecutor and eight years on Lexington City Council, said the issue in his race against Ms. Kerr should be experience, not necessarily gender. "I've put in a tremendous amount of sweat equity in learning about and understanding how Lexington works," Mr. Todd said. "To me, that's the issue."
But the gender issue can't be overlooked, particularly in the larger political context of the entire General Assembly.
While the Republican women are trying to win the Senate, there is a group of female Democrats -- a group known as the "Bitch Caucus" -- that banded together during the legislative session that ended in April.
Those Democrats clashed openly and often with conservative Republicans, including Mrs. Stine and Ms. Hogancamp, during the session on a number of issues.
Particularly contentious were battles over bills backed by the Republican women that, according to the female Democrats, were designed to curb access to abortions.
Mrs. Hogancamp said the Democratic group consists of "militant, liberal feminists who don't represent the mainstream as we head into the 21st century.
"We are pro-family and pro-business women who are trying to hold our families together and help families stay together in our changing world," she said. "And I think the six women running for the Senate speak for women and with a different voice" than the six women currently serving in the House.
The Democrats took some exception to Ms. Hogancamp's characterization.
"I'm not sure I like that label," said Rep. Eleanor Jordan, D-Louisville. "We are a group of pro-choice women, but we also represent the views of many, many, many women in the state of Kentucky.
"I have nothing negative to say about (the Republicans) coming together," she said. "It's probably a smart move. But that's a cheap shot to say we don't represent women. Obviously, we do."
"I'm pro-family but I believe that women should be looking for equity and justice in society and be part of the process," said Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville.
"The majority of women believe in equity and justice, so we do represent the mainstream."
