FORT WRIGHT — Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd, elected three years ago with 62 percent of the vote, could soon have an opponent in next year's countywide election.

        County Democratic Chairman Patrick Hughes, 32, a Fort Wright lawyer who has never run for office, said he is strongly con sidering running against Mr. Murgatroyd in the 2002 race.

        Democrats close to Mr. Hughes have said for weeks that he will announce his candidacy in late September or early October.

        A Northern Kentucky native and the son of Covington City Engineer Terry Hughes, Mr. Hughes said he is getting strong encouragement to enter the race.

        “I'm extremely pleased with the encouragement from all sectors of the community,” Mr. Hughes said Friday. “Democrats, Republicans, lawyers, non-lawyers, grass-roots organizers, my friends and family.

        “I'm looking forward to continuing to investigate it, but I'm not prepared to make a formal announcement,” he said.

        Republican leaders are convinced, however, that Mr. Hughes will be the Democratic candidate. And they claim to be unimpressed.

        Kenton County Republican Chairman Greg Shumate said he has seen an e-mail seeking campaign contributions that Mr. Hughes apparently sent to potential donors.

        “I know everybody on our side is starting to get energized,” said Mr. Shumate, a key member of Mr. Murgatroyd's re-election team.

        “The Democrats have a thin bench,” Mr. Shumate said. “(Mr. Hughes) doesn't have the experience. He's never run for office or been elected to anything. But who else is out there for the Democrats? Nobody.”

        Mr. Murgatroyd, of Villa Hills, served two terms in the Kentucky House of Representatives before beating former Covington Mayor Denny Bowman in the 1998 judge-executive race.

        Mr. Hughes said he has executive branch experience because after graduating from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Kentucky law school, he worked for the Kentucky Finance Cabinet for nearly four years.

        He joined the Crestview Hills law firm of Deters, Benzinger and LaVelle four years ago and was elected head of the party late last year. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two small children and belong to St. Agnes Parish in Fort Wright.

        “Kenton County is ready for a new generation of leadership,” Mr. Hughes said. “That's why I'm running. I've got the experience. I've got the ambition, and I think the time is right.

        “I think the Kenton County government can do much more for the future of Kenton County than it's doing right now,” he said.

        Democrats have ham mered Mr. Murgatroyd for voting to raise taxes four times and for being unable to settle on a location for a new county jail.

        “This is absolutely a winnable race,” said Nathan Smith, a Kenton County Democratic Party spokesman. “Dick Murgatroyd ... has been a disappointment as an administrator and it's time for a change.”

        But Democrats have had a difficult time winning races in Kenton County in recent years. The GOP holds all four Fiscal Court seats, as well as the offices of sheriff, jailer and county attorney.

        Villa Hills lawyer Jim Poston, a Republican, said he believes Mr. Hughes can win.

        “This is the right time for him and the right time for the county,” said Mr. Poston, a Hughes supporter. “He has a professional background that gives him excellent experience. He's conservative, he has a lifelong connection to the county and he won't spend money the county doesn't have.”

        But Kenton County Commissioner Adam Koenig, a Villa Hills Republican, said Mr. Hughes is already “$100,000 behind,” a reference to Mr. Murgatroyd's campaign war chest.

        “Nobody knows him,” said Mr. Koenig, who is also up for re-election. “I don't know where he is going to get his money. Too bad they couldn't get the big dogs to run.”

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