by Michael Monks
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Rumors have been circulating for several weeks that Covington Mayor Denny Bowman was planning to leave the office he returned to following the 2008 election. From city staff and public workers to the rest of the elected commissioners, there have been different stories and possible reasons circulating. Recent city commission meetings have found Bowman on the losing side of several 4 - 1 votes, with Bowman recently expressing his disappointment in not only the way city government operates, but also the actual city-manager form of government under which Covington is ruled.
The River City News has learned from a source close to the situation that Bowman plans to leave office at
the end of September, but the exact reason or reasons for the departure remain(s) unclear. Bowman declined an in-person interview request following Tuesday night's meeting and has not responded to multiple phone calls and emails requesting a conversation. There were rumors that he may leave at the end of the year, or at the end of October, but the September date may be more believable as most of the commissioners told the River City News (though none has verified information that the Mayor will step down) that Bowman has been distant lately.
"It's been the case for some time that the mayor has been distant," said Commissioner Sherry Carran, who already publicly announced her plans to seek the mayor's job in 2012. As for a looming Bowman resignation, "I'll believe it when I see it," Carran said.
"If I picked up the phone and he didn't call me back I'd understand," said Commissioner Steve Frank. "But when Shawn (Masters) emails or calls and he doesn't respond, people could interpret that any number of ways. Either he's just plain mad at everybody or he is just not into whatever he does as mayor."
"I haven't spoken to him personally in the last several weeks," Commissioner Masters said. "I have made a couple of calls and he hasn't been available and he hasn't returned them."
"I know he's frustrated that he's the lonely voice, 4 to 1," Frank said. "If he were to step down I'm sure it's not because he doesn't love Covington or because he feels less attached. He may need to deal with his own situation."
READ: Mayor Versus World At City Hall
The mayor said a couple weeks ago that he had not been feeling well, so there has been speculation that health, either his or someone close to him, may be a factor in the mayor's decision. "I will be dismayed because what I believe is the substance of the rumor has to do with some personal family issues for the mayor," said Commissioner Steve Casper. "I don't believe it has to do with the commission itself."
Though the rift between the mayor and the four commissioners is apparent by the recent pattern of 4 - 1 votes, including the most controversial, the passing of a new city budget that resulted in layoffs, early retirements and demotions of city employees. The mayor recently accused City Manager Larry Klein and others of selecting some workers for demotion or dismissal because of the employees' personal association with Bowman.
The mayor's most recent public appearance was at Wednesday's ribbon cutting for the new HealthPoint medical office on Madison Avenue. Bowman will not deliver the ceremonial proclamation to start this weekend's annual Oktoberfest in Mainstrasse Village.
"Nobody is rooting for him to resign," Frank says. "I don't agree with all his politics but as a person, I'm sincerely concerned for him and what may be going on that I don't know about." Frank noted that Bowman and his father, Carl, also a former mayor worked for Frank's family at Frank's Men's Shop on Pike Street when the commissioners father passed away in the 1960s.
Should Bowman step down, a commissioner would need the unanimous support of all three other commissioners to be elevated to the position of mayor. Then, the commission would need a majority vote to appoint someone to fill the vacated commission seat. By state statute, if the commission does not appoint a new mayor within thirty days, Governor Beshear will make the decision with the assistance of the Kenton County Democratic Party.
A change in the city's leadership would come at a tumultuous time as two major employers, AC Nielsen and Omnicare look to move their locations and their $1.5 million contribution to payroll taxes elsewhere. A financial blow like that would likely result in another round of potential layoffs. In addition, the new City Center Action Plan to revive downtown and the central business district is in its infancy.
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MORE STORIES ON THE HOMEPAGE: The River City News
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