By Patrick Crowley
Enquirer staff writer

Northern Kentucky's labor unions are making an unprecedented push to help elect Democrats to Congress and the Kentucky statehouse this fall.

The Northern Kentucky Labor Council has assigned key political operatives to work with Democratic candidates in November's U.S. Senate and U.S. House races in addition to state legislative campaigns in Campbell and Kenton counties.

While labor unions have long been active in campaigning and raising money for Democrats, this year is the first time that top political handlers have been made readily available to individual campaigns, said Jim Cole, the recently installed president of the Northern Kentucky Labor Council.

"This is something that I thought would be more effective to help us to have an impact in these races," said Cole, an electrician from rural Campbell County and the labor council's former political director.

"They will coordinate labor's efforts, fund-raising, making sure that labor gets money into these campaigns ... that support our issues," Cole said. "They'll organize grass-roots efforts and help with voter registration ... and work actively in the campaigns, getting out signs, going door to door, whatever it takes."

Republicans say the labor council always supports Democrats and the activity is really nothing new.

"It's no surprise that big labor would support liberals like John Kerry and Daniel Mongiardo," the Democratic state senator from Hazard, said David Young, campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning.

Bunning, one of the Republicans targeted by the union effort, is challenged by Mongiardo in Kentucky's U.S. Senate race.

"One more staff person isn't going to save their sinking ship in Kentucky," Young said.

The labor council is an arm of the AFL-CIO and an umbrella organization for about 40,000 members of various unions in the 4th District.

The council has assigned:

• Brad Burtner, who is active with the air traffic controllers union, to work with Kathy Groob, the Fort Mitchell Democrat challenging Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, in Kenton County's 23rd District Senate race. Burtner, of Villa Hills, is the labor council's political director and former president of the Kenton County Democratic Club.

• Dave Guidugli, a member of Cold Spring City Council and an active member of the food workers union, to assist Dennis Keene, the Wilder Democrat running against Wilder Republican Mark Hayden in Campbell County's 67th House District.

• Wayne Whalen, the labor council's president emeritus, to Augusta Democrat Nick Clooney in his race against Boone County Republican Geoff Davis in the 4th Congressional District.

Labor also will assign someone to work with Mongiardo, who is challenging Bunning. That person has not yet been selected, Cole said.

Though historically active in federal, statehouse and even county and city elections, labor has seen its impact and successes diminish over the last two decades as Republicans have taken over much of Northern Kentucky's political landscape.

Still, Kenton County Democratic Party Chairman Nathan Smith welcomes labor's increased involvement.

"It's a very smart idea for the unions because they will have one person who is the contact for that campaign, and that point person can be more effective by concentrating on one race," Smith said.

GOP consultant Brian Richmond of Lakeside Park said more concentrated involvement from the unions is bound to have some impact on Democratic campaigns.

But even with that added attention, Republicans have stronger political organizations in place, particularly the operations formed during Republican Ernie Fletcher's 2003 gubernatorial victory, he said.

"Republicans ... are very well trained in this area at getting out the vote," Richmond said. "The foundation that the Fletcher team laid in 2003 is pretty much still in place. I find it highly unlikely that the Dems can match what the Republicans have already built."

Davis said he is being supported by labor unions, including the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

"Everything we hear from union households is that they plan to vote pretty independent," Davis said. "There are a lot of groups who supported (Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep.) Ken Lucas in 2002 who are supporting me this time, so it's not surprising that Mr. Clooney would be worried enough to bring in some help."

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com