By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

INDEPENDENCE - A record 16 candidates have filed to run for city council here, largely because of concerns about spending and how to manage this Kenton County suburb's explosive growth.

Candidates include Marcus and Margaret Cook, a husband and wife making their first run for office; Joanne Cobble, a retiree who helped lead last year's fight against a city insurance tax; and former mayor Jim Kudera.

Voters will narrow the field to 12 in Tuesday's primary. They'll choose six in November for a two-year term that pays $3,000 a year.

As Kentucky's largest city in terms of land area, it takes police about 25 minutes to get from one end of Independence to the other. Most candidates agree that more police are needed to patrol the city's nearly 17 square miles but differ on how to raise that money.

"With the number of officers we have now, it is virtually impossible for them to cover the entire city at any given time," said Daniel Koch, 41, a lifelong resident who serves on the board of adjustments.

Koch pledged to set a budget and stick to it, seek grants to help the city run more efficiently and support the proper blend of residential and commercial growth so the city maintains its "hometown country-type atmosphere."

"Positive growth is an issue that will require a lot of our attention," said Mike Little, 42, a challenger who has served on the city budget committee. "We still want a family-friendly atmosphere in our community, but we need to broaden the industrial and retail tax base to relieve some of the tax burden from our citizens."

Jim Bushong, 61, is a 20-year resident and recent retiree serving his second term on council. During his tenure, Bushong said he has opposed tax increases, especially last year's proposed insurance tax. He said council needs to market the city better to get more businesses and increase its tax base.

Mary Pat Behler, 48, serves on a number of community boards and is a graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky.

"We have to provide daily services that people expect in a fiscally responsible manner, but we also need to plan for the future," she said.

As most of the city is zoned residential, Behler said council needs to work closely with planners to change zoning and bring more business to the city, especially service industries. She pledged to lobby state legislators to ensure road projects such as Ky. 17 and Ky. 536 are finished.

Randi Gerig, 36, a 12-year Independence resident, is in the Independence Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and the special events committee that coordinates everything from the Christmas Walk to Fourth of July festivities.

The customer service manager would like to build and fix more sidewalks, improve parks by adding more restrooms, playing fields and parking, and improve safety, largely through properly trained and equipped emergency responders.

"We need to promote more business growth to generate more revenue," Gerig said. "We need to become more proactive in managing our future instead of reacting to issues as we have in the past."

Dave Millward, 58, is retired from Cincinnati Bell Information Systems and served on a city budget committee that recommended more than $500,000 in savings.

Millward said he wouldn't support any significant tax increases without putting them to a vote. He said the city needs to work with federal and state lawmakers to improve roads, especially Ky. 536, to attract more office complexes, restaurants and light industry.

Kent Kelso, 43, is a four-year resident who said he wants to correct poor decision-making he says he's seen. As the dean of students at Northern Kentucky University, he said he has experience in budget and personnel matters.

Kelso said he will support business and help market the city to prospective businesses.

"No city can survive on residential taxation alone," Kelso said. "We have to have business growth."

Although they aren't running as part of a formal slate, Cobble, 56, said that she and four other challengers - Little, Jeff Hemsath, 30, a Fidelity Investments employee, and the Cooks - are running largely to make sure the city doesn't try to impose an insurance tax. Cobble pledged to monitor the budget for wasteful spending and to give residents a voice.

Recent council appointee Tom Brinker, 40, has lived in the city nine years. He is a member of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and past treasurer of the Special Events Committee.

Brinker pledged to help the city live within its budget. He also said he would lobby for the completion of Ky. 17 to open up the city for commercial development and light industry.

Carol Franzen 33, serves on the Northern Kentucky Consensus Committee, which helps state legislators decide what's important to the region, and is on the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, which she says can help with the completion of Ky. 17.

Franzen said that she considers herself fiscally responsible and encouraged taxpayers to check her voting record.

She said city officials need to bring more light industry and retail into the city. "That will help increase to increase our payroll tax base, which will bring income into the city."

Incumbent Donna Yeager, 70, who has a history of community activism, also is on the ballot.

George Sanders, 61, is a retired pressman and 10-year resident who pledged to do everything he can to add one police officer a year.

"With all the homes being built each year, I feel we need to get the numbers of our street officers up," he said.

Sanders said he would impose tax increases "only as a last resort," and would like to see the city aggressively recruit small businesses.

Jim Kudera, 68, said he brings his business experience and his extensive church and civic involvements to council.

"I know that you can't spend more money than you have," Kudera said. "And I know that you should have a plan for tomorrow. This city lacks a vision."

Kudera would like to see Independence attract more "Citibank- and Fidelity-type buildings."

"Why should people spend over $2 a gallon to go across the river when their needs can be met closer to home?" he asked.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com