By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ERLANGER - Some of the biggest names in Northern Kentucky's business community have endorsed congressional candidate Kevin Murphy.

Among those backing Murphy's campaign are: Wayne Carlisle, president of Maxim Crane Co.; Bill Yung, president of Columbia Sussex Corp.; and Huff Realty chairman Jim Huff.

In a statement about the endorsement Friday, Murphy said he was "thrilled that a group of Kentucky's finest business leaders would come forward and endorse my candidacy and (looking)forward to having their help in my campaign."

Murphy, an Erlanger lawyer, is running in the 4th District Congressional GOP primary against Boone County business consultant Geoff Davis. The primary election is in May, with the winner taking on Democrat Nick Clooney of Augusta in the fall of next year.

Incumbent Rep. Ken Lucas, a Boone County Democrat, announced recently he will not seek a fourth term next year.

Murphy says he will aggressively pursue support from area business leaders, many of whom backed Lucas in his previous three campaigns.

Murphy said he "supports free trade, abolishing the dividend tax, giving people more freedom to decide how their Social Security funds are invested and cutting taxes on American companies."

"Murphy is unapologetically pro-business and the most pro-business candidate currently running for Congress," said Dennis Griffin, chairman of Griffin Industries.

Others businessmen supporting Murphy include John Yeager, president of Ashley Development, and lawyer Bill Robinson, managing partner of Greenebaum, Doll and McDonald.

Davis recently picked up some support from political action committees, or PACs, representing Covington-based Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Hospital Association. Davis has said business supports him because of his background as a manufacturing consultant specializing in increasing efficiencies of plant operations.

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E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com