The Cincinnati Enquirer

Northern Kentucky will be the site of forums - both large-scale and down-home - for the gubernatorial candidates as the May 20 primary approaches.

At Northern Kentucky University on April 9 and 10, the seven major candidates, three from the Democratic party and four from the Republican party, will present their views in the 2003 Gubernatorial Candidate Forums.

Democrats will appear at 7:30 p.m. April 9, and Republicans will appear at 7:30 p.m. April 10 in Regents Hall on NKU's Highland Heights campus.

The events are sponsored by the NKU Student Government Association with the support of the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement and the NKU political science department. They are free.

"All Northern Kentucky citizens must rally at these events to show that we care about the next governor's commitment to Northern Kentucky," said SGA President Kathryn Herschede. "We cannot depend on someone else to do it for us."

Also, beginning Thursday the Optimist Club of Covington will host its Governor's Candidate Speaker Series. A candidate will be invited every Thursday at noon through April and May.

The events will be held at noon at Walt's Hitching Post restaurant at Madison Pike and Kyles Lane in Fort Wright.

Attendance is $10 per person, which includes lunch.

The first speaker is Rebecca Jackson, Republican candidate from Louisville.