So that leaves the candidates to talk about their experience, and that's the hot issue in the Campbell Circuit Court race.

Incumbent Judge Julie Reinhardt Ward of Alexandria, the first woman on the Campbell Circuit bench, has the least experience of the four candidates. She has been a lawyer for nine years but was only appointed to the seat this spring by Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher. Because her father, state Rep. Jon David Reinhardt of Campbell County, is also a Republican, she has endured criticism that her appointment was politically motivated. But she contends that the governor would not have appointed her if she wasn't qualified.

The other candidates are:

• Lawyer Steve Franzen, who has 22 years' experience as a prosecutor, public defender, city attorney and staff lawyer for the Kentucky Supreme Court. He has a private practice in Newport. Franzen also sought the gubernatorial appointment.

• Campbell District Judge Greg Popovich has said he is the most qualified because of the nearly 11 years he has spent on the District Court bench. He has also been endorsed by law enforcement labor unions in the county.

• Charles Lester has practiced law for more than 20 years.

Lester, Franzen and Popovich all live in Fort Thomas.

In a survey of about 200 lawyers conducted by the Northern Kentucky Bar Association, Franzen was named "well qualified" by 109 lawyers and "not qualified" by 15.

Popovich was rated "well qualified" by 108 lawyers and "not qualified" by 18. Ward was named "well qualified" by 18 lawyers and "not qualified" by 88. Lester received a "well qualified" score of 11 and a "not qualified" ranking from 48 lawyers.

Popovich has touted his experience on the district court bench, saying he has handled about 75,000 cases.

But Franzen said that means that Popovich has not had the time to deal with the complex cases that come before the higher circuit court. Popovich disputes that assertion.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com