BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- Gov. Paul Patton spent a lot of time in Northern Kentucky last week. Some say he was doing his job; others say he was working to hold onto it for another four years.
During four visits, the governor spoke about early childhood development in Erlanger, pressed the flesh with rural Kenton Countians at a Piner general store, and handed out checks for community projects. In Covington, there was also Mr. Patton's announcement that Ashland Inc. was moving its headquarters to Northern Kentucky. And he shoveled some dirt during the well-publicized, yet ceremonial,
groundbreaking in Florence of the speedway that developer Jerry Carroll wants to build in Gallatin County.
"I don't ever get tired of coming to Northern Kentucky," Mr. Patton said during a Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce luncheon, yet another event he attended as the featured speaker.
The region is "the area of the state where the optimism is the greatest."
Is Mr. Patton just doing his job -- and even doing it well as his supporters maintain -- by getting out of Frankfort and staying in touch with his Northern Kentucky constituents?
Or is Mr. Patton, as some Republicans claim, already campaigning for the 1999 gubernatorial race? Mr. Patton is the first person with the opportunity to do so, thanks to a constitutional amendment voters approved four years ago allowing a governor to run for a second consecutive term.
"Sure, he's campaigning," said Boone County Republican Party Chairman Jay Hall. "There's nothing really wrong with the kinds of things he is doing. After all, he is the governor.
"But when it's so much and so often. . . . He looks like a candidate more than he looks like the governor."
Mr. Patton quickly brushed off comments that he is overtly campaigning for re-election under the guise of performing his duties as governor. "That's ridiculous," Mr. Patton said after delivering his chamber of commerce speech.
"I'm not behaving any differently than I have."
While he has said he will run for re-election, Mr. Patton said he won't formally kick off his campaign until late January. And he hasn't announced a running mate, though speculation is he'll dump incumbent Lt. Gov. Steve Henry in favor of Crit Luallen, his cabinet secretary.
But Mr. Patton can expect to find many of his motives questioned as the election draws nearer.
Governors often make trips that seem more political than official. Groundbreakings, speeches and town meetings -- such as the one Mr. Patton held at Piner's Korner Market last week -- are all the types of stops past governors have made.
"There is nothing unusual about a governor coming to Northern Kentucky to give out grants, speak to the chamber, or participate in groundbreakings and economic development announcements," said House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan, a Wilder Democrat and one of Mr. Patton's closet allies and supporters in the General Assembly.
"People don't want a governor who stays hidden away in Frankfort. They want a leader. They want to see what's going on. Paul Patton is a hands-on governor, and anybody who criticizes that, well, that's obviously sour grapes," Mr. Callahan said.
It's clear, however, that Mr. Patton has some political ground to make up in Northern Kentucky.
Though polls show his popularity high in the region, Mr. Patton fared poorly in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties in his 1995 victory over Republican Larry Forgy.
"Paul Patton has been running for re-election since he was elected the last time," said Kenton County Republican Party Chairman Greg Shumate, a Villa Hills attorney.
"The Republicans and a lot of Democrats flexed their muscle for Larry Forgy in Northern Kentucky, so (Mr. Patton) is coming up here a lot to try and win some of those voters," he said.
Supporters say Northern Kentuckians are much more familiar with Mr. Patton now, and even some of the most conservative Republicans have lauded the governor for his policy initiatives.
The governor was praised by business leaders at the chamber of commerce luncheon for bucking his Eastern Kentucky coal mining base and leading the charge two years ago to reform the state's workers' compensation law.
And Mr. Patton is given lots of credit for helping bring new jobs and development to the region.
"If it wasn't for the governor," Mr. Callahan said, "Ashland would be headed to Columbus, Ohio, not Covington. He stepped in and made it happen."
Both the company and local economic development officials agreed that Mr. Patton helped make the difference with Ashland. Mr. Patton can still expect continued scrutiny from the Republicans. And he may even get a primary election challenge in May from former Gov. Brereton Jones.
Even without an announced candidate, the Republican Party leadership is pledging to keep the heat on Mr. Patton's political efforts.
"There's no question he's already running," said Republican Party Executive Director Randy Kammerdiener. "He is a candidate for governor right now, and he is running for re-election right now."
Voters like Jim Cook, owner of the Korner Market Mr. Patton visited in Piner, don't seem to mind too much why the governor comes to Northern Kentucky, just that he comes.
"I guess it's a little political," Mr. Cook said as Mr. Patton shook hands and shared donuts and coffee with a few dozen of his regular customers.
"So what? He's the governor, and he's welcome here anytime."
