By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BURLINGTON - Only 25 percent of Boone County's registered Republicans are expected to cast votes in today's primary election. Burlington resident Tom Siler wouldn't miss being among them.

With two Boone County statehouse races decided today, Siler said the stakes for his community are huge.

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"The very fact that Boone County receives only 34 cents of every dollar sent to Frankfort versus 56 cents for Kenton County is mind boggling," said Siler, citing an often quoted economic study on tax inequity in the region.

"This equates very much to taxation without representation," said Siler, a supporter of Charlie Walton in the 11th Senate District primary.

Reflecting the political leanings of Northern Kentucky, it is the Republicans who have the most at stake in today's primary. GOP voters will settle two statehouse races as well as the Republican 4th Congressional District primary.

But turnout will be dismal, election officials say.

Boone County Deputy Clerk Rick Riddell said about a quarter of the county's 30,000 or so Republicans will vote today, making up about 15 percent of total registered voters.

Despite primaries in a state Senate race and in two of the county's largest cities - Covington and Independence - Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor predicts a turnout of 10 percent.

Aylor said there could be a voting surge in Independence, where 16 candidates are running for six seats. The top 12 finishers in today's vote go on to the November General Election.

"I've been telling poll workers if everybody with a sign in their yard in Independence votes, we could have a big turnout," Aylor said.

In Campbell County, where the only local race is a three-way Democratic primary in the northern third of the county, clerk Jack Snodgrass said turnout could be in single digits.

"Nobody really seems to care about this primary even with the Congressional race on the ballot," Snodgrass said.

Here is a look at the races on today's primary ballot.

• U.S. House: Three Republicans - Geoff Davis, Dr. Kelly King and Kevin Murphy - are running for the chance to take on Democrat Nick Clooney in the Fourth Congressional District race.

• U.S. Senate: Republican incumbent Sen. Jim Bunning of Southgate is challenged by Richmond Republican Barry Metcalf, who has done little campaigning. Democrat Dr. Dan Mongiardo, a state senator from the eastern Kentucky mountains, is running in the primary against perennial candidate David Williams.

• 11th District State Senate: Incumbent Republican Sen. Dick Roeding of Kenton County is challenged by Walton, a state representative from Florence.

• 66th District House: In this race, GOP primary lawyer Ed Massey, a member of the Boone County Board of Education, and nurse and health care administrator Addia Wuchner, are running for Walton's statehouse seat.

• 67th District House: Democrats will choose among Campbell County Commissioner Ken Rechtin of Newport, Wilder Councilman Dennis Keene and former Bellevue Board of Education member Carol Rich. Wilder Republican Mark Hayden, a lawyer, is unopposed in the GOP primary. Incumbent House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Callahan of Wilder is stepping down after this year.

• Covington Eleven candidates are on the city commission ballot. Eight will go on after today to seek the four commission seats.

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E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com