By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Democrats chose labor leader Charles Wells of Scott County as the party's nominee in the special election for Northern Kentucky's newest state Senate seat.

In a secret ballot, party Democratic representatives from the four counties in the 17th Senate District - Grant, Owen and Scott, as well as the southern half of Kenton - chose Mr. Wells over Grant County resident Cliff Wallace. Mr. Wallace, the superintendent of the Williamstown Schools, was the candidate favored by most Kenton County Democrats. He could not be reached to comment.

Mr. Wells, 43, the executive director of the American Federation of Teachers, will face Republican Damon Thayer, also of Scott County, in the Jan. 28 special election. The winner will begin serving when the General Assembly convenes in Frankfort on Feb. 4 for the 2003 legislative session.

"I'm excited and I'm ready to hit the ground running," Mr. Wells said after Saturday's party vote. "I'm the candidate of small businesses and working families, and I want to take that message to Frankfort to represent the people of Northern Kentucky and all of the 17th Senate District."

Mr. Thayer is a horse racing industry executive and vice chairman of the Kentucky Republican Party. He has already raised $60,000 for the race.

Mr. Wells declined Saturday to say how much money he has raised but did say that Mr. Thayer "is trying to buy the race."

"We're going to run a grassroots campaign, getting our message out person to person. This is not just going to be about money, but I'll have the money necessary to run an effective campaign," Mr. Wells said.

Mr. Thayer said Saturday he is honored by the financial support he has received and plans "to run a grass-roots campaign as well as a campaign that will get my message out to the voters."

The Senate district was formed this year after lawmakers redrew legislative boundaries using data from the 2000 U.S. Census.

Northern Kentucky currently has three seats in the state Senate, represented by Republicans Jack Westwood of Erlanger, Dick Roeding of Lakeside Park and Katie Stine of Fort Thomas.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com