BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
EDGEWOOD -- Edgewood Mayor John Link thinks his experience in local government makes him the most qualified candidate in a Kenton County statehouse primary.
"I know how government works on the local level from my service on council and as mayor, and I know what our local communities need and want, as well as what they don't want, from Frankfort," Mr. Link said.
"We've done a good job in Edgewood over the last decade. The city has grown, we've added parks, we've added development. I'm ready to take what I know and what I've done as a mayor and apply it to being a legislator in Frankfort."
Mr. Link, 54, a sales representative, is running in the 63rd District House race against Edgewood lawyer John Middleton and Crestview Hills resident Jon Draud, the retired superintendent of Ludlow Schools.
The House district covers Crescent Park, Crescent Springs, Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, Lakeside Park, Park Hills and Villa Hills.
The winner of Tuesday's Republican primary will win the statehouse seat because no Democrat is running. Incumbent Rep. Dick Murgatroyd, R-Villa Hills, is not seeking re-election because he is running for Kenton County judge-executive in the November general election. Mr. Link, president of the Municipal Government League of Northern Kentucky, was among the Kenton County mayors who opposed an effort last year to combine some services provided by both the county and some cities. The move was pushed by former Judge-executive Clyde Middleton and authorized by a state law passed by the General Assembly. "I really learned during that effort that Frankfort just isn't fully aware of how the cities operate, and how they want to operate," he said. "Local government needs a voice in Frankfort, and that's one of the major reasons I'm running."
Other issues Mr. Link said he is concerned about:
Education. Though lawmakers made changes earlier this year to the Kentucky Education Reform Act, or KERA, Mr. Link thinks "additional reforms are needed."
"I see school buses and kids getting off without any books," he said. "We need to return some basics to the classroom, more phonics, things like that.
"The changes made this year were a start, but we need more." Health care. "I've seen my health insurance almost triple in price," he said. "And so have other people.
"Again, the General Assembly made some changes to our health insurance laws and system, but we need to do more to bring competition back into the state."
In recent years most companies offering individual health insurance policies have fled the state because of past efforts by Frankfort to reform the system.
"Bring the competition back, and you'll see premiums fall and stabilize," Mr. Link said.
Development. Government needs to play a role in bringing jobs, development and growth to the region.
Mr. Link said Edgewood council worked with developers to build and improve roads along Thomas More Parkway, which brought in new development and offices that included an expansion by St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
He points out he has been endorsed by the Homebuilders of Northern Kentucky.
"I look at government like it's a business, and the residents are the customers," Mr. Link said. "You have to provide good service to your customers. They're paying for it with their tax dollars, and they deserve a government that is responsive and sensitive to their needs.
"That's how we've been successful in Frankfort, and that's what I'll do in Frankfort."
A Roman Catholic, Mr. Link said he is against abortion in all instances.
This is one in a periodic series of stories on Northern Kentucky statehouse candidates.
