And in a change from past elections, five candidates - challengers Rob Sanders, Jerry Stricker and Neil Blunt and incumbents Jerry Bamberger and Alex Edmondson - are reaching out to voters through campaign Web sites.

Overall, eight candidates are campaigning for four commission seats, each with a two-year term. The candidates hope to leave their marks on Northern Kentucky's largest city through better planning, blight reduction, safety and added homeownership.

Several challengers also have called for payroll and property tax breaks and other incentives to increase homeownership, attract new business and encourage expansions.

"I just don't think our leadership is in touch,'' said Tom Schadler, 59, a barber in his third run for city office. "Their priorities are either MainStrasse or the riverfront. Their priorities are not throughout the city.''

In response, several incumbents touted a faÁade improvement program that has been extended from Madison Avenue to Pike and Russell Streets and Rittes Corner. They also cited a program that helps teachers and police with down payments to boost homeownership.

Schadler said Covington's payroll tax, coupled with Kenton County's, is the highest in the area, offering little incentive for small businesses to expand or move to Covington. The Latonia resident pledged to offer incentives such as free downtown commercial rents for five years and to lower Covington's payroll tax.

"I'll be happy to cut the payroll tax as long as you don't cut the basic services that some of the candidates are championing,'' said Edmondson of West Covington. "Show us where you're going to get that extra (money). If they find it, I'll be the first to make the motion.''

Edmondson, 29, a lawyer and developer, says he offers energy, straight talk, leadership and accountability. He fought for legislation that cracks down on "sleazy massage parlors,'' promoted legislation to hold slumlords accountable and lobbied for an arts district to fill vacant storefronts and increase the tax base, he said.

Blunt, a Realtor who formerly headed two public housing agencies in Ohio, cited experience in housing, economic development and planning. The Wallace Woods neighborhood activist said he'd push for more meetings in neighborhoods.

Blunt, 62, wants a five-year comprehensive plan for growth that holds staff accountable by setting deadlines and requiring quarterly progress reports. One of his key goals is developing homeownership zones, or four-block areas next to stable neighborhoods that offer tax breaks to owner-occupied properties for 10 years. The breaks would be transferable if the property was sold.

Stricker, 68, retired chief financial officer of Gradison and Co., also wants to offer incentives to boost homeownership. Appointed city commissioner for nine months in 2000, he has suggested the city offer a 10 percent discount on real estate taxes for owner-occupied housing. He also pledged to support the police and fire forces and scrutinize spending. If elected, he said, he will give his first year's salary of $19,846 to local charities.

Sanders, 32, said his campaign revolves around making Covington "the best possible place to live and raise a family.'' The lawyer and former prosecutor says he'll be the "biggest supporter of police and fire protection that the city commission has ever seen,'' by ensuring they're adequately staffed, equipped and trained.

Sanders says officials need to pressure Kenton County Fiscal Court to move the county jail out of its prime location downtown, and he wants to focus on attracting new housing and fixing up rundown properties. "I believe that over the next five years, we can increase the tax base enough that we can decrease every Covington tax rate,'' he said.

Challenger Jeff Sewell, who says he develops and executes plans daily as a technical assistance manager for the Kroger Co., said that he can offer "a new focus and new ideas.'' He pledged better follow-through on planning and economic development.

Sewell, 37, of Peaselburg, wants to crack down on litter, weeds and unsightly properties to improve the city's image. He favors lowering the payroll, health insurance and net profits taxes incrementally to attract more residents and businesses, and he wants the city to develop a 5- to 10-year plan for infrastructure improvements.

Bernie Moorman, who has 27 years of government experience, pledged to be a watchdog against careless spending. The owner of the Amos Shinkle bed and breakfast in Licking-Riverside also wants to improve planning and make the city more competitive in economic development. He would like to see the city fill the vacancy for assistant city manager for economic development.

Rounding out the field is Latonia resident Bamberger, a 13-year commissioner who said the commission has made public safety a top priority by adding more police and firefighters and improving equipment.

Bamberger, 61,also cited the city's crackdown on blighted buildings and recruitment of new businesses.

During the past six months, expansions by Omnicare and IRS and Club Chef's move to south Covington have generated 850 jobs, he said.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com