By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Democratic challengers of the all-Republican Kenton County Fiscal Court will lead a crowded Nov. 5 ballot in Kentucky's third-largest county.
In the top race, first-term Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd, a former state legislator, is opposed by Patrick Hughes, a lawyer from Fort Wright.
Democrats Sue Sampson, Mike Baker and Stephen Douglas Wright are trying to win Kenton County Fiscal Court seats from first-term Commissioners Dan Humpert, Adam Koenig and Barb Black.
The Democratic challengers have maintained the Fiscal Court couldn't decide where to build a jail and raised taxes to pay for it. Mr. Hughes has said he would pay for it by "cutting the budget and tightening the belt," not by raising the payroll tax.
Members of the Fiscal Court have said they tried to act on the jail after previous administrations failed. They have set the jail's site at 303 Court St.
The city of Covington, Corporex Cos. and a business owner represented by Mr. Hughes' law firm successfully challenged the payroll tax in Circuit Court. The Appeals Court ruled Friday that the tax was legal, but it may go to state Supreme Court.
In other county races, Kenton County Attorney Garry Edmondson, a Republican from Fort Wright who was first elected in 1993, is being challenged by Democrat Mary "Kate'' Molloy of Crescent Springs, while first-term Kenton County Jailer Terry Carl of Lakeside Park faces a challenge from Democrat George Russell, a Covington police officer.
Voters also will choose Kenton County school board members, constables, magistrates and members of conservation districts. For the first time in decades, an incumbent Kenton County sheriff will be unopposed. First-term Sheriff Charles "Chuck'' Korzenborn faces no challenge in his re-election bid.
Elsewhere, growth, financial issues, disagreements with city officials and a desire for change have prompted an unprecedented seven challenges of Kenton County mayors. Mayors in Crescent Springs, Erlanger, Fort Mitchell, Lakeside Park and Villa Hills all have opponents this fall, and the top elected officials in Ludlow and Elsmere are in three-way races for mayor. Covington Mayor Butch Callery is not up for re-election this year.
All mayor terms are for four years, while city commission and council terms run two years.
Two local money issues also are on the Kenton County ballot.
In Ludlow, voters will decide on a proposed tax of $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to pay for fire protection. The tax was proposed after the state ruled that funding fire protection through a user fee was unconstitutional.
Fort Wright voters also will be asked to approve a tax of 90 cents per $1,000 assessed property valuation for sidewalk, street and storm-sewer improvements.
E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com
