By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ERLANGER - Republican congressional candidate Geoff Davis has picked up endorsements - and $1,000 campaign contributions - from three of Kentucky's GOP members of Congress.

Davis announced Tuesday that he has been endorsed by Republican U.S. Reps. Ed Whitfield of Hopkinsville, Anne Northup of Louisville and Ron Lewis of Elizabethtown. The three lawmakers each contributed $1,000 to Davis' campaign for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District seat, now held by Democrat Ken Lucas of Boone County.

"We are deeply grateful for the support," Davis said in a statement. "Reps. Lewis, Northup and Whitfield ... were a huge help to our campaign in 2002, and I know that having their early endorsements and full support will be a big help to us now. I have relied heavily on their advice and counsel and will continue to do so."

Davis, a Boone County business consultant, is making his second run for Congress. He narrowly lost the 2002 race to Lucas, who is seeking a fourth term next year.

"I look forward to serving in Congress with Geoff Davis," Lewis said in a statement provided by the Davis campaign.

Lucas is not expected to have a primary challenger, while Davis is running against Erlanger lawyer Kevin Murphy in next May's GOP primary. Former Campbell County Judge-executive Lloyd Rogers of Alexandria has previously said he will run in the GOP primary but is yet to enter the race.

Murphy said he respects the right of members of Congress "to tell the voters here who their congressman should be. However, ultimately it will be up to the voters of the 4th District who their congressman will be."

Email pcrowley@enquirer.com