By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Former Northern Kentucky resident Damon Thayer said Tuesday he has the votes necessary to win the Republican nomination for a special state Senate election.

Mr. Thayer, vice chairman of the Kentucky Republican Party and the former head of the 4th District GOP, said he has enough commitments from party officials in Scott, Owen and Grant counties and the southern half of Kenton County to carry the party's nomination into a special election to fill the seat.

The newly drawn 17th Senate District seat is being vacated by Democrat Sen. Dr. Daniel Mongiardo, who is giving up the 17th District seat but holding onto another seat serving Eastern Kentucky. Sen. Mongiardo ended up elected to two seats in a confusing dispute over legislative district boundaries.

"I am confident I have the votes to win the nomination," Mr. Thayer said Tuesday, claiming to have full support of nearly all party officials in Grant, Owen and Kenton counties.

Late last week, the Republican Party executive committee in Scott County - where Mr. Thayer lives - voted 11-4 to endorse Joe Jarboe, a builder and retired U.S. Air Force officer challenging Mr. Thayer.

In an interview Tuesday, Mr. Jarboe conceded Mr. Thayer might have the support to win the nomination for the yet-to-be-scheduled special election.

"He might, I just don't know at this point," Mr. Jarboe said. "(Mr. Thayer) has flashed a list of names under my nose a couple of times. I know I have the Scott County Republicans and I'm coming up to Northern Kentucky to lobby the (Republicans) up there one on one.

"I'm just really trying to impress all the potential delegates to compare qualifications and experience, and then make their best judgment," he said. "That's all I can do, and really, despite what Damon or anybody else says, it ain't over until it's over."

Mr. Thayer said he has the unanimous endorsement of Republican Party officials in Owen and Grant counties and commitments of support from nearly all of the members of the Kenton County Republican Party Executive Committee.

Mr. Thayer moved to Georgetown - the Scott County seat - nearly three years ago to be closer to his job as vice president of marketing for the Breeders Cup/National Thoroughbred Racing Association in Lexington.

Before that, he lived in Georgetown and handled marketing for Turfway Park in Florence. He was also active in Northern Kentucky GOP politics, as a party official in Grant County, as 4th District chairman and as a fund-raiser, organizer and campaign strategist for a number of Republican candidates.

"I didn't expect the Scott County endorsement. Joe has lived there a lot longer than I have," Mr. Thayer said. "But I have the votes in the other counties, a clear indication that the people who know me best know I have the best change of winning this seat for our party."

Two Democrats are also competing for their party's nomination - Williamstown Schools superintendent Cliff Wallace of Grant County and Charles Wells, a labor union official from Scott County.

It is not yet clear how or when the various county parties will select their nominees. Most will either elect or select delegates, who will then vote on the nominations.

But first the special election for the 17th District seat has to be called by Gov. Paul Patton. He has not yet done so because Dr. Mongiardo just resigned the seat last week.

"We'll call a nominating convention as soon as the vacancy occurs, but so far we haven't received any official word of that," said Kenton County Republican Party Chairman Greg Shumate.

Dr. Mongiardo actually lives in Hazard, a community in the eastern Kentucky mountains more than three hours drive from Northern Kentucky. He was serving his first term in the 17th District, which at the time was comprised of Harlan, Bell and Perry counties in eastern Kentucky.

But earlier this year Republicans who control the Senate redrew legislative boundaries, moving Dr. Mongiardo's seat from the mountains to central and Northern Kentucky. Democrats claim the move was designed to force Dr. Mongiardo - who often sparred with Senate Republicans - from Frankfort.

But Dr. Mongiardo spoiled those plans by winning a newly drawn Senate seat in his home county.

That created a potential Constitutional crisis by having one senator holding two Senate seats. Dr. Mongiardo ended the controversy last week when he gave up the 17th District seat, saying the region deserves its own senator.

Brandon Voelker of Taylor Mill, an assistant Kenton County Attorney and GOP activist, is supporting Mr. Thayer.

"Damon knows the area, and that's very important to people in Kenton County and Northern Kentucky," said Mr. Voelker, who considered running for the seat but eventually backed out "because Damon is the best man for the job."

"That's the biggest thing he brings to the table," Mr. Voelker said. "He knows the community, he is familiar with the business community in Northern Kentucky and he knows the issues in the region. He's our best chance at winning the seat."

Mr. Thayer said he has raised $50,000 for the race and has commitments for another $20,000. Both of Kentucky's U.S. senators - Republicans Jim Bunning of Southgate and Mitch McConnell of Louisville - have helped Mr. Thayer raise funds for his campaign.

Mr. Thayer said he expects the nominating conventions to be held within the next few weeks with a special election shortly after.

"I'm ready to hit the ground running," he said.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com