In Northern Kentucky's smallest cities, elected officials take turns plowing city streets in winter and mowing the city park in summer.

Between monthly government meetings in everything from firehouses to a floral shop, they go on fire runs, replace stolen flags and take late-night complaints about loose dogs.

WRITE-INS

What: Effective this election, Kentucky candidates in fifth- and sixth-class cities must file a letter of intent with their county clerk. The form is available at the county clerk's office. Cost: There is no charge to file a letter of intent. Deadline: 4 p.m. Friday. If you live in Campbell County, you must file a letter of intent at the county clerk's office in Newport. Candidates in Kenton must file the paperwork at the clerk's Covington office. Information: In Campbell County, call (859) 292-3885. In Kenton County, call (859) 491-0702.

For all this, their pay for being on call 24/7 ranges from nothing to $21 a month.

Is it any wonder then that mayors and council members in Kentucky's fifth- and sixth-class cities often run as write-in candidates to avoid paying a filing fee, the mayor of tiny California, Ky., asks.

“It costs me $50 to put my name on the ballot and I don't get paid, so why should I take money out of my pocket to run for city office?” said Mayor Franklin D. Smith, who presides over the Campbell County town of about 100. Fifth-class cities have a population of 1,000 to 2,999 and sixth-class cities have a population of less than 1,000.

For the general election on Nov. 5, candidates in Kentucky's smallest cities still can run as write-ins, but to do so, they must file a letter of intent with their county clerk by 4 p.m. Friday. Because of a change in Kentucky law this year, each write-in candidate must first file the paperwork with his county clerk.

“You can write in a name on Election Day, but if that person hasn't filed a letter of intent with the county clerk, the votes won't be counted,” Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor said.

Northern Kentucky clerks want voters to be aware of the new law because no one has yet filed for mayor or city commissioner of Mentor, a little city of 181 in Campbell County. Ditto for the mayor's post and four city commission seats in Kenton County's Latonia Lakes (pop. 325).

In Kenton County, Joe Fricke is running as a write-in for one of four Kenton Vale City Commission seats, along with incumbents Ruth Coleman and Marsha Patrick.

Although Mr. Smith has declared his intention to run for California mayor again, only three candidates — James T. Sparks Jr., Emma Jean Neises and Charles T. Styer — have filed as write-ins for the four city commission seats in that Ohio River city.

In Woodlawn (pop. 268), write-in candidate Jerry Maringer and fellow incumbents Robert A. Miller and Verna L. Pulsfort are vying for four city commission seats. Only two candidates have filed for the four city commission seats in Crestview (pop. 471.) And while six candidates are running for four city commission seats in Melbourne, no one has filed for mayor.

Under Kentucky's new law for write-in candidates, a majority, or a quorum, of the city council or commission can appoint the remaining slots, as well as the mayor's seat, if there aren't enough candidates for the position, said Mary Sue Helm, acting director of the state board of elections. If no one files for city council or commission, the governor would appoint a quorum, and that group, in turn, would choose the rest of the city government, including the mayor.

“The ones that are the write-in candidates now have been in office for years and years,” said Mr. Maringer, a 13-year Woodlawn city commissioner. “When somebody leaves, we have to beg somebody to come back on the board.”

Mr. Smith, 39, became the leader of California when the flood of 1997 damaged his predecessor's home, prompting him to move out of town.

When Mr. Smith isn't presiding over government meetings or going on runs with the Eastern Campbell Volunteer Fire Department, you can find him mowing the ball fields in his city's public park. In the winter, he and the other men in city government remove snow from California's five streets with a city-owned tractor, and plow senior citizens' driveways.

“It's tough in these little cities,” said first-term Melbourne Mayor George Koopman. “You get a lot of flack for things you really can't control. And in Melbourne, the mayor and city commissioners are strictly volunteers. There's no pay. I think some people say, "What's the use (in running for office)?”'

Mr. Koopman, 64, a retired Procter & Gamble manager who also served on Melbourne City Commission for one year, said that he served his city government because he was “always taught to give back to your community.” Since he became Melbourne's mayor four years ago, the Campbell County city has added a part-time city clerk and public works employee, as well as a city attorney.

Still, Mr. Koopman figures he spends about 15 to 20 hours a week doing everything from talking to contractors about removing trees to getting potholes fixed.

When vandals ripped down most of the city-owned American flags lining the town's main street just before Labor Day, the mayor helped a city commissioner and the town's part-time public works employee install their replacements.

One requirement for serving in small town government is a thick skin, Melbourne's mayor said.

“People call you and come to your home if they got cited for a blight ordinance, or their dog got picked up,” Mr. Koopman said. “When you're the mayor of a small town, everyone knows where to find you.”

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com

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