The battle for the 69th House District Republican primary is proving to be one of the most contentious, as incumbent Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger) is facing Steven Doan (R-Erlanger).
Koening is in his 16th year in the seat and recently passed major legislation on pari-mutuel wagering, but his bill on sports betting in Kentucky died in the Senate in the final hours of the 2022 General Assembly legislative session.
Doan has released a couple of attack ads calling Koenig a “liberal,” specifically referring to Koenig’s record on the sports transgender bill and his votes on gun legislation. Koenig has called these attacks “outright lies.”
Let’s take a look at the candidates and their platforms.
Steven Doan
Doan said he is running because it’s become clear to him that politicians take money from individuals and give it to corporations.
“This is not what our founding fathers had in mind, and this is not how our government should operate,” Doan said. “I will always put the freedoms and liberties of the people over the desires of the corporate special interest.”
Doan said he has raised more money than any House candidate in Northern Kentucky in the first quarter of 2022. He raised $32,201.00 in individual contributions in the first quarter. He also raised $2,000 from the Massie PAC. But, Koenig’s war chest sits at nearly $100,000, even though he’s raised less money this quarter.
The lawyer and first-time candidate has served in a statewide position in the executive branch as the General Counsel for the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy under Governor Matt Bevin and as a private attorney litigating in the judicial and legislative branches member of Erlanger City Council.
He’s boasting endorsements from Congressman Thomas Massie; Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette; Erlanger City Council members Tyson Hermes, Ryan Elmore, Gary Meyer, and Steve Knipper; and Boone County Commissioner Kathy Flaig. I have also received the endorsements of Northern Kentucky Right to Life and the National Association for Gun Rights Political Action Committee.
“Unlike my opponents, I am a constitutional conservative, and based on our records, I am the only conservative candidate in the race,” Doan said. “I believe inefficient government that does more with less and protects the liberties of our citizens.”
Adam Koening
Koenig’s campaign is all about unfinished business.
“When I first rant for the seat, I promised to be pro-business, pro local control, pro-life, and I’ve accomplished that, and trying to get the government out of business and our lives as much as appropriate,” Koenig said. “Still have some unfinished business, especially with sports betting.”
As chair of the Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee, he said the committee has made significant strides in horse racing and with historical racing machines.Â
“And, I like to think I’ve done a lot for the bourbon industry and the craft beer industry in Kentucky,” Koenig said.
In 2018, he passed a bill that he said reformed and modernized Kentucky’s Workers’ Compensation system. He said he also brought money for infrastructure projects such as Stevenson Road and the extension of Houston Road.
“There are legislators who file bills every year to roll back some of those positive things,” Koenig said, elaborating that it’s essential to be there so he can stop certain legislation from passing.
As far as the attack ads, Koenig said he voted for the transgender sports bill four times.
“I’m a proven conservative with proven results,” Koenig said. “As a candidate who’s never been on the ballot before, my opponent can say or do anything. He’s having to lie about my record because there’s not much about my record to argue with.”