FORT MITCHELL — U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, a Boone County Democrat, may be close to drawing a Republican opponent for next year's congressional election.

        Boone County Republicans say Geoff Davis, a business owner and military veteran from Hebron, is considering the race and is close to deciding.

        “He is exploring the race,” said Marc Wilson, a Republican political consultant from Florence.

        “He's meeting with the right people, the party people, business people and potential donors in the district,” Mr. Wilson said Thursday.

        “He's been to Washington, talking to Republican Party officials, and he's close to making his decision,” he said. “He knows it would be a tough race, but a guy with fire in his belly who can raise money can win this thing.”

        Little is known about Mr. Davis. He has told supporters he is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and he is a principal in Capstone Inc., a manufacturing consulting firm he operates either in or near his home in Hebron.

        Mr. Davis has also been reaching out to party leaders and activists. At last month's 4th District Lincoln Day Dinner, Mr. Davis not only attended but was the only candidate to spend $1,000 sponsoring a table.

        Hayes Robertson, a GOP consultant from Covington, said Mr. Davis' lack of name recognition will be a problem.

        “He's got to get his name out there and the best way to do that is with money,” Mr. Robertson said. “But the word around Republican circles is (Mr. Davis) is willing to put some of his own money up to get started.”

        “We's a well-spoken individual, a successful businessman and a military veteran,” Boone County Republican Party Chairman Ed Moore said.

        “He's also going to be an aggressive fund-raiser and he's willing to lend his campaign $100,000,” Mr. Moore said.

        According to his year-end filing with the Federal Election Commission, Mr. Lucas had about $100,000 in his campaign account on Dec. 31.

        Angie Dixon, a Lucas political staffer, would not say Thursday how much the two-term congressman has raised since then.

        “We are not going to reveal any information on fund-raising until the midyear finance reports are due in June,” Ms. Dixon said.

        Mr. Lucas has also opened a campaign office in Erlanger and has hired a professional fund-raiser, Christina Gilgor.

        The campaign's 35-member finance committee is chaired by two veteran political activists: lawyers Mark Guilfoyle of Edgewood and Bill Robinson of Erlanger.

        The Lucas campaign has also started a new fund-raising arm, The Young Professionals Committee.

        Bob Doyle, Mr. Lucas' Washington D.C.-based political consultant, described it as a group of 45 “young professional leaders who will be raising funds for the Lucas campaign at the grass-roots level.”

Welcome to the exurbs
Ice cream truck driver fatally shot
Respect for nurses drives success at St. Elizabeth
School plans stir emotions
8,000 Catholics 'Answer the Call'
BRONSON: God's house
PULFER: Free speech
WILKINSON: Politics Mayoral election may limit the money grubbing
Police dog's tenacity earns regional awards
Accused of selling son, parents give up baby girl
Beechmont Ave. to get face lift
Cold couldn't keep them away
Couple says judge violated rights with visitation
Lucas may face competition
Mount Healthy seeks 1.54-mill replacement levy
Official's actions probed
Ohio mayors threaten to sue for census recount
'Rickshaw run' aims to help sick kids
Now and Then
School paper, yearbook honored
Scott Co. has first OxyContin case
Two sought in robbery, kidnapping at hospital
Village Green plan before the public
Workers accept 3rd proposal
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report