FORT MITCHELL — One is an in-your-face pol, a passionate partisan, a prolific letter writer and a respected political strategist.

        The other is a tireless campaign organizer and public official, a dedicated party servant and leader who does the work but rarely takes the credit.

        But while different in their approaches to GOP politics, Ted Smith and Beth Rose now share the highest honor given by the Kenton County Republican Party.

        Mr. Smith of Park Hills and Mrs. Rose, a Fort Mitchell resident, received the party's third-annual Lifetime Achievement Award at Sunday's Kenton County Republican Spring Brunch.

        “Beth and Ted have given so much to the party over the years,” Kenton Couty GOP Chairman Greg Shumate said, “I can't think of two more deserving people for this year's award.

        “You don't build a successful party without people like Ted Smith and Beth Rose,” he said. “Their contributions have made a difference in Kenton County politics.”

        Both Mr. Smith and Mrs. Rose have been involved in the party for years, including over the last decade when the GOP has made huge strides in the county of about 150,000.

        Republicans hold nearly every office in county government as well as three of the county's five seats in the Kentucky General Assembly. Kenton County also consistently supports Republicans in statewide and federal elections.

        Mr. Smith is well-known to readers of the Letters to the Editor section of newspapers, where he is not afraid to mix it up with Democrats and at times even with fellow Republicans.

        “Ted is well-known in local political circles as a staunch defender of Republican ideals and causes, and an excellent writer,” Mr. Shumate said.

        A retired lawyer and lobbyist, Mr. Smith has served on the county's GOP executive committee for 18 years, is a former party chairman and has worked on the campaigns of several Republican candidates, including U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning of Southgate and state Sen. Jack Westwood of Erlanger.

        Mrs. Rose has long been active in county Republican politics. She is a member of the county GOP executive committee and is a board member of the Kentucky Federation of Republican Women.

        Known for her work behind the scenes and her organizational skills, Mrs. Rose has also served as president of the Kenton County Republican Women's Club.

        “In addition to being active in party politics, Beth has also thrown her hat into the political ring, successfully being elected three times to the Fort Mitchell City Council,” Mr. Shumate said.

        Previous winners of the award — given to a man and a woman each year — are Clyde and Mary Middleton and Ken and Eileen Harper.

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