Kenton County mayors and other local leaders reflected on the recent election at the meeting of the Kenton County Mayors Group on Saturday.
Attendees were broadly complimentary of the logistical operations of the election, both for Election Day itself and for early voting.
“The rest of the country could take a lesson from Kentucky,” said Kenton County Commissioner Jon Draud.
Several mayors complimented Kenton County Board of Elections Chair Gabe Summe, who attended Saturday’s meeting, on what they viewed as the efficiency of Election Day.
“Really wonderful job on the election,” said Ludlow Mayor Chris Wright. “Everything was super smooth on our end, and hopefully, everyone else has the same experiences.”
“The prior election, four years ago, I didn’t get out here [the City Building] till 8:30,” said Crestview Hills Mayor Paul Meier. “I was out–they called me at 6:20 and said, ‘we’re done.'” So, yes, very good.”
These comments are contextualized by less-than-pleasant experiences at the polls during the midterm elections of 2022. The consolidation of the number of available polling places in the county arguably led to long lines to vote. Several Kenton County leaders spoke out against the changes at the time.
Summe attributed the purported success of the day to the number of people who volunteered to work the polls.
“Thank you to the close to 400 people that are in our community that are willing to step up, listen to me talk two hours to train them, and willing to spend a really, really long day making sure that our right to vote is well protected,” said Summe.
In spite of the comments, turnout for the election in Kenton County was slightly lower than it was in previous presidential elections, according to the votes tallied so far. 55.1% of registered voters turned out for the election in 2024, slightly lower than 2020’s turnout of 58.2%. About 2,000 fewer votes were cast in Kenton County in 2024 compared to 2020.
This conversation snowballed into a discussion about elected officials' cell phones.
Lakeside Park Mayor Paul Markgraf discussed elected officials' conversions as it related to public records requests--comments related to city business conducted on a personal cell phone are subject to the Kentucky Open Records Act. Markgraf, who works as an attorney, feared that this might expose his personal or client-related business to prying eyes and asked the attendees for alternatives.
"I don't know how many cities issue cell phones to their mayor and clerk," Markgraf said. "This was brought up last year because we had open records requests for cell phone text, etc. And I personally use my cell phone for my business, my personal and occasional texts to the city clerk or public works director, and I do not want to open up my cell phone and my business."
Several attendees said their cities issued cell phones to officials to ensure that personal and public business wires didn't get crossed.
"Park Hills, we've been doing that for quite a while because of that same thing," said Park Hills Mayor Kathy Zembrodt.
Zembrodt pointed to a program called FirstNet through AT&T, which provides cell phones to police officers and first responders.
"The police can have all the programs on there," Zembrodt said. "I have one. I gave the city clerk one, and that's all we use."
Erlanger City Councilmember Diana Niceley also said Erlanger City Council members had city-issued phones.
"If I send a text on a particular issue, and they are asking for the mayor's texts, any text messages that the mayor had sent or received on this particular issue, yes, I can go through and disclose that, but if there was oversight and review by an outside authority, I cannot turn over my phone with personal, confidential legal matters," said Markgraf.
"The court can make you do it," said Zembrodt.
"Just buy everybody a phone," said Draud.