FLORENCE — One of Boone County's top Republican leaders will take on a leading Democrat in the 2002 county clerk's race.

        Jay Hall, 29, the former head of the Boone County Republican Party, announced Friday he will challenge Boone County Clerk Marilyn Rouse.

        “I believe it is important for our county clerk to be responsive to the needs of the people of Boone County,” Mr. Hall said. “Not only will I be responsive to those needs, I will be proactive in helping the people and the businesses of Boone County by running a courteous and efficient county clerk's office.”

        Mrs. Rouse, who was elected in 1998, was out of town Friday and could not be reached for comment.

        The Rouse name is well-known in the county courthouse. Ms. Rouse's father, Jerry, whom she replaced as county clerk, served the county for nearly 30 years and was long supported by Democrats as well as Republicans.

        Democratic Party officials have previously said they think Ms. Rouse's job performance and name recognition will help her retain the office.

        But Republicans have made huge political gains in Boone County, a fast-growing area that is now the largest GOP-controlled county in Kentucky. Republicans also have taken over many of the courthouse offices, including all four fiscal court seats and county jailer, sheriff and property value administrator.

        “I respect the Rouse name, as do many in this county,” Mr. Hall said. But, “there are thousands of new registered voters, Republicans and Democrats, who have moved into the county.

        “It takes more than a name to win an election,” he said. “If anyone proved that, it was Lance Lucas.”

        Mr. Lucas, of Richwood, is the son of U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, a former Boone County judge-executive and county commissioner. Despite his name, Lance Lucas lost a county commissioner race last year to Republican Charlie Kenner.

        Mr. Hall is a member of the Republican State Executive Committee and the former chairman of the 4th Congressional District Republican Party. He is a longtime Boone County resident, a graduate of Walton-Verona High School and a resident of Florence, where he lives with his wife, Diana, and their 2-year-old daughter, Julia.

        Mr. Hall has worked as a paralegal for the past 10 years — he is employed at the Crestview Hills law firm of Deters, Benzinger and LaVelle — and thinks that experience will serve him as county clerk.

        “I have 10 years' experience in legal document retention, storage and organization,” he said. “In my work for the Republican Party, I have fully acquainted myself with election laws and the voting process, and I have administrative experience necessary to serve the people of Boone County as their county clerk.”

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