COVINGTON — In the 24 years Democrat Mark Vogt has served as Kenton County Property Valuation Administrator he has never faced a political opponent in an election. But that could change next year.

        At least one Republican is taking the state test that PVA candidates must pass, and “several others” have expressed an interest in running for the office, which assesses the county's $6.6 billion in property, Kenton County GOP Chairman Greg Shumate said Thursday.

        Mr. Shumate would not name the potential candidates but expressed optimism that at least one Republican challenger would emerge.

        From a statement released this week announcing his candidacy, Mr. Vogt made it clear he intends to run on a platform of improved services and technology offered by the PVA's office. The PVA's office “is a technical office and not a political one,” Mr. Vogt said.

        Hired by the county PVA office in 1975, Mr. Vogt, 48, became PVA in 1977. The PVA is charged with assessing the value of property for tax purposes and maintaining information on real estate.

        In Kenton County the PVA is responsible for assessments for 20 cities, five school districts, six fire districts, four special taxing districts and unincorporated areas of the county.

        The office has 18 full- and part-time employees and an annual budget of $1.5 million.

        Since Mr. Vogt took office, the county's property assessment has increased $5 billion to $6.6 billion as the number of parcels assessed for tax purposes has grown from 39,800 to nearly 65,000. Mr. Vogt said he has kept up with growth by improving technology of the PVA's office, including mapping the entire county by real estate parcels on a computerized satellite system.

        In 1998 the Kenton County PVA's office was one of the first in Kentucky to go online with real estate information, including the assessed value and sale history of all properties in the county.

        The office is in the process of adding real estate information from the Kenton County Clerk's office, Mr. Vogt said.

        Though he doesn't yet have an opponent — the filing deadline is in late January — Mr. Vogt is planning a campaign fund-raiser for a date to be announced in January.

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