Wednesday, January 05, 2000
N.Ky. gets prime Senate seat
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT — Dick Roeding professed to be excited but not nervous as he took a historic oath of office Tuesday and was installed as the president pro tem of the Kentucky Senate.
“I was so excited last night I couldn't sleep,” said Mr. Roeding, 69, a Lakeside Park Republican and 10-year-veteran of the Kentucky General Assembly.
“This is such a historic day,” Mr. Roeding said just moments after taking the oath of office from Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Donald Wintersheimer of Covington.
“I had a lot of people come down to watch. It's really very special.”
The Republicans officially took control of the 38-member Senate shortly after noon Tuesday, the opening day of the legislature's 134th regular session. It's the first time the GOP has controlled the assembly's upper chamber.
The power shift actually occurred late last summer when two downstate Democratic Senators — Dan Seum of Louisville and Bob Leeper of Paducah — switched parties to give the GOP a 20-18 majority.
Just prior to Mr. Roeding's installation, Sen. David Williams, R-Burkesville, was sworn in as president of the Senate, replacing Democrat Larry Saunders of Louisville.
Mr. Roeding's move into Senate leadership will give Northern Kentucky a “a prime seat at the table when the big decisions are made and the agendas are set,” said Ken Harper of Crestview Hills, a retired lawmaker who spent nine terms in the Kentucky House during the 1960s, '70s and '80s.
“It's going to be very important for the redistricting of legislative seats, which will take place in the next session after the 2000 census is completed,” Mr. Harper said.
Mr. Roeding's leadership slot also will help Northern Kentucky lawmakers and leaders pass legislation and fight for funding in what looks to be a very tight year for the budget in Frankfort, said former state senator and former Kenton County Judge-executive Clyde Middleton.
“Leadership gives you leverage, and that's always important in Frankfort,” said Mr. Middleton, a Fort Mitchell Republican who served four terms in the Senate during the 1970s and '80s.
Wilder Democrat Jim Callahan, the House majority caucus chairman, has used his leader ship position in the House to help pass major legislation in past sessions, including the 1998 higher education reform act, and receive millions of dollars for state-funded projects in Northern Kentucky.
Mr. Roeding previously served in Senate leadership when the Republicans were in the minority, first as whip from 1995 to 1997 and caucus chairman from 1997 to 1998.
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