By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - Northern Kentucky Republicans are gearing up for a statewide coming-out party.

IF YOU GO

What: State Republican Convention When: June 5. Candidate workshops at 9 a.m. Registration and committee meetings at 10 a.m. Convention opens to public at 1 p.m. Where: Northern Kentucky Convention Center Information: Republican Party of Kentucky, (502) 875-5130 or www.rpk.org

For the first time ever, the Republican Party of Kentucky will hold its statewide convention in Northern Kentucky. The event, held in presidential election years, will be June 5 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center here.

"It's huge," said Kenton County GOP chairman Greg Shumate, a Fort Mitchell lawyer instrumental in bringing the convention to the region. "It shows how far we've come as a Republican Party in this region, and it shows the rest of the state recognizes the strength of the party in this part of the state."

Republicans dominate politics in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties. In last year's gubernatorial race, Republican Ernie Fletcher carried all three counties with more than 60 percent of the vote. It was much the same for George Bush in the 2000 presidential race. And Kentucky's U.S. senators - Republicans Jim Bunning of Southgate and Mitch McConnell of Louisville - have carried the region by wide margins.

All three county judge-executives - Ralph Drees in Kenton County, Gary Moore of Boone County and Campbell County's Steve Pendery - are Republicans. And GOP state legislators hold 12 of the region's 18 statehouse seats.

State Sen. Damon Thayer of Georgetown, the former vice chairman of the Kentucky GOP, also helped bring the convention here. He said it is a reward of sorts for all the support Northern Kentucky Republicans give state and local candidates.

"Northern Kentucky has grown into perhaps the Republican stronghold of the state over the last 10 years," said Thayer, who represents southern Kenton County in the legislature. "The state's Republican Executive Committee felt the region deserves to host a state Republican convention as recognition of its role in electing" Republicans.

Much of the work done at the one-day convention is organizational. Four-hundred and fifty delegates selected at the county level will choose most of Kentucky's delegates for the Republican National Convention set for late this summer in Boston.

Resolutions suggesting changes or additions to the Republican national political platform will also be voted on. One resolution, written by Kenton County Republican Executive Committee member Ted Smith, proposes a slogan for the Republican Party.

"Ted came up with the Republicans as the party of 'Liberty and Life,' " Shumate said.

The phrase recognizes the Republicans' historic opposition to slavery, one of the founding tenets of the party in the 1850s, and its current fight against abortion.

The convention begins at 1 p.m. At 10 a.m., workshops for candidates will be held.

On June 4, the night before the convention, the delegates are invited to a reception at the Newport Aquarium paid for by corporate sponsorships from, among others, Corporex Cos., the Drees Co. - the home-building company run by Judge Drees - and Greenbaum Doll & McDonald, a law firm where Shumate is a partner.

Immediately after the convention, Shumate will host a campaign fund-raiser at his home for Thayer.

Thayer is opposed in November by Grant County Democrat Cliff Wallace.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com