More than 300 candidates in three Northern Kentucky counties filed for municipal offices ranging from mayor to school board to magistrate by Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline.

        Across the region, mayoral races are being contested in cities where the top slot has formerly been an uncontested cakewalk.

Kenton County Deputy Clerk Cheryl Rust goes over papers for Gary Rolfson, incumbent Ludlow City Council member, as the 4 p.m. filing deadline approached Tuesday. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Some smaller cities are looking for a write-in candidate — any write-in candidate — as new state laws go into effect requiring write-ins in even the tiniest cities to pre-register.

        In fast-growing Walton, where population has increased as much as 43 percent since 1990, 12 candidates are vying for the six slots on City Council.

        And in the city of 2,450, incumbent Mayor Phillip W. Trzop faces three challengers, Lee R. Frakes, Theodore Steward and Arthur A. Meisberger.

        An incumbent husband and a challenger wife are among those vying in the Walton City Council race.

        Richard Roberts, 43, 2-term incumbent, and owner of a landscaping company is running for another term.

        His wife, Romona Roberts, 41, is running for her first term. She ran last time but didn't win.

        “I feel the city needs people to speak up for the city. Nobody (on the current council) has an opinion . . . nobody questions anything, it's just "yes, yes, yes.' I feel they need a voice,” Mrs. Roberts said about her decision to run for the seat.

        Mrs. Roberts allowed that her husband isn't one of the people without an opinion on council, but noted, “We don't always agree. I'm sure there's a lot of husbands and wives that don't agree. I feel it would be a nice mixture.”

        Also prominent in the list of candidates for Walton City Council are residents of High Street, where a disputed replacement railroad bridge is a major issue. Five of the 12 candidates for Walton City Council live on High Street.

        And eight people are hoping to be elected to three slots on the Kentucky Soil and Water Conservation Commission, which deals with growth and its impact.

        In Union, also on the grow, six candidates want to fill four open city commissioner chairs. Don Kirby is running uncontested for Union mayor.

        In Florence, former law enforcement officer Rick White has filed to challenge incumbent Mayor Diane Ewing Whalen.

        In Boone County races, Democrat Shawn Carroll has filed to challenge Republican Judge-executive Gary W. Moore and three men, Republican Edward Prindle, Democrat Ray C. Harris and Jon E. Hall are running for jailer.

        Republican J.R. Schrand and Democrat Howard L. Tankersley will face off in November for the county attorney seat and Democrat Marilyn K. Rouse and Republican Jay Hall will vie for the county clerk position.

        Most other county races, including property valuation administrator, sheriff, coroner, and most constable and magistrate seats are uncontested.

Lists of candidates: Campbell | Boone & Kenton
Seven Kenton mayors opposed
       

Deaths of 4 teenagers devastates Goshen
Deerfield mall wins zoning OK
Cops and community cooperate in Evanston
Florence ready to play ball, y'all
Memories and history converge at Lunken
Library lists other funding options
Norwood to refine GM land proposal
Obituary: Yousef Samarghandi
Police reform efforts drag on
Tristate A.M. Report
BRONSON: Finish this
GUTIERREZ: 'Rich' schools
HOWARD: Some Good News
KORTE: City Hall
SMITH AMOS: Neighborhood gem
Mall's developers seek new zoning
Man dies in police custody
Mother, 2 children injured in collision
Prosecutor: Son knew dad not killed Sept. 11
Ring comes through OK
Street plan angers neighbors
Televised meetings a turn-on
Cleveland voucher applications up
Anti-gang program hopes to warn kids of dangers
Boone jail thwarts escape try
Kentucky News Briefs
More candidates, more competition
Newport Promenade retail bogs down
Not everyone gets free ride this time
Students may face drug tests
UK to add 11 blacks to faculty this fall