FORT WRIGHT — There may be not be an election in Kentucky Tuesday, but Kenton County Republicans are going to be partying as if there is.

        Hundreds of Northern Kentucky GOP officeholders, officialsand supporters are expected to gather Tuesday for an Election Night fund-raiser at the Drawbridge Inn in Fort Mitchell.

        Money raised at the event will be used by the party to get out the vote in next year's Kenton County elections, said Kenton County Republican Party Executive Committee Chairman Greg Shumate.

        “Although no elections are scheduled in Kenton County this year, we decided to carry on the tradition of having an annual event for all Northern Kentucky Republicans on the first Tuesday in November,” Mr. Shumate said Friday.

        “We decided to use the opportunity ... to serve as a fund-raiser for next year's elections,” he said.

        Event organizer Tony Milburn said the night will not be dominated by political speeches. Instead, there will be live music, a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres.

        “We will have wide-screen televisions covering the Cincinnati mayor's race and other elections which have national importance,” Mr. Milburn said.

        Mr. Shumate said the event is also designed to build unity within the party, which faces several potentially contentious primaries in May.

        Candidates, including those with primary opponents, have been selling tickets for the event, he said.

        “This unified group effort typifies the type of campaign which the Kenton County Republican Party expects to mount next year,” Mr. Shumate said.

        “As is necessary in good government, our Republican officeholders will disagree from time to time with regard to issues, policies, county business and in other decision-making functions. But our candidates have always come together and rallied around the Republican cause in general elections,” he said.

        The guest speaker for the event is state Rep. Steve Nunn, a Republican from Glasgow in western Kentucky who is considering a run for governor in 2003.

        Tickets are $30 and are available from executive committee members and Republican candidates. They will also be available at the door the night of the event.

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