BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS -- The animosity that has festered for months in Northern Kentucky's 4th District Congressional race erupted Saturday during the only televised debate of the campaign.
Republican Gex "Jay" Williams and Democrat Ken Lucas did spend much of the 45-minute debate at Northern Kentucky University talking about, and in many instances agreeing on, issues concerning raising the federal minimum wage, campaign finance reform, abortion and Social Security.
But the candidates also blistered each other with the kind of overt, stinging political and personal barbs that have set the tone for the race to succeed six-term Republican Rep. Jim Bunning. Both camps came away with plenty of fodder for continued attacks during the final three weeks of the campaign.
Mr. Lucas, the former Boone County judge-executive, went on the offensive early and often. But Williams supporters said Mr. Lucas went too far when he said it was "repugnant" that Mr. Williams fashions himself a strong advocate of public education while home-schooling his six children.
"I thought his comments were rather insulting," said Pam Glenn of California, Ky., who home-schools three of her children but has two others in public and private schools.
"I feel I give my children a fine education . . . and I don't see what is wrong with having somebody who home-schools in Congress," she said.
However, it was Mr. Williams, smiling throughout the debate, who took the first swing when he accused Mr. Lucas of running a negative campaign.
Mr. Williams also chided Mr. Lucas for meeting with President Clinton when he came to town earlier this year.
But Mr. Lucas countered by saying Mr. Williams is "wrapped up with" House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who last month helped Mr. Williams raise nearly $100,000 at a downtown Cincinnati fund-raiser. "To say I support Bill Clinton is a misrepresentation, Gex, which you are really great at," Mr. Lucas said.
The candidates took questions from reporters but also questioned each other.
Mr. Lucas asked Mr. Williams about a recent Cincinnati Enquirer survey of state lawmakers, lobbyists and reporters that rated Mr. Williams, a state senator from Boone County, last among Northern Kentucky legislators when it comes to integrity.
"The people that know you best trust you least, Gex," Mr. Lucas said.
Mr. Williams dismissed the rating as unscientific with responses driven by partisan battles in Frankfort.
Mr. Williams wanted to know why Mr. Lucas, while judge-executive, missed a Northern Kentucky Health Department Board vote on referring unmarried girls to Cincinnati to receive abortions.
"Ken, you claim to be pro-life . . . but you did not come out and vote. Why not?" Mr. Williams asked.
Rather than answering the question, Mr. Lucas attacked Covington attorney Bob Cetrulo, the head of Northern Kentucky Right to Life and a strong supporter of Mr. Williams.
"Mr. Bob Cetrulo and all his zealots have made this such a high-profile thing that it's disgusting," Mr. Lucas said. "I'm embarrassed for the community. I'm pro-life. I don't know what else I can say."
After the debate, Lucas campaign manager John Lapp said Mr. Lucas' comments were in response to an attack Mr. Cetrulo leveled during a call-in radio talk show the candidates appeared on last week.
"Bob Cetrulo attacked Ken Lucas on that show, and people need to know that is how (Mr. Cetrulo) operates," Mr. Lapp said.
On the issues, Mr. Williams and Mr. Lucas agreed that:
Congress should ban late-term procedures known as "partial birth" abortions.
Campaign finance laws need to be more strictly enforced to keep so-called "soft money" -- unlimited and unregulated donations to political parties -- from pouring into campaigns.
Social Security should be shored up by a large portion of the projected federal budget surplus.
If Mr. Clinton committed perjury and obstructed justice, he should resign or be impeached.
The two differed on welfare reform.
Mr. Lucas said business should be given tax breaks to hire people off welfare. But Mr. Williams said that would be unfair for people who are not on welfare but are looking for a job.
Mr. Lucas also suggested fingerprinting welfare recipients to cut down on cheating and abuse. But after the debate, Williams campaign manager Craig Hendricks questioned the constitutionality of Mr. Lucas' proposal and said it may violate a person's right to privacy.
