Local political races bustling with activity

It was a week of political announcements, endorsements and debates. Here were some of them:

m U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning announced he has no plans to debate eastern Kentucky surgeon Daniel Mongiardo, his Democratic opponent, before the November election.

m Republican Geoff Davis and Democrat Nick Clooney debated farm issues Tuesday in front of an audience of 4th District farmers. Clooney hauled in endorsements from the Kentucky Professional Firefighters and from the International Association of Fire Fighters on Monday.

m The Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky endorsed two Democrats and three Republicans.

• 4th Congressional District: Clooney.

• 61st House District: state Rep. Royce Adams, D-Dry Ridge.

• Kenton County's 23rd District: Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs.

• Campbell County's 67th House District: Republican Mark Hayden of Wilder.

• 17th Senate District, including parts of southern Kenton County, Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown.

 Three of four Northern Kentucky statehouse candidates said they would support putting a constitutional amendment for gambling on the ballot at a candidate forum Wednesday at Northern Kentucky University. Groob, Hayden and Keene, said the voters should decide the issue. Westwood does not favor gambling, or the amendment.

Police chief of year from Independence

Independence Police Chief Shawn Butler, 39, was recognized by his peers as the Kentucky Police Chief of the Year.

The Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police recently recognized Butler at the association's annual dinner in Louisville.

"Chief Butler's work with the Citizens Police Academy and its alumni association is very impressive," said Maysville Police Chief Van Ingram, the association's outgoing president.

Election filing deadline shows 300 candidates

The Tuesday filing deadline revealed more than 300 candidates running for local offices in November.

Some races of note:

m In a race that has often gone uncontested in recent years, nine candidates filed for six council seats in Crestview Hills. A near-vacant mall is being redeveloped within the city's limits.

m Janet Kerlin Holocher, wife of Fort Mitchell Mayor Tom Holocher, filed at the last minute to make sure there were enough people to serve on that city's city council. There are eight people running for eight seats.

m Former Campbell County Judge-executive Lloyd Rogers will be among eight candidates running for six seats on Alexandria City Council.

In Florence, the second-largest city in Northern Kentucky, all six council members are running for re-election, and there are five challengers. Florence's candidate filing deadline was earlier this summer.

Latonia suit against manufacturer settled

Residents of western Latonia agreed to a $3.75 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against a nearby chemical factory.

They claim the manufacturer slowly poisoned them for 30 years.

Under the settlement, the factory, now owned by Interplastic, has to take steps to prevent further pollution emissions from its incinerator.

The residents reached a $1 million settlement last month with energy conglomerate BP, which sold the factory in October 1993.

Dorothy Brown, 48, of Latonia, said the suit was not about the money. "The most important part is that residents of Latonia will have a better life," she said. "I think this is the first step in the company improving its relationship with the neighbors."