By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The owner of a Covington auto repair shop is trying to take a Kenton County Fiscal Court seat from Republican Barb Black in a race that pits a political novice against a veteran officeholder.
"I figured I'd go for an office that could benefit the most people,'' said Steven Douglas Wright, who owns and operates Steve's Automotive Repair in south Covington.
"I have no ambition to run for any other higher office.''
The 28-year-old Covington Democrat is challenging Mrs. Black, who previously served on Taylor Mill City Commission and Edgewood City Council, for a four-year term as a Kenton County commissioner.
Mrs. Black, 50, of Taylor Mill, and her three fellow Republicans on Fiscal Court are seeking their second terms.
As a full-time county commissioner, Mrs. Black said she has the time to devote to the office.
She said her 11½ years in public office also have helped her establish partnerships with other Kenton County officeholders on projects such as road improvements and parks.
"Wisdom and leadership come from experience,'' she said.
"You can only gain that from serving, and I have a voting record. I have put actions behind my words.''
As a member of Kenton Fiscal Court, Mrs. Black said she voted against increasing the tax on telephones and has opposed a property tax increase.
Mrs. Black also cited her support of a government efficiency study, her work to improve county parks and other recreational facilities, and her successful effort to pass a law regulating adult entertainment.
If re-elected, Mrs. Black pledged to continue working to keep taxes low and promote economic development by providing necessary infrastructure, such as good roads and water and sewer lines, and continue working with other Northern Kentucky elected officials to restrict where adult businesses can locate.
If elected, Mr. Wright said his main goal would be ensuring that Kenton County taxpayers "get the best bang for their dollar.''
He pledged to "keep all taxes'' down by promoting smart growth in the county and finding good locations for prospective businesses.
While his fellow Democrats in the Kenton Fiscal Court race have criticized the all-Republican Fiscal Court for being unable to settle on a location to build a jail, Mr. Wright said he wants to see county officials get more input from residents, law enforcement and local officials on where "the jail will work for everybody.''
"If we cut the fat out of government and keep our spending down, there would be some money saved" to pay for the jail, Mr. Wright said.
"We could trim some money from other things,'' such as the county parks, he said. "... And if we got more businesses in, that would increase tax revenue.''
Returned Mrs. Black, "You don't fund a $30 million-plus facility and annual operating expenses of $4 million by cutting the fat on a budget that is less than $60 million a year.''
Mr. Wright also pledged "to listen to and fix'' Kenton County residents' problems and be part of a Fiscal Court "that makes decisions in front of the people.''
E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com
