BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CRESCENT PARK -- A Northern Kentucky city that may not even exist next summer has a record number of candidates running for local office this November.
Tiny Crescent Park, which could squeeze all 421 residents into many Northern Kentucky neighborhoods, has eight candidates running for the four-member city commission, and two seeking the mayor's job.
That kind of interest is unheard of, Northern Kentucky political observers say -- especially in an election in which Crescent Park voters are being asked to decide on a proposed merger with Fort Mitchell. "We've almost always had to do write-ins in the past, just to get enough people for each seat," said Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor.
"In the past, you would just hope that there would be enough people willing to get involved," said long-time Crescent Park Commissioner Robert Taylor. "We've always wanted to see this happen, and now that it has, we think it's good."
Ironically, the annexation question convinced many of the challengers to make their first run for political office.
This summer, both Crescent Park and Fort Mitchell city governments expressed their intent to dissolve Crescent Park and have Fort Mitchell annex it next July 1, at the start of a new fiscal year.
If Crescent Park voters approve the referendum by a simple majority in November, then Fort Mitchell City Council would have to adopt another ordinance accepting the annexation.
Several candidates who are running for Crescent Park City Commission said that they don't see the advantages of becoming part of Fort Mitchell.
"I see Fort Mitchell taking our tax dollars, but I don't see us getting any of the great benefits that Fort Mitchell has, like the Beechwood school district," said Donna Braun.
The 10-year Crescent Park resident said that she and her husband, Michael Braun, both 33, filed for city office largely because of concerns about how the proposed merger would affect Crescent Park. The Brauns' neighbor, Anna Nottingham, a 25-year-old social worker, also entered the city commission race for similar reasons. "There are basically no bad things about (the merger), but we're not gaining anything," Ms. Nottingham said. "We already have a contract with Fort Mitchell for their police and fire, so I don't see what we're gaining."
Mr. Taylor, who has served as a Crescent Park city commissioner "off and on for 16 years," disagreed. "I think it would be a beautiful marriage," he said.
The 59-year-old retired truck driver said he thinks the merger would enhance property values, as well as provide valuable services for Crescent Park residents.
"Fort Mitchell takes care of our streets in the winter, does snow removal, does our maintenance work and supplies the fire department and life squad," Mr. Taylor said. "They do all that for us, and do an excellent job."
But David Tyson, a 30-year-old machinist who's running against 18-year Mayor Maston Ward, said he is concerned that Crescent Park "would be on the bottom rung of the ladder" when it came to such services if it became part of Fort Mitchell.
Even if the merger is approved, Mr. Tyson said he hopes to stay involved in his city government long enough to address drainage problems on Avon Drive and fix up the city park.
Kevin Curl, another challenger for city commission, said he is upset that much of the responsibility for maintaining the city's park was shifted to the newly reactivated civic association that he helped organize.
"Every year, there has been a budget for this park and nothing has been spent," he said. "When we reactivated the civic association, everything was put on us."
Mr. Taylor said Crescent Park's city government tried hiring someone to mow the grass and do other park maintenance, "but they never showed up."
"So we just went out and bought a riding mower and did it ourselves," Mr. Taylor said. "Mayor Ward and I spent the whole summer sanding and painting playground equipment and mowing the park."
Mr. Taylor said city officials have tried to organize residents to help fix up the park, but "only one or two show up to help."
Several of the challengers said they also hope to offer new ideas. "Some of the council people have been there so long that a lot of people are ready for a change," said challenger Jeffrey Stacy. The 34-year-old shipping supervisor said he wants to help with the transition if the merger goes through.
"It's like the good old boys' club," Mrs. Braun said. "The same people have been in there 20 or 30 years."
Mr. Taylor said the incumbents welcome good ideas, but he said newcomers must work within budget constraints and look out for the interests of the city as a whole.
"I think we've done an excellent job, and our record speaks for itself," Mr. Taylor said. "I'd like to be returned to office to help with the transition. But if the voters decide against (the merger), then I'll run the city for two more years."
