BURLINGTON — Boone County political leaders spent Friday wondering whether a GOP candidate's shot at county office will be damaged by criminal charges filed against him by Kenton County.

        Authorities in Kenton County say Republican Tim Alexander, an insurance agent running for Boone County Commission in next year's election, is an employee of Providence, the Covington company that gained national notoriety for an effort to solicit business from the families of Sept. 11 hijacking victims.

        Mr. Alexander did not return a phone call to comment Friday.

        In a story in Friday's Enquirer, he denied having any employment or ownership connection with Providence, whose headquarters is in Covington's RiverCenter Tower.

        Mr. Alexander and a second Boone County man, Tony Lamb, face misdemeanor criminal charges because authorities say they failed to obtain city and county business li censes. Their trial is scheduled for Thursday in Kenton County District Court.

        The city code violation, a misdemeanor, calls for a fine of not more than $500, plus late fees and interest, and a jail term of not more than 90 days for individual defendants.

        The controversy puts Mr. Alexander in a precarious political position. Even Boone County Republicans complained privately Friday about one of their candidates being involved with a company they believe could be seen as trying to make money from the Sept. 11 attacks.

        Boone County GOP Chairman Ed Moore acknowledged concern among party leaders, but he said this was not the time for a rush to judgment.

        “My first concern is for the party, but right now everything is strictly allegations,” Mr. Moore said. “As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Alexander is still our candidate. We're all innocent until proven guilty.”

        Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore, a Republican and political ally of Mr. Alexander, was out of town Friday.

        He said he had not seen the story and knew little about the situation. “I've not talked to Tim at all about this, so I really don't have anything to say,” said Mr. Moore, who attends Florence Baptist Church along with Mr. Alexander.

        Providence provides temporary financing — for a fee up to 360 percent a year — to people hurt in anything from slip-and-fall accidents to natural disasters. If the victims are dead, the company deals with survivors.

        The money is repaid only if a settlement or judgment is reached.

        Democrats had harsh words for Mr. Alexander's alleged activities.

        “To find out (Mr. Alexander) is associated with this company that solicited victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon disasters just a couple of weeks after the tragedy for the purposes of making money is distasteful and shocking,” said Howard Tankersley, a member of the Boone County Democratic Party Executive Committee.

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