BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT WRIGHT -- In what appears to be a first for Kenton County Republicans, the party's executive committee has hired a political consultant to help draft a poll for its courthouse candidates.
Fred Wolf of Scarsdale, N.Y., a former aide and campaign worker for U.S. Rep. Jim Bunning of Southgate, may also provide additional consulting and strategy services, said Republican Party Chairman Greg Shumate.
"This is the first time I know of that our committee has done an extensive poll this early on to help candidates develop issues and positions," Mr. Shumate said Wednesday.
Even though former Kenton County Judge-executive Clyde Middleton donated $60,000 in unused campaign funds to the party this week, the committee had planned to hire Mr. Wolf anyway.
"We have about $20,000, aside from the money from Clyde Middleton, and this poll and hiring Fred Wolf was something a lot of the candidates wanted to do," Mr. Shumate said.
Mr. Shumate said the entire cost of the poll has not been determined, "but once we get into the polling and the results, Fred might do some additional work for us and the candidates."
Villa Hills Republican Adam Koenig, a candidate for Kenton County Fiscal Court, said using party money to hire a consultant "is an excellent use of resources."
"I do market research for a living and it will be nice to have an idea of where is stand in the polls and get some input on where people are on certain issues," Mr. Koenig said.
"I certainly see the value of it."
Mr. Shumate said Mr. Wolf "will put together a comprehensive poll for all our candidates, helping us draft the questions and then interpret the results."
The poll will include questions about each candidate, including if voters view them favorably or unfavorably, and ask voters about what issues are important to them.
"It will let us know what our strengths and weaknesses are and generate a lot of information for us and our candidates," Mr. Shumate said. "Our committee has said we'll work hard for our candidates, and this poll is the type of thing we are going to do to win seats this fall."
Mr. Wolf, a Cleveland native, also worked on Rick Robinson's unsuccessful campaign in the Fourth District congressional GOP primary in the fall.
