Wednesday, January 26, 2000
Northern Ky. primary picture
Covington mayor among challenges
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Covington's mayoral race will have its first primary in 21 years, and the Kenton County commonwealth attorney learned at Tuesday's filing deadline that he will face opposition in November.
In other Northern Kentucky city races, Newport, Covington, Florence, Erlanger, Fort Thomas, Bellevue and Dayton failed to attract enough candidates for a May primary.
Voters in those cities will join other Northern Kentucky municipalities and school boards where local candidates will file in August for the November ballot.
In Northern Kentucky's largest city, Jim Eggemeier, who was elected to his seventh Covington City Commission term in November 1998, made it a four-way race for mayor Tuesday. Because at least three candidates had filed for Covington mayor by Tuesday's deadline, there will be a May 23 primary to decide which two will appear on the November ballot.
Mr. Eggemeier joins veteran City Commissioner Butch Callery, longtime law enforcement officer Ray “Ra dar” Murphy, and Bernie Moorman, a former Covington mayor and Kenton County commissioner, in the nonpartisan race for Covington mayor.
Boone County voters will narrow the choices for property valuation administrator in a May primary. Former PVA David Turner resigned last summer after pleading guilty to a theft charge.
Republicans vying for Mr. Turner's job are Ronald N. Burch of Florence and Shawn W. Staggs of Burlington. Democratic candidates are Paula Goff of Florence, and Arlene Akin Jones-Singletary and Jeffrey L. Spears, both of Burlington.
Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli is unopposed, but incumbent City Commissioners Ken Rechtin, Jan Knepshield, Jerry “Rex” Peluso, and Beth Fennell will vie for four seats in November with challengers Bob Barnett, Mary Ellen Curtis and Tom McQueen.
In Kenton County, Covington Mayor Denny Bowman, who is prohibited by state law from seeking a fourth term as mayor, was among six candidates filing for four Covington City Commission seats. Others in the nonpartisan race are incumbents Jerry Bamberger and J.T. Spence, challengers Craig Bohman and Tony Milburn, who have both been active in civic and neighborhood activities, and political newcomer Alex Edmondson. The latter candidate is a law clerk and the son of Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson.
In another Kenton County race of note, Republican Bill Crockett, chief prosecutor in the Kenton County attorney's office, filed Tuesday against the Democratic incumbent, Don Buring.
Mr. Crockett, who last made an unsuccessful run for Kenton district judge in November 1998, said he filed for Kenton commonwealth attorney Tuesday to give the voters a choice.
In Boone and Gallatin counties, lawyer Howe E. Baker will run against fellow Republican Linda Tally Smith, assistant Boone commonwealth attorney, for commonwealth attorney. Willie Mathis, who has been commonwealth attorney since 1974, is not running.
In Campbell County, Democrat Jack Porter, assistant Campbell commonwealth attorney, and Republican Peter B. Coughlan will run for Campbell commonwealth attorney.
In Boone County, Florence City Council incumbents K. Dale Stevens, Melodee Grubbs Merrell, Julie Metzger, Larry Brown and Linda H. Schaffer filed for six seats, along with challengers Ronald W. Bitter, Mel Carroll, Janet K. Kegley, Brian L. Buckley and Ted J. Bushelman. Incumbent David Osborne is not running.
In Campbell County, Circuit Court Clerk Tom Calme faces challenges from Democrat Ken Johnson of Alexandria, as well as Republicans Lloyd K. Rogers of Alexandria and Glen R. Dreisbach of Fort Thomas.
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Rogers earlier said they plan to be part of a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a qualifying exam for circuit court clerk, after both failed to pass the test.
The test is given by Kentucky's Administrative Office of the Courts, and people interested in running for circuit court clerk must earn a score of 70 or better.
In Kenton County, Republican Steve Kramer, a Villa Hills City Council member, learned Tuesday that he was officially back in the race for circuit court clerk of that county, after state officials double-checked his test and found that it had been incorrectly scored.
Mr. Kramer will face Democratic incumbent Mary Ann Woltenberg in November.
In Boone County, 12-year Circuit Court Clerk Pat Gutzeit, who formerly worked 20 years in the office as a chief deputy, is unopposed in her race.
In other filings Tuesday, voters in four Kenton and Campbell County cities learned who will run for city council in November.
In Erlanger, 11 incumbents and four challengers will vie for 12 council seats; six Fort Thomas Council members and one challenger are running for six council seats; five Bellevue City Council members and four challengers are running for six seats; and six Dayton City Council incumbents and five challengers are running for six seats.
Reporters Kristina Goetz and Terry Flynn contributed to this story.
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