FORT THOMAS — The Republican who many party leaders believed had the best chance of knocking off U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas in next year's 4th Congressional District race has decided not to run.

        State Sen. Katie Stine, 44, a Fort Thomas Republican who has served in the statehouse since 1994, said Friday that concerns, mainly about her family, influenced her decision not to seek the House seat next year.

        Mrs. Stine said her children are still in high school and she did not want to miss being with them over the next few years if she were to win the 2002 election.

        “A friend of mine asked me if I really want to be out traveling all over the 4th District when my kids are in school,” she said. “I read recently that a woman can have everything, but not at the same time.

        “Frankly, taking care of my kids, being a good wife and serving in the state Senate is a lot right now,” Mrs. Stine said. “There's time. It's just that the time is not now. It just doesn't feel right.”

        Republicans have admitted that defeating an incumbent such as Mr. Lucas will be difficult. Despite being the only Democrat in Kentucky's Washington delegation, he often, but not always, votes with Republicans.

        Mr. Lucas also expects to have an estimated $250,000 in campaign money in the bank by this summer.

        “Katie Stine's announcement does not affect our plans,” said Bob Doyle, Mr. Lucas' Washington strategist and fund-raiser. “We still expect a vigorous race and we're going to continue with our very aggressive political and financial plan.”

        Still, GOP leaders like Kentucky Republican Party Vice Chairman Damon Thayer believed Mrs. Stine had a chance to defeat Mr. Lucas or at least seriously damage him in the election.

        “I think the two happiest people in the 4th District today are Katie's husband, Fritz, and Ken Lucas,” Mr. Thayer said Friday. “Clearly, Katie would have had a terrific chance to win the seat. But she made it clear all along her overriding concern about having a couple of teenage kids at home while she was in Washington doing the job as a congresswoman.

        “I totally respect and understand her decision,” he said.

        After putting up a weak challenge to Mr. Lucas last year - the incumbent easily defeated Republican Don Bell of Oldham County — the GOP has been trying to find a viable candidate.

        Geoff Davis, a Boone County businessman who has never held office, has formed an exploratory committee and is likely to run, said Boone County GOP strategist and consultant Marc Wilson.

        State Rep. Jon Draud, a Crestview Hills Republican elected to a second term in November, is also pondering a run.

        Mrs. Stine is likely setting her sights on 2004, when the 4th District seat could be open because of a three-term pledge Mr. Lucas took during his first race for Congress in 1998. In that election he defeated Boone County Republican Gex (Jay) Williams.

        But Democratic Party leaders and officials in Frankfort are trying to convince Mr. Lucas to break the pledge and continue to run for the only seat the party still holds in Congress.

        Mrs. Stine also announced Friday that she will seek another term next year in the state Senate, where she chairs two committees and is vice-chair of a third.

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