Saturday, May 27, 2000
4th district GOP chairman to step down
Hall plans to finish college
By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MITCHELL — Jay Hall is stepping down as chairman of the 4th Congressional District Republican Party, one of the top GOP posts in the state, to continue his education at Northern Kentucky University.
Mr. Hall, 28, will return to NKU's Highland Heights campus in the fall to finish his final two years toward a bachelor's degree in political science.
With the 4th District seat held by U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, a Boone County Democrat, on the ballot this year, Mr. Hall said Friday he thought it was best to step down now to give the new chairman time to organize for the fall campaign.
“The real impetus for getting out of my leadership role was to allow me the time to go to college,” said Mr. Hall, a paralegal for attorney Pierce Cunningham.
“Being the chairman is a tough job that demands a lot of time,” he said. “It's a big, diverse district of 22 counties and I just felt that when I went back to college I could not give the job the time and responsibility it needs and deserves.”
Mr. Hall emphasized he is not getting out of Republican politics. After earning his degree, he plans to return to party leadership, work directly for a statewide candidate or even run for county or statehouse office himself.
“I'll still be involved in a lot of Republican campaigns this fall,” Mr. Hall said.
He is expected to be replaced by attorney Marc Carey of Owen County, a former Fort Thomas resi dent who has a law office in Erlanger. Mr. Carey, who was a delegate to the 1996 Republican Party National Convention in San Diego, could not be reached Friday to comment.
Mr. Carey has the support of U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, the Southgate Republican who held the 4th District seat for six terms before his election to the U.S. Senate in 1998.
Mr. Bunning's support is considered key for winning election to the post. Mr. Carey is expected to be elected when state party leaders convene June 3 for intra-party elections. Mr. Carey is likely to run unopposed.
State Republican Party Chairman Damon Thayer, who preceded Mr. Hall as 4th District chairman, said he is disappointed to see the man he often calls “my best friend” vacate the 4th District chairmanship.
Mr. Thayer said he thinks Mr. Carey will do an “excellent job leading the 4th District.
“Marc has good experience at grassroots campaigning, knows how to raise money and knows how to run campaigns,” Mr. Thayer said.
One of Mr. Carey's first priorities looks like it will also be one of his most diffi cult — winning back the 4th District seat from Mr. Lucas.
Oldham County resident Don Bell won the party's 4th District nomination Tuesday, but he is already far behind Mr. Lucas in terms of money, name recognition and political experience.
Mr. Hall said he will help Mr. Bell campaign and raise money this year.
“I'm still going to be involved with campaigns and with building our own little grassroots machine here in Northern Kentucky,” he said.
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