Thursday, November 04, 1999
Patton romped in often Republican N.Ky. precincts
But real battle looms vs. Bunning
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A last look back at election night:
Patton rolls like the general:
What a difference four years, and an opponent like Republican Peppy Martin, makes in a gubernatorial election.
In the 1995 election, Democrat Paul Patton didn't just lose in Northern Kentucky. He was beaten badly, winning just 37 percent in Kenton County, 33 percent in Boone County and just 40 percent in Democrat-friendly Campbell County.
On Tuesday, Mr. Patton did not lose a single precinct in Northern Kentucky while beating Ms. Martin and Reform Party candidate Gatewood Galbraith, he of “make pot legal” fame.
Ms. Martin did tie Mr. Patton in two precincts: Fort Thomas A, which is in the heavy Republican north end around St. Catherine's Catholic church, where each candidate receive 102 votes; and along the Ohio River in unincorporated Constance, where the candidates pulled 22 votes apiece.
In Kenton County there weren't even any ties, even in big Republican areas like Edgewood, Villa Hills and Fort Mitchell.
The Patton camp in Frankfort was having a whole lot of fun with the fact that the governor even carried the Southgate precinct where Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning lives and votes.
Mr. Bunning, you'll remember — and if you ever forget the Dems will be there to remind you — not only endorsed Ms. Martin but also contributed $1,000 to her campaign.
Get used to Mr. Bunning and Mr. Patton and their supporters firing broadsides at one another for the next five years. That's when Mr. Patton plans to challenge Mr. Bunning for his Senate seat.
Ms. Martin lost six precincts in Covington and Bromley to Mr. Galbraith.
Don't get too cocky, Republicans are warning Democrats.
“The governor spent $1 million, was up on TV in every market and spent a lot of time campaigning, and he still only picked up 10 points from his win four years ago,” one local Republican Party official pointed out.
“Considering who he was running against, he should have had a lot bigger margin of victory. Just wait until he gets into a real race,” the Republican said in an obvious reference to the potential Bunning/Patton matchup/war.
A Dunn deal
Mariann Guidugli Dunn posted an impressive win in the Campbell County property value administrator's race, including taking several Republican precincts in Fort Thomas.
Mrs. Dunn, an Alexandria Democrat, won 10 of the city's 15 precincts and lost only one other precinct in the entire county — Cold Spring C — nearly doubling the vote of Republican Kevin Gordon.
It's easy to say Mrs. Dunn's political connections — the Guiduglis are well-known and successful in politics — gave her the win.
But she worked hard, made fundamental changes in the PVA's office, ran a clean campaign and has the qualifications to hold office. Any other comments about her win are sour grapes.
Porter, Buring already in
Assistant Campbell County Commonwealth Attorney Jack Porter didn't waste any time getting ready for the 2000 election.
Mr. Porter, a Fort Thomas Democrat, said Tuesday he is ready to announce his campaign for county attorney. Incumbent Lou Ball isn't seeking re-election.
And while checking election results at the county courthouse in Covington Tuesday night, Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Don Buring said yes when asked if he plans to run next year.
Republicans for Crigler
Word out of Boone County Tuesday was that lots of Republicans were working in the family court judge race for county attorney Larry Crigler, a Democrat from Hebron.
The GOP wanted Mr. Crigler to win so the party could appoint his replacement and pick up another courthouse seat.
Lot of good it did. Mr. Crigler lost the race by 10 points to incumbent Judge Linda Bramlage.
Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics for The Kentucky Enquirer. His column appears Thursdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 578-5581, or 502-875-7526 in Frankfort, or by e-mail at crowleys@cinci.infi.net.
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