Wednesday, March 31, 1999
Callery to run for mayor in Covington
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — City Commissioner Irvin “Butch” Callery, a 20-year veteran of Covington politics, plans to run for mayor next year.
Mr. Callery, 57, who has served as city commissioner since 1979, will try to win the seat he lost to Mayor Denny Bowman in 1996.
“I started talking it over with my family during the last election” in November, said Mr. Callery, the father of four grown children.
“I wanted to be in agree ment with them on this, and I wanted(them) to know that it's all or nothing. ... I'll have to give up my (city) commission seat to run.
“But they're behind me all the way, so I'm definitely in.”
Mr. Callery, a manager of investment securities at Conners and Co. Inc. in Cincinnati, was elected in November to his 10th term on the city commission.
The mayor's seat is open because Mr. Bowman is serving the last of his three terms and under state law is unable to run again.
Mr. Callery could draw opposition in the nonpartisan race from two other well-known, experienced Covington politicians.
Bernie Moorman, 60, who lost his Kenton County Commission seat in the fall and served as mayor in the late 1970s, said he is considering running. He also might take on Republican state Sen. Jack Westwood of Erlanger in next year's statehouse elections.
“I enjoy public service,” said Mr. Moorman, a retired chemist who runs a bed and breakfast in Covington.
Mr. Moorman said he will likely make a decision on which seat he will seek, if either, by this summer.
City Commissioner Jim Eggemeier, 43, said he also is thinking about running for mayor. The owner of a Covington plumbing business, Mr. Eggemeier was elected to a seventh commission term in November in a race where he was the top-vote getter.
In the race, in which the top four finishers out of eight candidates were elected, Mr. Eggemeier beat out second-place finisher Mr. Callery by about 200 votes out of nearly 8,000 cast.
“I've not made any decisions yet,” Mr. Eggemeier said. “We're 20 months away. It's way too early. I'm keeping all my options open right now.”
Even though the election is nearly two years away, Mr. Callery said he wanted to get an early start.
“Jim (Eggemeier) and I are good friends,” Mr. Callery said. “If we're in the race together, I don't feel like I'll be running against him. I'll be running for the office.
“And Bernie spent a lot of years on the county commission and in the city, but I just feel like I can offer a lot because I've been involved for so long and I've been in close contact with the citizens for 20 years,” he said.
Covington real estate broker and investor Toni Allender, who ran unsuccessfully in last year's city commission race, said a Eggemeier/Callery contest would be too close to call.
“It would be a good race and it would be very tight,” said Ms. Allender, 34, who plans to run again next year for city commissioner.
“They're both popular, and they both have a lot of support in the city,” she said.
Mr. Callery said he will run on a platform that includes the growth and development of the city, particularly along Covington's riverfront, where a high-rise office tower, hotels and the Northern Kentucky Convention Center have been built.
Mr. Callery said he has also always been aware of the needs of people, businesses and groups in Covington's many neighborhoods. He points to recreation programs and neighborhood block watches as examples of how he has worked in the community.
“I've always had real good contact with the people, and I think that's been my strength through the years,” he said.
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