FORT MITCHELL — Touching on an election year theme quickly becoming the Kenton County Democratic Party mantra, lawyer Mary “Kate” Molloy called for change Friday in announcing her bid for county attorney.

        “It is time for a change. It is time for new leadership in Kenton County,” Ms. Molloy said to a crowd gathered at the Fort Mitchell Holiday Inn. “We need county officials who take charge, who make decisions, who respond to the needs of their constituents, and who do so in a fiscally responsible way.”

MOLLOY FILE

• Age: 45   • Occupation: Lawyer, partner at Arnzen & Wentz, Covington   • Residence: Crescent Springs   • Education: Holy Cross High School, Latonia, 1973; Northern Kentucky University, bachelor's degree in history (cum laude), 1977; Salmon P. Chase College of Law, 1980.   • Professional memberships: Kentucky Bar Association; Northern Kentucky Bar Association; Kentucky Defense Counsel; Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court; Ohio State Bar Association.

        Ms. Molloy is challenging two-term incumbent Garry Edmondson, a Fort Wright Republican elected twice as a Democrat. He switched parties last year and now faces a GOP primary challenge in May from Independence lawyer Eric Deters.

        About 100 people turned out for the announcement, including a strong presence from Northern Kentucky's legal community. Democrats are calling for change as they try to win back some of the Kenton County courthouse seats taken in recent years by Republicans.

        Patrick Hughes, the Fort Wright lawyer challenging Repub lican incumbent Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd, has said the county needs “a new generation of leadership.”

        Ms. Molloy, 45, a partner in the Covington law firm Arnzen & Wentz, has never held elected office but has worked on judicial campaigns in Northern Kentucky. She was also a staff attorney from 1980 to 1984 for former Kentucky Court of Appeals Chief Justice Bruce Lester.

        “I have not run for elective public office before,” Ms. Molloy said. “I have, however, worked on other campaigns and I believe I know what it will take to be elected Kenton County attorney.

        “I have achieved some measure of success as a trial attorney for the past 18 years because of considerable drive and determination,” she said. “I will focus that drive and determination first upon this campaign, and then upon making the office of Kenton County Attorney one which is a source of prompt, sound legal advice for county government and other county officials.”

        Mr. Edmondson did not comment on Ms. Molloy's announcement.

        Mr. Deters said said he is “busy practicing law” and will refocus on the race early next year.

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