BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- The Covington police officers' union has endorsed Democrat Ken Lucas over Republican Gex "Jay" Williams in Northern Kentucky's Fourth District congressional race.
The nod to Mr. Lucas marks the second time the police union has bypassed backing Mr. Williams.
The Covington Lodge No. 1 Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) had endorsed Fort Mitchell attorney Rick Robinson instead of Mr. Williams in the May Republican primary, which Mr. Williams won easily.
But Covington police officer Bill Schilling, an active member of the union involved who worked on Mr. Robinson's campaign, said Mr. Lucas has a strong law enforcement agenda and that Mr. Williams has not helped or backed the union in the past.
"Gex Williams did not help the FOP with the Mike Partin Bill," Mr. Schilling said, referring to the state legislation named after the Covington police officer who died Jan. 4 after falling into the Ohio River while pursuing a suspect on foot across the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.
The bill, which the Kentucky General Assembly passed earlier this year, makes it a felony to flee a police officer.
Mr. Williams said he voted for the Partin Bill and worked with Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Erlanger, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to get it to the Senate floor.
"There was a struggle and a problem with the (Partin) bill in the House because it was a part of the governor's crime bill, but there was no problem in the House," Mr. Williams said Friday.
Mr. Schilling said Mr. Lucas, the former Boone County judge-executive, has pledged to work to make the Partin Bill a part of federal crime legislation.
Mr. Lucas also wants to set up a law enforcement council in the Fourth District to meet with police officers on a regular basis, Mr. Schilling said.
Covington Police Sgt. Ray Murphy said Mr. Lucas had a strong commitment to law enforcement while serving two terms as judge-executive in Boone County.
Mr. Lucas said the FOP endorsement "really means a lot to me."
