TAYLOR MILL — Kenton County has not shelved the notion of allowing a private company to manage its three county golf courses, according to a county commissioner.

        Barb Black, a Taylor Mill Republican, said she began exploring privatizing golf courses and other county operations more than two years ago after visiting with officials in Indianapolis, largely regarded as the leader in privatizing government services.

        Her comments were in response to a proposal made this week by Patrick Hughes, the Fort Wright lawyer challenging Republican Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd in the November election.

        Mr. Hughes said Mr. Murgatroyd and his administration are ignoring recommendations about golf course operations made nearly two years ago in a report drafted by local government consultant Gerald Newfarmer, the former city manager in Cincinnati.

        In the report, Mr. Newfarmer said the county should explore allowing the courses to be operated by a private company as a way to make more money from them. Mr. Hughes said the county should consider privatizing the courses as well as looking at selling all or portions of the Fox Run golf course so homes could be developed there.

        Mr. Hughes also said the courses are losing money. Mr. Murgatroyd disagreed with Mr. Hughes, but did not completely refute the contention.

        Mr. Murgatroyd also said he does not believe the courses should be sold.

        Mrs. Black responded by saying she took the lead on privatization more than two years ago.

        At the time, she formed a task force to study privatization and asked Mr. Hughes to serve on the panel.

        “Privatization is not dead and the recommendations in the Newfarmer report are not dead,” Mrs. Black said Thursday.

        But Mr. Hughes' proposal shows he does not have a full understanding of the issue, she said.

        “True leadership is demonstrated when you take the time to examine all aspects of not only the question of privatization but also all the possible reasons for periodic negative cash flows, such as what occurs sometimes with golf courses” because of weather and other circumstances, Mrs. Black said.

        But she also accused Mr. Hughes of “jumping on the bandwagon.”

        “It is a lack of experience and leadership that would lead to a proposal that is ill advised and not thoroughly thought out,” she said.

        Mark Guilfoyle, an attorney and political strategist working for Mr. Hughes, said he was “puzzled” by Mrs. Black's comments because it sounds like she and Mr. Hughes advocate more study of the issue.

        “She put Patrick on the task force, and I'm a little puzzled because he and Barb conferred on these very issues,” Mr. Guilfoyle said.

        “Heck, Barb Black has taken the lead on this issue.”

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