Mr. Thayer, the former head of the 4th District GOP, is likely to run for the 17th District Senate seat created during legislative redistricting earlier this year. The seat will cover Scott, Grant and portions of Kenton County.

        The move will allow Mr. Thayer to begin raising money for the race, which he is expected to do immediately. State and local Republican Party leaders have been encouraging Mr. Thayer to run.

        But this is one wacky senate district we're talking about. Lawmakers must have used an Etch-A-Sketch to draw it. Sen. Dan Mongiardo, a Democrat from the mountains in Hazard, was placed in the district, even though he lives three hours away. For that reason, Mr. Mongiardo may drop out of the General Assembly, meaning a special election could be held a lot sooner than '04.

Ducking a debate

        Kenton County Democratic Judge-executive Patrick Hughes is convinced incumbent Republican Dick Murgatroyd is ducking his challenge to debate.

        As early as May 20, Mr. Hughes suggested a debate. The Murgatroyd team responded that its candidate is more than willing to appear at a couple of campaign forums scheduled before Election Day.

        That's fine, Mr. Hughes said. But he wants at least one true debate. Forums are little more than controlled question-and-answer sessions and don't provide a great opportunity for candidates to really debate the issues.

        “What's he afraid of?” Mr. Hughes asked. “Doesn't he want to talk about the issues and defend his record?”

        Deputy Judge-executive Scott Kimmich said Mr. Murgatroyd has agreed to appear at forums and that “nobody in the Hughes campaign is going to dictate the judge-executive's schedule.”

        “We're not going to listen to this from somebody who has been silent on the issues,” Mr. Kimmich said.

        “That's funny,” Mr. Hughes said. “They accuse me of not talking about issues at the same time they are refusing to talk about issues.”

        We'll keep on eye on this debate over debates.

Jailhouse rock

        Boone County Democrat Ray Harris isn't the “warden” at the county jail, but he is ready to “wail” at an Aug. 24 fund-raiser at the Airport Marriott in Hebron.Mr. Harris, who is running for county jailer, has kicked his campaign into gear. He's been meeting with local groups, lining up supporters and raising money as he prepares to try to unseat Republican jailer Ed Prindle in November.

        Mr. Harris, 57, who retired this year from Cinergy, said his 20 years of management and administrative experience will serve him well as county jailer.

        “The job of jailer is not a law-enforcement job, it's a management job,” Mr. Harris said. “I have plenty of management experience, and I know I can do this job and give something back to the community where I was raised and where I raised a family.”

        His platform includes certifying jailers to perform breathing tests on suspected drunk drivers, expanding the work program and allowing all current jail employees to keep their jobs.

        Mr. Harris, like every other candidate running in Boone County this year, will be out campaigning all week at the Boone County Fair, which begins Monday at the fair grounds in Burlington.

A class act

        When Fort Mitchell lawyer Michael Plummer lost the May GOP fiscal court primary to incumbent Commissioner Adam Koenig, he said he would be the first one to stand up and support the winner.

        Mr. Plummer is living up to his promise. He and wife Kimberly will host a Sept. 5 fund-raiser for Mr. Koenig at their home. Donations are $50 a person. The Havana Martini Club Jazz Band will perform.

        Mr. Koenig is challenged by Democrat Mike Baker in the fall.

        Patrick Crowley covers Kentucky politics. He can be at (859) 578-5581 or by e-mail: pcrowley@enquirer.com.

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