BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE - Congressman-elect Ken Lucas is trying to get on a U.S. House committee where he can be an advocate for the Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Mr. Lucas, the Boone County Democrat who beat Republican Gex "Jay" Williams on Nov. 3 in the 4th Congressional District race, is seeking an appointment to committees dealing with "transportation, budget and finance," said John Lapp, Mr. Lucas' chief of staff. Mr. Lapp said Mr. Lucas wants to make sure the airport still receives funding and attention from Congress following the resignation of U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford of Kentucky.
Mr. Ford, an Owensboro Democrat, has helped the airport land millions of federal dollars for expansions over the last several years.
"Wendell Ford has been a great advocate for the airport, and Ken wants to continue the work started by Sen. Ford," Mr. Lapp said.
As a former Boone County judge-executive and member of the Kenton County Airport Board and Tri-County Economic Development Corp., Mr. Lucas "knows the airport is the economic engine that drives the local economy," Mr. Lapp said. "Ken wants the kind of bread-and-butter committees that will provide for the region."
As a freshman, Mr. Lucas is aware his committee assignment requests may not be honored, Mr. Lapp said. The committee assignments will be made in December by House Democratic leaders, he said.
Current 4th District Congressman Jim Bunning, the Southgate Republican who is succeeding Mr. Ford, has said he will also seek committee assignments where he will be in a position to assist the airport.
Mr. Lucas has also announced he has hired his third full-staff staffer.
Angie Dixon, 24, of Taylor Mill will have a variety of titles and responsibilities, including assistant to Mr. Lapp, budget director and legislative specialist.
She worked on fund raising and organization for Mr. Lucas' congressional campaign, and has worked in the past for other Democratic candidates in Northern Kentucky.
Along with Mr. Lapp and Ms. Dixon, Mr. Lucas has hired Boone County Administrator Jim Collins to run his Kentucky field offices. Those offices have not been established, but the main office will be in Northern Kentucky, with field offices likely in Ashland and Oldham County.
Mr. Collins has said Mr. Lucas will probably have a staff in Kentucky of seven to eight people.
Mr. Lucas will be sworn into office along with other members of the 106th Congress on Dec. 6 in Washington.
But he will have a series of ceremonial swearing-in events around the 4th District in Covington, Ashland, Maysville and Oldham County, Ms. Dixon said.
The local event will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington. The public is invited.
