Sunday, August 29, 1999
Pasta, politics like oil and vinegar
Guidugli picnic becomes a must for Dem aspirants
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLD SPRING — The pasta, politics and temperature were all steaming Saturday night at an Italian-American family picnic that has become the premiere Democratic event in Northern Kentucky.
The Guidugli family, a Campbell County clan with members who hold offices or are just active in Democratic politics, started the picnic years ago as a family event.
It has evolved into a political and community gathering that attracts local Democrats as well as statewide office holders and candidates.
“If you're in politics, or you want to be in politics, you better be here,” said Kentucky House Majority Caucus Chairman Jim Calla han, a Wilder Democrat.
Gov. Paul Patton, who hasn't missed the event in eight years, compared the event to the “family picnics, church socials, corn huskings, bean stringings and pie suppers” he remembers from growing up in the eastern Kentucky mountains.
“This family represents Kentucky and America as well as any family I know,” Mr. Patton said shortly after arriving at the picnic. “They are close, they are well-re spected in the community, they are involved ... and this represents the way I grew up.”
Mr. Patton also noted the political significance of the event.
“Anytime you find a crowd you're going to get aspiring politicians,” he said. “We hunt crowds.”
A crowd of almost 400, one of the largest turnouts in the last few years, weath ered humidity and temperatures in the mid-80s to socialize, enjoy soft drinks and cold beer and gobble down 11 trays of pasta, 350 hot dogs and Italian sausage, and pounds of salad and garlic bread.
“I know a lot of people and politicians come for the politics,” said Dave Guidugli, the picnic host. “But I think most people just come because it's such a good time.”
Dave Guidugli is a Cold Spring councilman and labor leader. His twin brother, Dan, is a Kentucky Court of Appeals justice and his sister, Mariann Guidugli Dunn, is the Democratic candidate for Campbell County property value administrator this fall.
Mr. Patton and Lt. Gov. Steve Henry — who has been to the last seven Guidugli picnics — are up for re-election in the fall, facing only a nominal challenge from Republicans Peppy Martin and Wanda Cornelius.
So, much of the buzz at Saturday's picnic was about the 2003 governor's race. The talk was spurred by the appearance of Mr. Henry and Attorney General Ben Chandler, who are expected to compete for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination along with House Speaker Jody Richards of Bowling Green in four years.
“This is a good chance for the downstate politicians to increase their name recognition in Northern Kentucky,” said labor leader Wayne Whalen of Grant County, the president of the Northern Kentucky Labor Council.
Neither Mr. Chandler nor Mr. Henry would explicitly say he was running for governor. But many in the crowd were convinced both were campaigning for the next governor's race.
“I think everybody pretty much knows both of them are going for governor,” Dave Guidugli said.“They both need to increase their exposure in Northern Kentucky, and this is a good way to do it.”
“The Guiduglis are good friends of mine,” said Mr. Chandler of Versailles, who attended with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children, Lucie, 6, Albert, 4, and Branham, 1. Albert is named after Mr. Chandler's grandfather, the late Al bert “Happy” Chandler, a legend in Bluegrass politics who served two terms as governor and represented Kentucky in Congress.
“I'm just up here getting to know some more people,” said Mr. Chandler, who is unopposed for re-election as attorney general.
“There has always been the as sumption that I was going to run for governor. And a lot of that depends on what kind of I job I do ... as attorney general,” he said.
Mr. Henry said he wasn't at the picnic to campaign for governor.
“We got to get this (November's) race over with, and then we'll sit down and look at the future. I certainly don't see anything in regards to running for Congress ... but it's very premature to be talking about the governor's race.
“But once we get to November we'll set our sights on something else,” Mr. Henry said.
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