By any measure, an incumbent such as Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd, a Republican in what is basically a Republican county, should have far more money at this stage of the 2002 campaign than a little-known Democrat who has neither held nor run for elected office.

        But recently filed campaign finance reports show that said Democrat — Fort Wright lawyer Patrick Hughes — has nearly as much cash as Mr. Murgatroyd.

        Mr. Murgatroyd reported raising $115,000. But after spending a bundle, he has $89,000 in the bank. Mr. Hughes reported $67,000 cash on hand. But when you taken into account a recent fund-raiser Mr. Hughes held — at which the ticket was $500 a couple and nearly 200 people turned out for the event — the Democrats are claiming they have more money right now than Mr. Murgatroyd.

        The Republicans are also spending like a shopper on the day after Thanksgiving.

        Dig these outlays:

        • $400 a month rental on a campaign headquarters at Ritte's Corner in Latonia.

        • A $100 contribution to the campaign of U.S. Rep. Ernie Fletcher, a Lexington Republican who represents Kentucky's 6th District. Do Mr. Murgatroyd's supporters really want him taking their contributions and giving them to a pol in Lexington?

        • $700 to attend and sponsor holes at three golf outings.

        Republicans claim they aren't worried, that they'll have plenty of money for the race. They also said they would have $115,000 cash when they filed Mr. Murgatroyd's finance report, but they weren't even close.

        “I know the spin the Democrats are going for,” said Kenton County GOP chairman Greg Shumate. “They are going for momentum.

        “But that's not the case,” he said. “We haven't even held a campaign fund-raiser yet for Murg other than a tribute to him (in May). Don't forget, we didn't even have a candidate until a month ago.”

        Well, you have a candidate now. Show us the money. If there is any to show.

Give me the five-way

               That's not an order at a chili parlor. That's how the field could shake out in a fiscal court GOP primary.

        Republican incumbent Adam Koenig already has one opponent, Fort Mitchell lawyer Michael Plummer. Earlier, former county commissioner and nouveau Republican Steve Arlinghaus, who was a Democrat when Mr. Koenig beat him in 1998, and Erlanger Mayor Marc Otto all said they might get in the primary.

        And now there is word a fifth Republican — one not ready to go public — is thinking about getting in.

               Former Newport City Commissioner Tom Ferrara, who held office in the late 1970s into the 1980s, may run for his old City Hall seat.

        At least one seat on the City Commission is opening, with incumbent Ken Rechtin leaving it to run for county commissioner.

        Mr. Ferrara was elected as a neighborhood activist and reformer who helped take Newport out of its corruption-plagued past.

        He still has good name recognition in the city and would likely be a formidable candidate if he gets in the race. A decision is expected soon.

Salt for that wound?

               Ever thought you would see the day when Cincinnati politicians were using the success of Northern Kentucky in their campaign ads?

        That's what happened in Cincinnati's City Council race, when the top vote-getter, Democrat David Pepper, said Cincinnati needs to be more like Newport and Covington when it comes to riverfront development.

        And Gov. Paul Patton got in a gentle dig at the Queen City when he was in Newport last week helping formally dedicate the stunning $210 million Newport on the Levee, one of the projects fueling Cincinnati's development envy.

        During a speech, the governor referred to Cincinnati as “that northern suburb” of Newport.

        Ouch. That has to hurt.

        E-mail at pcrowley@enquirer.com. Past columns at Enquirer.com/columns/crowley.

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