Saturday, October 30, 1999
Railroad commission not obsolete, hopeful says
Steffen stresses safety issues, freight volume
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE — Don't tell Anita Steffen that the office of Kentucky Railroad Commissioner is a meaningless job that has outlived its usefulness.
Mrs. Steffen, an Independence Republican on the ballot in Tuesday's election, is running on a platform to improve the safety of railroad crossings, increase the amount of freight shipped by rail and push for construction of a high-speed rail line connecting Kentucky's so-called “Golden Triangle” of Northern Kentucky, Louisville and Lexington.
But how much she will be able to accomplish is difficult to say.
The Railroad Commission is viewed as largely ineffective, a state constitutional office that must appear on the ballot. Three commissioners receive a salary of $3,000 a year each and the commission has an annual budget of about $70,000. Those holding the office have some duties and responsibilities but not much real power.
Most states did away with railroad commissions more than 100 years ago, when the federal government began regulating railroads. But because voters have never passed a Kentucky constitu tional amendment to do away with the commission, three commissioners are elected every four years.
“It's one of the offices that really doesn't do much but that has never been voted off the ballot,” said Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor.
“I don't think they have any power, or if they do it's not much,” he said.
Steve Sanders, the commission's office administrator, said the commissioners have duties and perform tasks relating to railroad safety, among other work.
Recently in Lexington the Norfolk Southern railroad improved a crossing after the commission asked it to do so, he said.
“The commissioners receive a lot of complaints about the railroads when it comes to things like safety and maintenance,” Mr. Sanders said.
The commission also mediates disputes between railroads and the public, though the railroads are not compelled to accept any rulings or orders from the commission.
The District 3 Commission seat Mrs. Steffen is running for is now held by Democrat John Combs of Hazard. He has served three terms but doesn't attend commission meetings and campaigns on a platform of working to do away with the commission.
“He wants to get rid of the commission,” Mr. Sanders said. “But he always accepts that $3,000 check.”
Mr. Combs could not be reached to comment.
“To a large extent, it is the performance of the incumbents that has helped give the commission its appearance of irrelevance,” Mrs. Steffen said.
“We need commissioners who will lead, not sit in the station and watch the ever-dwindling number of trains go by,” she said. “We have no need for public officials who are disinterested in the position they have been elected to.”
Mrs. Steffen promises to lobby the General Assembly for money so the commission can promote safety involving railroads. She also wants to try and increase the number of passenger trains serving Kentucky.
A former Independence City Council member, Mrs. Steffen is running for a seat that covers Northern and Eastern Kentucky. She said if elected, she will be the first woman to ever hold a seat on the Railroad Commission.
Mrs. Steffen is on the ballot in Campbell and Kenton counties.
In Boone County, the race is between Republican Todd Strecker of Lexington and Democratic incumbent Henry Spalding, also of Lexington.
Mr. Strecker and Mrs. Steffen worked together on putting together a similar platform, Mrs. Steffen said.
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