Taylor Mill resident Kevin Black has received the Kenton County Republican Party nomination in the fall election for county property value administrator.

Black, a former member of Taylor Mill City Council and the son of Kenton County Commissioner Barb Black, will face Democrat Merrick Krey in November.

Krey, the deputy PVA for 15 years and a 25-year veteran of the office, is serving as interim PVA until the election. He replaced Mark Vogt, who retired as PVA in January after 26 years in office.

In a vote taken Monday night, the Kenton County Republican Executive Committee selected Black over Rodney Eldridge of Taylor Mill, a title examiner for the Cincinnati law firm of Frost Brown Todd.

Originally, eight candidates expressed interest in the office.

"I'm pleased that we had very capable candidates express an interest in the Republican nomination," said executive committee member Ben Stallard of Fort Mitchell. "We look forward to supporting Kevin Black in the upcoming election and know he will do a fantastic job both with the PVA office and working seamlessly with the county support agencies."

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a Southgate Republican, was in Newport Thursday morning to present a $150,000 check to the Hosea House, a social service agency that provides services to the homeless and poor.

Bunning secured the money as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law earlier this year. "The folks at the Hosea House are doing a tremendous job helping to feed and care for some of our most needy in Northern Kentucky," Bunning said

Crit Luallen, Democratic candidate for state auditor, is holding a campaign fund-raiser Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Tropicana restaurant at Newport on the Levee. Contributions start at $100.

Sponsors of the event include U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas of Boone County, House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan, D-Wilder, former state Sen. Joe Meyer of Covington, developer Bill Butler, Democratic Party strategist Mark Guilfoyle, Newport on the Levee developer Barry Rosenberg, Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli, community activist Tom West and business owners Lissy May Plattner, Alice Sparks and Richard Crist.

To submit an item for consideration in Political Notes contact Patrick Crowley by fax, 859-578-5581, e-mail, pcrowley@enquirer.com or mail care of the Kentucky Enquirer, 226 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell, Ky., 41017.