By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ERLANGER - Northern Kentucky should be thrilled no matter who wins November's race for governor.

Democrat Ben Chandler and Republican Ernie Fletcher made promises - and more promises - for the region during an hour-long forum Wednesday before more than 200 at Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America headquarters.

"Northern Kentucky is the economic engine for our state," said Chandler. He pledged to work for more funding and an arena for Northern Kentucky University, support "all of the infrastructure needs that we can possibly support" for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and push for federal and state funding to replace the Interstate 75 Brent Spence Bridge, improve Ky. 9 and build new ramps off I-471 in Newport.

Fletcher touted his support from the region's three Republican county judge-executives and also promised to "work hard" on increased funding and an arena for NKU, improvements for Ky. 9, interstate highway interchanges and a replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge.

He also trotted out the "economic engine" description.

"It is important that we do provide the infrastructure, because (the region) is an economic engine," Fletcher said, adding he would open an office in Northern Kentucky to work on the region's issues and problems.

"What I hear up here is that you don't feel like you have an ear in Frankfort to listen to you," Fletcher said. "We are going to resolve that ... (because) we need geographic equity."

The debate was sponsored by Toyota, which limited attendance to employees and area government, political, business and community leaders. The candidates responded to prepared questions read by moderator John Cooper, one of Frankfort's most influential lobbyists.

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Vice President Steve Stevens was somewhat skeptical about promises made during an election campaign. Even so, he was happy to hear the candidates lavish attention on the region's issues.

"What we heard today from the candidates were real needs of the business community," said Stevens.

Chandler maintained his support for a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to legalize casino gambling in Kentucky.

Fletcher, a three-term Republican from Lexington, said he is not for gambling, but the people should have the right to decide the issue.

He said he could balance the state's budget and pay for programs by wringing efficiencies out of a state workforce bloated by political patronage jobs and by cutting spending, which he said has grown at twice the rate of inflation over the last few years.

Fletcher repeatedly inserted his main campaign theme: Changing the culture in Frankfort by voting the Democrats out of the governor's mansion for the first time in 32 years. He followed his usual pattern of not specifically mentioning Democratic Gov. Paul Patton's sex scandal yet repeatedly called for "new leadership" and "restoring trust and integrity" in state government.

"We're at a threshold where we have the opportunity for real change," Fletcher said in closing. "This state has languished far too long."

As he has throughout the campaign, Chandler touted his record as the state's two-term attorney general and former auditor to portray himself as a Frankfort outsider who initiated investigations into Gov. Patton, members of the Kentucky General Assembly, state agencies such as the Transportation Cabinet and dozens of local and county governments.

"One thing that we do agree on is that we have been embarrassed by our government in Frankfort," Chandler said. "As auditor and as attorney general, I have been vigorous in my efforts to fight corruption, to weed out inefficiencies. I have done it consistently ... and this is a political effort to distort the record."

In the forum's most dramatic moment, Chandler referred to his probe as attorney general into the bidding on Kenton County's new courthouse in Covington. Corporex Cos. Chairman Bill Butler, who won the construction bid and was investigated but never charged, was seated in the front row just a few feet away from Chandler.

Though he previously has supported Democrats and Republicans, Butler is co-chairman of Fletcher's Northern Kentucky fund-raising team.

"I have been the one person to fight corruption ... and to blame me for the corruption is like blaming the policeman who is making all the arrests," Chandler said. "... There may even be people here today who have been subject to some of those investigations, and I've got the enemies to prove I've done well as attorney general."

Butler smiled, but otherwise didn't react.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com