Monday, April 03, 2000
Another Lucas takes office
Democrat joins court
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON — His father has a formidable political reputation. Today, Lance Lucas will begin to make his own.
When he's sworn in, the Democrat, who has never held public office, will break up an all-Republican fiscal court that has held sway for more than a year.
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QUIZ COVERS SOME TOPICS IN BOONE COUNTY
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Lance Lucas was asked a few questions about the county he's going to serve.
1.) What is the population of Boone County?
Answer: 70,079
Mr. Lucas' answer: 80,000
2.) What is the county's total budget?
Answer: $62 million
Mr. Lucas' answer: “Ask me on Monday when I'm sworn into office.”
3.) What are the mayor's names in each of the three major cities in Boone County?
Answer: Diane Ewing Whalen, Florence; Phil Trzop, Walton; Warren Moore, Union
Mr. Lucas' answer: He knew two out of three: Flor ence and Walton.
“I live in Richwood,” he said. “I don't have a mayor.”
4.) What does the name “Belleview Bottoms” mean to you?
The answer we were looking for: Site of a proposed sewage treatment plant
Mr. Lucas' answer: “It's where the proposed location of the sewer plant is.”
5.) When was Boone County founded?
Answer: 1798
Mr. Lucas' answer: He wasn't sure but thought sometime in the 1830s.
“I know when Kentucky was made a state,” he said. “In 1793.” (Actually, it's June 1, 1792.)
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While he says he'll bring an open mind to his first meeting, he'll also bring the Lucas name. His father, Ken Lucas, served on the court for 14 years before he was elected to Congress. He was a county commissioner from 1974 to 1982 and judge-executive from 1992 to 1998.
Many of the same issues that the elder Lucas dealt with will now be before the youn ger: mining, growth, roads and public services.
“The reason why I sought to be on the fiscal court is that I've been a lifelong resident in Boone County, and it's a great place to be,” he said. “I think I can bring some good life experiences and common-sense decisions to the court.
“My involvement in politics has been in the background supporting people that I look up to and have a lot in common with, at least philosophically.”
Until now.
Mr. Lucas will step out of the shadows — including his father's — to replace Rob Arnold, who resigned because of job responsibilities. Gov. Paul Patton appointed Mr. Lucas March 24.
Although the 38-year-old said he's not predisposed to any position, he does know the key issues in Boone County.
He sat in the audience last week when commissioners voted on the goals and objectives of the county's comprehensive plan. He saw firsthand what each side was fighting for.
“We have an international airport here and businesses are flocking here,” he said. “The things that drive the growth are here and are going to be here permanently.
“We can't stop the growth, I don't think.”
One thing often taxed by growth is the educational system, he said.
“It's one of the factors you've got to consider when those growth issues come up.”
But whether he'll be considered by residents as pro- or anti-growth is anybody's guess.
“I'm not pro-growth, I'm not anti-growth,” he said. “I guess my record will be borne out of the way I vote.”
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., one company that hopes to establish an underground limestone mine in the county, started its effort when Ken Lucas was in office.
Since then, another mining company, Hilltop Basic Resources, Inc. filed an application for a zone change to allow the same type of mine.
“I've generally read about it in the paper just like everybody else,” Mr. Lucas said. “I'm not educated enough to say I'm for it or against it.”
The same goes for the proposed sewer plant in Belleview Bottoms.
“I've heard about it, but it's my understanding that the fiscal court has no jurisdiction over it,” he said. “The sanitation district has picked a site, and I don't know if the county could stop it even if they wanted to.”
As a minority and new
member of the fiscal court, Mr. Lucas said he won't bring partisanship into the mix.
“There really is no Republican or Democrat issue in local government,” he said. “They're people issues.
“People want nice roads that are well maintained without potholes. They don't care if it's a Republican or a Democrat that fixes it as long as it gets fixed.”
If there's one thread woven tightly across the fiscal court it's the religious convictions of its members. Several profess their faith openly.
Mr. Lucas said that he believes in a divine being but that there are problems when officials try to legislate morality. Placing the Ten Commandments in public schools is a tough issue for him.
“As an attorney, I think there are some real constitutional problems with that,” he said.
Mr. Lucas said he knows Boone Countians will likely look to the father to judge the son, but he's not worried about that.
“I'm a 38-year-old, adult male who can think for myself, but by and large the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,” he said. “Many of my views are in line with my father's.
“After all, he's the person who raised me and guided me.”
While he's proud of his name, he's also his own man.
“I'm not going to call him and ask him how to vote on every decision,” he said.
Mr. Lucas considers himself a common-sense conservative. He's a small-business owner (a lawyer) and anti-abortion.
“People will find that my views are likely in line with the majority of people in Boone County,” he said.
County Judge-executive Gary Moore said the staff has been working on a manual for Mr. Lucas so he's up to speed on the issues.
“I really feel we'll be able to continue forward like we have been,” Mr. Moore said.
Ken Lucas said he has only one piece of advice for his son, and that goes for his time in office as well as out.
“You only have one person to really please, and that's the fellow you look at in the glass when you shave every morning,” he said.
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