Saturday, March 06, 1999
Westwood hat's in, already
GOP turns out backers a year early
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT WRIGHT — In a show of Republican political muscle, more than a dozen GOP elected and party officials turned out Friday to hear Jack Westwood announce he'll seek a second state Senate term in 2000.
Dubbed “Jack the giant killer” by Kenton County GOP Chairman Greg Shumate for beating longtime Democratic incumbent Joe Meyer in 1996, Mr. Westwood, who turns 55 today, said he will run a campaign the party will be proud of.
“I'm pro-life, I'm pro-family and the only campaign pledge that I'm going to make today is that with God's help, I will remain true to my character and I won't do anything to embarrass you in Frankfort,” Mr. Westwood said during a brief speech.
A retired teacher from Erlanger, Mr. Westwood said he was pleased with the support he received from party leaders.
“I invited these people out here because they are my friends and they supported me in my first campaign, and I'm anxious to get them aboard,” he said.
Republican officials and leaders who turned out for the press conference included:
• Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn.
• Kenton County commissioners Barb Black and Adam Koenig.
• State Reps. Jon Draud of Crestview Hills and Joe Fischer of Fort Thomas.
• Boone County Commissioner Robert Hay.
• Boone County Jailer John Schickel.
• Campbell County GOP Executive Committee member Hayes Robertson.
• U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's Northern Kentucky field representative, Kelly White.
• Boone County GOP Chairman Jay Hall, who next
week is expected to be elected 4th District Republican Party Chairman.
• State GOP Vice Chairman and current 4th District Chairman Damon Thayer of Grant County.
Mr. Thayer presented Mr. Westwood with his first campaign contribution, a $500 check from the 4th District Republican Party.
“We're with you,” Mr. Thayer said.
Mr. Hay and Mrs. Black will also be members of Mr. Westwood's campaign inner circle.
The turnout of GOP force was clearly designed to show that Mr. Westwood enjoys broad support among party leaders and to discourage any challengers from running against him in the May 2000 primary.
There has been talk of a Republican getting in the race, though no other candidates have emerged.
Asked why he has announced his campaign so early — the primary election is more than a year away — Mr. Westwood said he wanted to get a good head start this time.
“When I ran the first time, I think I officially got in the race about two hours before the filing deadline,” said Mr. Westwood, who was serving his first term on the Erlanger-Elsmere School Board when he entered the '96 race.
“I wanted to send a clear message in case there (are) some folks out there who are thinking about running against me from both parties,” he said.
Marc Wilson, a Boone County political consultant hired by Mr. Westwood, said Friday that Kevin Murphy — an Erlanger Republican who was rumored to be behind a challenge to Mr. Westwood — was supporting the incumbent.
“The rumor is false,” Mr. Murphy said Friday. “And I don't think anybody is going to run against Jack Westwood in the primary.”
“There won't be a primary,” Mr. Shumate said. “If there is, the executive committee will have to stay neutral. But you can look around this room and see where a lot of our elected officials stand.
“We want to send Jack Westwood back to Frankfort.”
Democrat Bernie Moorman, a former Covington mayor and Kenton County Commissioner, is considering running against Mr. Westwood next year.
Mr. Westwood said that if re-elected, he will continue to support legislation that curbs access to abortion. He also wants to reduce the state tax on automobiles.
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