The
Saturday
Magazine
3 DECEMBER 2011
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THE RACE IS ON...
FOLLOWING REP. GEOFF DAVIS'S SURPRISE RETIREMENT, LOCAL POLS PREPARE FOR A RUN
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What if NKY's next Congressman is not from its three most populous counties? Boone and Campbell Counties have owned the seat since 1987 when Jim Bunning of Southgate won the seat after Oldham County's Gene Snyder retired. When Bunning went to the Senate in 1998, Florence's Ken Lucas held the seat for three cycles. Since the 2004 election, Geoff Davis, of Hebron, has retained the seat. Some Republicans are already working to make sure that the next candidate is from farther east. A Draft Thomas Massie campaign has already appeared on Facebook urging the Lewis County Judge-Executive to run:
We need Conservatives from across the state to support Thomas and secure the 4th Congressional district once again in the strong hands of a Conservative, small government representative without the control of lobbyists.Massie won over Tea Party supporters early with a speech in 2011, in which he spoke of liberty and how even your neighbors could turn against you with such evils as a committee and zoning laws. When Lewis County tried to form a planning commission, Massie's political career began. On Lewis County now, "There are no zoning laws in the county, there are no building codes in the county."
That is red meat for the NKY Tea Party that joined forces with the NKY Homebuilders Association to eliminate a planning commission from Kenton County (though their efforts failed when the paid "volunteers" the Homebuilders hired did not collect enough signatures (or too many fraudulent ones) to put the issue on the ballot. Massie is a successful businessman who attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before returning home to buy 1200 acres on which he farms and raises his family. Watch for this guy - if he jumps in, he will be a formidable candidate.
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WHO ELSE IS CONSIDERING?
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| Nathan Smith |
He is well connected in democratic circles, has been a loyal fund raiser and friend to many in Frankfort and DC, reportedly has money of his own and certainly isn't shy about taking the fight to the other side. Smith, a friend of mine by the way, stayed close to Jack Conway, close to Steve Beshear, close to Alison Grimes and hosted Hillary Clinton at his home. He enjoys wider than average name ID within democratic circles having been the former Vice Chair of the state party and has a real knack for the kind of biting political wit that will get him plenty of attention.Read the full post: Bluegrass Bulletin
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Two young guns going at it could make the race to replace Davis an energizing one for the region. Stay tuned: It's going to be an interesting few weeks as candidates scramble to start organizing.
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MORE:
Wait, maybe three Democrats are considering a run: Courier-Journal
Amanda Van Benschoten also takes a look at potential candidates: Cincinnati Enquirer
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Davis's announcement is good news for Democrats as they may have more of a fighting chance to pick up the seat and it is bad news for the GOP if all of these candidates jump in and create a crowded primary field that not only leaves them bruised, but also opens up other seats down the ticket. Already, the race to replace Jack Westwood in the state senate is filling up on the GOP side as a third candidate has entered the race. In a Presidential election year where voter turnout and engagement is traditionally higher, the local races will more interesting than ever.
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in the news...
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STATE REP. KEENE PRE-FILES CASINOS-AT-RACETRACKS BILL
The Democrat from Wilder (who may be representing parts of Covington soon thanks to the Republican tinkering with our city's representational boundaries in their efforts to make it a tougher row to hoe for State Rep. Arnold Simpson) is making the first step to boost up the ailing horse industry:
"We've already passed this out of the House on to go to the Senate and never be heard," Keene said. "If we don't see some kind of movement on the Senate side, there's no sense in voting on this."Herald-Leader/Janet Patton
Rep. Mike Nemes, R-Louisville, also has pre-filed bills to expand gambling with a constitutional amendment to allow the local-option vote.
Keene's bill would allow casinos or limited expanded gambling such as slots or other electronic games of chance in counties with populations of 90,000 or more that already have a track. Churchill Downs in Louisville, and Keeneland and The Red Mile in Lexington would qualify. Ellis Park in Henderson, Turfway Park in Florence and Kentucky Downs in Franklin could be eligible under another rule.
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DERBY CHAMPIONS DESERVE SPECIAL PLACE
Following the death of 1991 winner Strike The Gold, who was kept overseas in Turkey, concerns returned and memories of 1986 champ Ferdinand's death in a Japanese slaughterhouse resurfaced:
Back home in the U.S., Strike the Gold had become little more than a fleeting chestnut memory, summoned more often when the conversation turned to his operatic trainer, Nick Zito, or to the tragic story of his Derby-winning jockey, the late Chris Antley. There will be those who claim Strike the Gold was revered as the oldest of only 17 living Kentucky Derby winners, but if he was such an American icon what was he doing living in Turkey? As Zito once said, “That’s business.”Daily Racing Form
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COVINGTON CHILDREN SHOP FOR PARENTS
The Welcome House has helped make the season brighter for local families again:
Joclyn's family lives in the welcome house of Northern Kentucky's Gardens at Greenup apartments. It's a place for families to live temporarily while they work ,go to school, or both to move beyond hard times. There are 20 families. These are their 52 children shopping at a makeshift Christmas store set up by volunteers called the Garden Girls. "The kids are amazing. That's why I'm here, the kids are so thankful and so loving so appreciative of getting anything."Full story with video at the link.
