Kentucky Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Mongiardo plans to formally kick off his candidacy today with what politicians refer to as a "fly-around."

In the typical Kentucky fly-around, politicians hit as many airports as they can in one day. The stops almost always include a quick landing and press conference at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

But Mongiardo is skipping Northern Kentucky.

Mongiardo, an eastern Kentucky state senator, is running against incumbent Republican Jim Bunning of Southgate. His tour will take him to Hazard, Lexington, Louisville, Bowling Green, Henderson and Paducah - but not Hebron.

Campaign spokesman Adam Collins said Mongiardo is not trying to snub Bunning's backyard of Northern Kentucky. It's just that the campaign ran into scheduling problems.

"We're not going to Hopkinsville, either," Collins said.

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The National Association of Development has awarded the Congressional Partnership Award to Bunning.

The award is given "for outstanding leadership on federal community and economic development issues related to small metropolitan and rural America," Bunning's Washington office said in a statement.

"Our great commonwealth is a patchwork of many small communities, and it is vital that these communities receive the proper funding from the federal government to build important infrastructure," Bunning said in the statement.

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Nathan Smith has been re-elected chairman of the Kenton County Democratic Executive Committee, while Kim Glenn has been elected vice chairwoman.

The election was held April 24. Democrats elected to the executive committee were: Jeff Groob, Sara Sidebottom, Megan Haake, Nancy Perry, Eric Young, Alex Edmondson, Jim Eggemeier, Mabel Ballinger, Lisa Placke, Mike Baker, Dave Kramer, Rick Ellick, Chris Rottinghaus, Jeanelle Fuson, Brad Burtner, Col Owens, Phyllis Williams and Johnnie Borders.

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State Senate candidate Kathy Groob is holding a "Friends of Education" campaign fund-raiser Thursdayfrom 5 to 7 p.m. at the Fort Mitchell home of Therese Anne and Tim Matthews, 114 W. Maple Ave.

Groob, a Fort Mitchell Democrat, is challenging Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, in November.

"I want to bring attention to the educational funding needs of the five school districts located within the 23rd District," Groob said in a statement. "One of my most important priorities as a candidate and as an elected official is to help all of our educational institutions, including Northern Kentucky University and Gateway Community College, to achieve their full potential so that we are preparing the next generation of leaders in our community."

Kenton County's 23rd Senate District includes Erlanger, Edgewood, Elsmere, Fort Wright, Crescent Springs, Villa Hills, Bromley, Ludlow, Park Hills, Covington and Fort Wright.

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