U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning ended last year with more than $3.2 million in cash for his 2004 re-election campaign.

Bunning, a Southgate Republican, is in his first term in the Senate after spending six terms in the House of Representatives. According to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Bunning's campaign committee raised nearly $4.3 million overall and had $3.23 million in the bank at the end of 2003.

For the fourth quarter, Bunning raised $692,415 and banked $571,277, according to a statement from his campaign office.

He has already raised more than the $3.7 million he raised in the 1998 race.

Contributions have come from all of Kentucky's 120 counties.

"The broad-based backing I've received proves that the work we are doing in the Senate is having a positive impact on the families of Kentucky," Bunning said.

Bunning will be challenged by state Sen. Dr. Daniel Mongiardo, a Democrat from Hazard in eastern Kentucky. He has not yet filed a campaign finance report.

Democrat Cliff Wallace, the former superintendent of Williamstown schools in Grant County, has filed to run for the 17th District state Senate seat.

The seat is held by Republican Sen. Damon Thayer of Scott County, the vice president of the Kentucky Republican Party and a former Grant County resident. The seat covers all of Scott, Owen and Grant counties along with 25 precincts in southern Kenton County, including Independence.

Wallace is a lifelong educator who also served as superintendent of Pendleton County schools.

In Newport, Jeff Ballard, who works for the Cincinnati office of the Internal Revenue Service, has filed to run for City Commission.

Ballard, 45, who has lived in the city since 1999, said he is running because he "believes there is a disconnect between the current city administration and the community."

"It's essential that we increase public dialogue about the future development of Newport," he said. "We need a city government that is transparent and works in partnership with the residents and small-business owners. We need a sustainable economic development plan that encourages quality growth without sacrificing quality of life."

Campbell County Commissioner Ken Rechtin, a candidate for the Kentucky statehouse, kicks off his campaign with a rally Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Coconut Grove in Newport.

The event is free and open to the public. Rechtin, a Democrat, is running for the 67th House seat Rep. Jim Callahan, D-Wilder, is retiring from at the end of the year. Rechtin was elected county commissioner in 2002 after serving nine years on the Newport City Commission.

Wilder City Councilman Dennis Keene is also running in the May Democratic primary. No Republicans have filed for the race. The deadline for filing is Jan. 27.

The Kenton County Republican Party's quarterly meeting will be 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at county headquarters, 1939 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright.

Committee members, precinct captains and co-captains, youth captains and elected officials are expected to attend. Plans for the presidential campaign will be discussed.

For information contact party chairman Greg Shumate at (859) 655-6884.

To submit an item to Political Notes contact Patrick Crowley by e-mail, pcrowley@enquirer.com; fax, (859) 578-5565; or mail in care of The Kentucky Enquirer, 226 Grandview Drive, Fort Mitchell, KY, 41017