Each child gets to pick out one gift. One gift and a moment with Santa was all Lily needed. "What did you tell Santa? I want a Barbie doll. What did you get mom? Body wash stuff."
Local 12
SEE ALSO: The Welcome House issued an update on their Facebook page:
Looking for volunteer opportunities over the holiday? Homemade meals are a real treat for the women and children living in our shelter. For more information contact Donna at 859-431-8717.SEE ALSO: The Welcome House newsletter.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM GOVERNOR AND JANE BESHEAR
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SHOP COVINGTON AND GET YOUR GIFTS WRAPPED FREE!
Awesome:
Shop at local Covington businesses this season for a stress free experience. Bring your receipts from gifts purchased at local Covington businesses on Saturday, December 17, between 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Groove Coffeehouse, 640 Main St., and the Awesome Collective will wrap them for free! Stop for a holiday cheer or warm cup of coffee at one of the local establishments while we take care of your wrapping. For more information visit the Awesome Collective Facebook page!
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AUTHOR RICK ROBINSON CORRECTS RECORD ON BOONE CO JAIL
Following a report by a national immigrant rights group that Boone County's immigrant detention facility ranked among the worst in the nation, Ludlow's Rick Robinson paid a visit to check it out. Other than his use of the word "illegal" as a noun (any writer/human should know better), it's a great piece:
The Boone County jail is one of the most regulated and frequently inspected detention facilities in the nation. Because they accept state, federal and ICE detainees, as well as their own county’s prisoners, the facility is inspected by a plethora of government bodies. The facilities are top-notch and the personnel extremely professional.KY Forward
The report complains that the closest immigration lawyers to Boone County, Kentucky are located in Chicago, Illinois. George Free disagrees. Mr. Free practices immigration law from his office in Cincinnati, Ohio (apparently, the legal world doesn’t revolve around Chicago, but I digress). Mr. Free was quoted in a television news report on this story as saying Boone County jail was actually one of the best facilities he has seen.
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EWING'S RETIREMENT LETTER
Patrick Ewing, the man who helped found the Covington Business Council before going on to lead the Economic Development Department for the City of Cincinnati, officially retired Thursday. Here's his letter:
Anyone who knows me understands that my philosophy is that development works best when government and private industry work in partnership to advance mutual interests. The City government, using its resources, can create and maintain an environment that is conducive to business development. Companies commit to invest in capital improvements like real estate and equipment. They create job opportunities for City residents, which enhances that positive business environment. We need each other.Read the while thing by clicking here.
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SEE ALSO: Ewing spoke to the CBC this week and defended Cincinnati's taking of Omnicare and Nielsen from Covington, but also spoke of the ills of incentives packages that corporations use for a while before bolting for somewhere else.
The RC News: No Apologies from Cincinnati on Omnicare or Nielsen
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SD1 GETS A NEW LEADER
David Rager is the new Executive Director of Sanitation District 1:
“I am thrilled to be taking the reins of an organization that has done so much for Northern Kentucky,” Rager said in a news release. “SD1 provides a critical service to the community and is approaching a pivotal point in its history. I am energized at the opportunity to work with the community, the board and the SD1 employees as we tackle the challenges ahead.” Most recently, Rager was director of the Greater Cincinnati Water Works. He left that position in December 2010 after support for a proposed regional water district dried up. He had agreed to stay on as director to help with the regional water district project.Business Courier
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sports
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UK TAKES ON CHATTANOOGA IN FIRST GAME SINCE FIRST LOSS
You can catch the game on Insight channel 505. Great video of the team's first practice following the heartbreaker at Indiana, at the link.
CoachCal.com
A Kentucky fan pointed out an interesting factoid regarding that Indiana game:
17. A 'Christian' soldier I: In Kentucky's epic 1992 NCAA Tournament defeat to Duke, a player named 'Christian' — Laettner — drained a walk-off jump shot to decide the game by one point.
16. A 'Christian' soldier II: In Kentucky's 2011-12 early-season upset defeat to Indiana, a player named 'Christian' — Watford — drained a walk-off jump shot to decide the game by one point.
15. A 'Mason' defender I: In 1992, the Kentucky defender closest to Christian Laettner on his game-deciding shot was a former Mason County High School forward, Deron Feldhaus.
14. A 'Mason' defender II: In 2011, the Kentucky defender closest to Christian Watford on his game-deciding shot was a former Mason County High School forward, Darius Miller.
Eerie. The entire list is worth reading. Herald-Leader/Mark Story
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HOLY CROSS 59, NEWPORT 52
Video at the link.
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story of the week...
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BALLOON LAUNCHED BY KINDERGARTEN STUDENT IN 1988 RETURNED
A school in Lexington used to do a balloon launch in which the students would write a note, put the note in a balloon and then send it off and hope that they would be returned. 1988 was the last year the event took place, but a card was returned to the school 23 years later. The student who launched the balloon was in Kindergarten at the time and is now overseas in the military. Great, great story. Read the whole thing.
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ENJOY YOUR SATURDAY AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR THE SUNDAY EDITION!
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