By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ERLANGER - Fifty-year-old Steve Nunn spent his teenage years in the governor's mansion. On Thursday, he began a campaign to move back in.

Mr. Nunn, a state lawmaker and son of former Gov. Louie Nunn - Kentucky's last Republican governor - kicked off his own gubernatorial campaign with a statewide swing included a stop at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

STEVE NUNN

Nunn Office sought: Governor Political party: Republican Age: 50 Hometown: Glasgow, Ky. Occupation: Consultant/physician recruiter, TJ Samson Hospital Wife: Tracey Education: Frankfort High School, Transylvania University Political experience: Six terms as state representative of the 23rd Legislative District in Western Kentucky; son of former Gov. Louie Nunn, the last Republican (1967-71) to serve as governor; White House intern in 1974, was present in the White House East Room when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency.

ROBERT HELERINGER

Office sought: Lieutenant governor Political party: Republican Age: 51 Hometown: Louisville Occupation: Lawyer Wife: Cindy Education: Trinity High School, Xavier University, University of Louisville School of Law Political experience: 11 terms as state representative of the 33rd Legislative District in Jefferson County; retiring at the end of this year; co-chaired Jack Kemp's 1988 presidential campaign.

Mr. Nunn's wife, Tracey, and Bob Heleringer of Louisville, the state lawmaker who is Mr. Nunn's lieutenant governor running mate, joined him on the tour. About 30 supporters greeted the trio at the airport.

"I'm pleased to stand before you today in Northern Kentucky and say the people are ready for a Republican governor," Mr. Nunn said. "And the people are ready to get behind and work for Steve Nunn to be that governor."

Mr. Nunn had discussed the lieutenant governor slot with Rep. Jon Draud, R-Crestview Hills.

Mr. Draud eventually pulled his name from consideration but is still supporting Mr. Nunn and introduced him at Thursday's announcement.

"A good Republican can really make a difference in the lives of the people of our state," Mr. Draud said. "(Mr. Nunn) believes that Northern Kentucky is the engine for the state in economic development and that Northern Kentucky will be a real leader in (his) administration."

Mr. Nunn said his decision to select Mr. Heleringer, a fiery lawmaker who was known to cross the aisle and side with Democrats on some issues, was at least partially motivated by geography and the large GOP base in and around Louisville.

"There are almost 150,000 Republicans in Jefferson County. You bet that was a consideration," Mr. Nunn said.

Kentucky last elected a Republican governor 35 years ago, when voters sent Mr. Nunn's father to Frankfort in 1967.

Mr. Draud, the former superintendent of the Ludlow schools and an instructor at Northern Kentucky University, said he is impressed with Steve Nunn's pledge to make education a priority.

"We've got to make education a top priority ... to improve the prosperity of the people of Kentucky and I know (Mr. Nunn) shares that belief," Mr. Draud said.

In the Republican primary, Mr. Nunn will compete against Rep. Ernie Fletcher of Lexington and others. Mr. Fletcher's running mate is Oldham County lawyer Hunter Bates, a choice that led Mr. Nunn to openly question Sen. Mitch McConnell's neutrality in the GOP primary.

Mr. Bates was Mr. McConnell's campaign manager this year and chief of staff before that.

Earlier Mr. McConnell pushed Mr. Bates to run for Northern Kentucky's Fourth Congressional seat in 2004, a move that angered many area Republicans who thought Mr. McConnell was abusing his considerable political clout by touting his former staffer for the seat.

Though Mr. Nunn has been openly critical of Mr. McConnell, he was less harsh toward the senator on Thursday.

Alice Sparks, a University of Kentucky trustee from Crescent Springs, said Mr. Nunn has long been committed to education as a member of the General Assembly.

"That's one of the main reasons I'm here," Ms. Sparks said. "Steve Nunn has a record of supporting education at all levels, including higher education."

Gov. Louie B. Nunn authorized the establishment of the community college that grew to become Northern Kentucky University. Nunn Drive on the NKU campus is named for him.

But Ms. Sparks concedes that it will be difficult for Steve Nunn to win Northern Kentucky over Mr. Fletcher, who has rounded up considerable GOP support in the region, including the backing of the judge-executives in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

"It's going to be tough. Fletcher has a lot of support up here," Ms. Sparks said. "But I think Steve has better name recognition across the state and I think he's probably the front runner at this point."

Bob Williams of Union, a well-known and decorated World War II veteran active in local GOP politics, said Mr. Nunn's father - who does intend to campaign for his son - will be an asset.

"I like Steve and I like his daddy," Mr. Williams said. "People, especially Republicans, liked Louie Nunn and the job he did. That's really going to help Steve in the primary."

"I'm concentrating on my own race," he said.

Another Republican considering a run, Jefferson County Judge-executive Rebecca Jackson, has said she plans to make an announcement after finishing her term on Jan. 6.

At least four other Republicans have also created exploratory committees for gubernatorial campaigns or filed their candidacy papers. The primary will be May 20.

Democratic contenders for governor are state House Speaker Jody Richards and Attorney General Ben Chandler, grandson of Albert B. "Happy" Chandler, a former Kentucky governor and senator.

Lt. Gov. Steve Henry, a Democrat, has been organizing a campaign but remains plagued by a lawsuit in which the federal government alleges he overbilled government health programs for his work as an orthopedic surgeon.

The Associated Press contributed.

E-mail Patrick Crowley at pcrowley@enquirer.com