COVINGTON — Kenton County Democrats have raised questions about a political donation Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd received from a Lexington architect now working for the county.

        In a unanimous Dec. 4 vote, the Kenton County Fiscal Court authorized Brandstetter-Carroll & Associates of Lexington to design a proposed skate park. Neither the location nor final cost of the park has been determined. County commissioners think the total cost of the concrete park will be around $725,000, which will include the design work.

        Kenton County Democratic Party Chairman Nathan Smith issued a statement Wednesdaypointing out that one of the firm's principals, Larry Brandstetter, and his wife, Susan, contributed $1,900 to Mr. Murgatroyd's re-election campaign.

        The contribution was made on Oct. 31, according to Mr. Murgatroyd's most recent campaign finance report. A Villa Hills Republican serving his first term, Mr. Murgatroyd is being challenged in the November 2002 election by Democrat Patrick Hughes, a Fort Wright lawyer.

        The choice of the Lexington firm was not a choice among a number of bidders, but a professional services contract.

        “We hope this is not a sign that Kenton County is falling into the "good old boy' syndrome,” Mr. Smith said. “But prematurely choosing a campaign contributor for consulting work so soon after such a sizeable contribution was made should certainly cause some eyebrows to be raised.”

        Mr. Brandstetter said his firm had been previously hired by the county to perform a master parks study that has been going on for about six months.

        He also mentioned his firm's expertise is designing skate parks. Brandstetter-Carroll recently designed parks in Florence and in Newtown, Ohio.

        Mr. Brandstetter said the contributions from him and his wife were motivated by their support of Mr. Murgatroyd.

        Mr. Murgatroyd, a former state representative, served for four years with Mr. Brandstetter, also a former lawmaker, in the Kentucky General Assembly.

        “I would support him under any circumstances,” said Mr. Brandstetter, a Republican.

        Mr. Murgatroyd said the firm has worked for years for the county, going back to the design of Mills Road Park, an athletic field complex and park in southern Kenton County that was planned before Mr. Murgatroyd took office.

        Mr. Smith criticized Mr. Murgatroyd for not having a location for the skate park or a means to pay for it.

        “A skate park seems like a good idea, but Mr. Murgatroyd owes it to taxpayers to decide where it will be located, how much it will cost, how it will be paid for and whether cities will participate in it before he starts designing it,” Mr. Smith said.

        Mr. Murgatroyd said the costs will be shared by cities in the county and possibly private donations.

        Brandstetter-Carroll has not been paid anything yet for the skate park project, he said.

        “This is something the mayors in Kenton County have endorsed,” he said. “But we need a design before we can go to them and ask to help pay for it. We are not prepared to move forward with funding until we can get those commitments.”

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