BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SOUTHGATE -- Doug Hansman doesn't consider himself a political activist, but a warm bratt and a cold drink sounded good for dinner Tuesday night.
So Mr. Hansman, 33, of Southgate, joined about 50 other people for the first in a series of 13 Candidate Cookouts sponsored by Democrats running for county and state office in Campbell County this fall. "I thought this would be a good chance to come out and get to see and meet all the candidates," said Mr. Hansman, a manager at the Country Market in Alexandria.
"Besides," he said, smiling and lifting a bratwurst to his mouth, "they're buying dinner, so what the heck."
The cookouts, which run through Oct. 22 and will be held across the county, are designed to allow voters a chance to meet and talk to the candidates in a laid-back setting.
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COOKOUT SCHEDULE
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Here is a list of the remaining Democratic Candidate Cookouts:
Saturday, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the home of Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli, 100 Aspen Court.
Monday, 7-8:30 p.m. at Pelle's Cafe on Ky. 8 in Silver Grove.
Sept. 22, 6-7:30 p.m. at 143 Steelman Ave. in Highland Heights.
Sept. 24, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Snodgrass Warehouse at the foot of Taylor Avenue in Bellevue.
Sept. 30, 6-7:30 p.m. at the home of Campbell County Commissioner Dave Otto, 1718 N. Fort Thomas Ave. in Fort Thomas.
Oct. 1, 6-7:30 p.m. at the home of Dave Verst, 6 Canterbury Court in Alexandria.
Oct. 12, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Claryville Inn, 94 W. Lickert Road in southern Campbell County.
Oct. 14, 6-7:30 p.m. at the home of Bob Crittendon, 307 Dayton Pike in Dayton.
Oct. 15, 6-7:30 p.m. at the lot behind the Cold Spring City Building on East Alexandria Pike.
Oct. 20, 6:30-8 p.m. at the home of Carol Dunn on Smith Road in California.
Oct. 21, 6:30-8 p.m. at Westside Cafe, 438 W. 11th St. in Newport.
Oct. 22, 6-7:30 p.m. at the home of State Rep. Jim Callahan, 10 Colonel Pointe in Wilder.
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"Let's face it, we see a lot of the same people at these kinds of political events," Campbell County Clerk Jack Snodgrass said. "Here is a great chance for people who may not normally come to a political event to come out, have a hot dog or a bratt and talk to us about our campaigns, or in my case about the job I'm doing as county clerk."
Though Democrats control the county courthouse, Republicans are mounting tough opposition in some races.
Most of the candidates attending the cookout just came off a weekend of campaigning at the Alexandria Fair. Though some expressed fatigue, many said the campaigning will really kick into gear now that Labor Day has passed.
"This is a chance to see some new faces and meet some new people," Campbell County Commissioner Bill Verst said.
"We're not giving any speeches or pressuring anybody. It's just "come out, have some dinner and get to know all of us a little better.' "
Tuesday's cookout was at the Southgate home of Jay and Therese Paul, the son and daughter-in-law of Campbell County Judge-executive Ken Paul and his wife, Cheryl.
The judge-executive was talking politics.
"This is what we're about as Democrats, getting out and meeting people in cookouts and senior citizen ice cream socials and county fairs," Mr. Paul said.
"Nobody on our side needs a paid consultant to tell us what to say to the people of Campbell County," he said in a dig at Republican Fiscal Court candidates, who are being advised by a paid political consultant.
"We have a strong record of accomplishment, with new parks, $158 million in infrastructure, water lines going to the south end of the county and hundreds of new jobs created. That's what we're telling people, the job we've done for them and things we are going to do in the future."
Southgate residents Penny Muench, 40, a registered nurse, and Diane Imhoff, 35, a sales rep, said they came to the cookout because they support Mr. Paul.
"He's doing a good job and we need to keep him and the rest of the fiscal court in office," Mrs. Muench said.
