Friday, February 04, 2000
N.Ky. puffs itself up for state bigwigs
Gala even includes literal pork
BY ANDREA TORTORA and JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT — Northern Kentucky came to the state capital Thursday to sell itself.
Northern Kentucky Night in Frankfort was a time to lobby lawmakers for money, show off the growing region's key attractions, and hobnob with Gov. Paul Patton and his Cabinet over food and cocktails.
The guest list of about 1,000 read like a Who's Who of Northern Kentucky:
James Votruba, president of Northern Kentucky University; Gary Toebben, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Northern Kentucky; Gary Bockelman, chairman of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport board; Bob Elliston, president of Turfway Park; and many county and city officials. Announcers in tuxedos introduced the bigwigs as they walked onto the civic center floor.
Northern Kentucky is the only region of the commonwealth that puts on this kind of party for state officials. Sponsored by the chamber and the Northern Kentucky Restaurant Association, the event cost thousands.
But beneficiaries say the money's worth it. Past legislative sessions earned the region support for developments such as the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington and the Newport aquarium.
The governor greeted the elbow-to-elbow crowd, calling Northern Kentucky “that most prosperous part of Kentucky.”
Many businesses took advantage of the night to promote their ventures. Kentucky Speedway officials pushed season tickets and talked up their need for Sunday alcohol sales at the Gallatin County racetrack.
The city of Covington handed out videos and economic impact statements for its proposed Riverfront West project, which Sen. Katie Stine, R-Fort Thomas, called the next wonder of Northern Kentucky. The city's looking for state money to help pay for the $277 million office/entertainment/condo combination.
Dick Willman came to sell ham. As vice president of promotions and sales for Heavenly Ham, he brought 800 finger sandwiches from Florence to feed some pork to the legislators.
“We felt people needed to be exposed to the very best ham there is,” he said.
Chris Boggs, president of NKU's Student Government Association, came to see what the night might produce for his university.
“We wanted to meet with legislators from other parts of the state,” he said. “This gives us a foot in the door to meet a bunch of people.”
Though the lobbying was serious, there was a little humor, too.
Guests wondered why they listened to the theme song from Oklahoma! instead of “My Old Kentucky Home.” Key legislator Jody Richards, speaker of the House, walked into the room to hear himself introduced as “Jody Richardson.”
And the governor delivered one of the funniest moments of the night when he pronounced Northern Kentucky “the part of Kentucky that's already in the 21st century.”
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