By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - There will be at least one open seat in this year's Covington City Commission race.

Two-term incumbent Craig Bohman, 30, confirmed Tuesday night that he will not seek re-election. He said commitments in his personal and professional life will take too much of his time to run a political campaign.

Bohman and his wife, Jody Christerson, are expecting their first child in June. He is also in the process of establishing a religious-themed bookstore he wants to open in Latonia later this year, possibly as early as Easter.

"I've always been interested in serving my community," Bohman said. "I think the best way to serve my community now is by being a good father and a good businessman and dedicating myself to those things.

"I'm looking forward to finishing out my term, but with bringing a child into the world and trying to get a business up and running, I had to look at my priorities - and I have just too much going on to worry about a re-election campaign this year," he said.

Bohman's decision leaves an opening for what is typically a coveted spot on the governing body in Northern Kentucky's largest city.

In 2002, nine candidates sought the four seats. So far this year, at least two challengers - former commissioner Jerry Stricker and former county surveyor Jimmy Williams - have filed to run.

The commission's other three incumbents, Alex Edmondson, Bernie Moorman and Jerry Bamberger, are all seeking re-election.

Covington gift shop owner Diane Brumback, who ran in 2002, said she is not running this year. But she will be involved in the race as president of Kentucky Women in Action, a political activist group that plans to endorse candidates in the city commission race.

The filing deadline for the May primary and the November general election is Tuesday.

Bohman, a Republican, said he in the future he may re-enter politics. He also said he will likely endorse a candidate or two in the county commission race.

"We'll have to see how the field looks after the filing deadline," he said.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com