Here are three takeaways from the annual ‘State of NKY’ forum

Discussions on infrastructure, voter turnout, public participation in the political process, and the importance of local control were among the biggest takeaways from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s annual ‘State of Northern Kentucky’ forum.

Every January, judges/executives Gary Moore of Boone County, Kris Knochelmann of Kenton County and Steve Pendery of Campbell County take center stage at Erlanger’s Receptions Event Center, where they comment on the current political and economic landscape of Northern Kentucky.

In Kentucky, the judge/executive serves as the elected chief executive of a county’s government, overseeing daily operations, preparing the budget, managing personnel, and presiding over the fiscal court, the county’s primary legislative body.

Each of the three judges/executives in Northern Kentucky has over six decades of combined experience in their roles. Pendery and Moore were elected in 1998, while Knochelmann assumed office in 2015. As such, the trio has presided over continuous economic growth throughout their respective countries.

Today, the governments of Kenton, Campbell and Boone counties are addressing enduring issues such as roadway development, the regional housing supply, and civic engagement. At the ‘State of Northern Kentucky Forum,’ these leaders have an annual opportunity to relay their challenges and solutions to the region’s business, civic and nonprofit communities.

Following the 2026 forum, LINK nky has identified three key takeaways.

Infrastructure

Similar to 2025, the ongoing development of KY-536 was a core topic. KY-536 is a state-owned road running east to west from western Boone County to Alexandria, serving as a vital link among the three counties. 

All three judges/executive stressed the importance of advancing the KY-536 project, noting its significance for the local economy both as a commuter route and as a catalyst for industrial and residential development.

“As a matter of fact, this is a route that traverses the three counties from east to west and west to east, and ties the whole place together,” Pendery said. “Other than (Interstate) 275, there isn’t an east-west connector of this quality or this size, and we need it particularly to serve the airport and the Northern Kentucky Industrial Park, which employs a huge number of Northern Kentuckians and people from the surrounding areas.”

Backing Pendery’s thoughts on the KY-536 project, Moore and Knochelmann each reinforced the importance of the project. 

Discussions about expanding KY-536 date back over a quarter century, with construction on portions of the project beginning in late 2016. Currently, some portions of the project are under construction, while others remain in the planning phase. 

Besides KY-536, Moore touted the importance of the Transportation Improvement District in Boone County – a special-purpose governmental entity created to coordinate and fund transportation-related projects within a specific geographic area. Boone County rubber-stamped its TID in February 2024, with Kenton and Campbell counties following suit later that year. 

Moore said that the TID would enable Boone County to obtain state funding for infrastructure projects while allowing the county to choose which project to finance.

“We would love to have an allocation from the legislature directly to the Transportation Improvement District,” Moore said.

Knochelmann reiterated the need for Northern Kentucky counties to continue lobbying for local infrastructure projects to secure state funding, which he considers crucial to the progress of several major regional initiatives.

“I’m saying that, as part of our call out to our legislators to say, we believe those dollars need to be funded so that these guys and gals can get the work done to maintain the roads that are already built, while we’re continuing to have to expand and build what needs to be built in the future,” Knochelmann said.

Voter turnout and community engagement

Voter turnout in Northern Kentucky is generally low, a fact not lost on either of the three judges/executive.

While Knochelmann is not competing against a Republican primary challenger this year–effectively ensuring his reelection due to the absence of a Democrat in the race—Pendery faces a contest from Alexandria Mayor Andy Schabell, while Moore faces a challenge from Commissioner Chet Hand.

In Northern Kentucky, Republican primaries typically decide races for powerful positions such as judge/executive or county commissioner, either because the general election is not numerically competitive or because no Democrat is running. With more registered Republicans than Democrats or Independents, GOP primaries effectively become a battleground for political influence.

Although GOP primary candidates generally align ideologically, Kentucky’s closed primary system often compels them to differentiate themselves rhetorically and ideologically. Furthermore, primary voters tend to be more engaged partisans who, in a smaller-scale election, are more motivated by ideological differences, as indicated by a 2007 study published in Legislative Studies Quarterly.

With election day on May 19 only months away, Knochelmann and Pendery implored the forum audience to get engaged in local elections.

“Get engaged, show up and make sure you’re just putting your time and effort into the candidate that you think really matters,” Knochelmann said.

Local Control

All three judges/executive framed “local control” as a key driver for operation and financial success among the three counties.

Moore, specifically, shared that he felt local governments best understand how to solve problems in their communities.

“One of the things that is always concerning is infringement on local control, and it doesn’t matter what the issue is, but I believe that the best decisions are made closest to the people closest to you. You know the community. We know the community, and by working together, we can usually come up with the best solution.”

Moore said he felt that Northern Kentucky performs best when the state government allows counties and cities flexibility to govern based on local conditions, a sentiment that was echoed by Knochelmann and Pendery. Furthermore, Moore cautioned that Northern Kentucky should stay alert to legislation introduced in Frankfort that could erode local control.

Pendery likened each Northern Kentucky county and municipal jurisdiction to a ‘laboratory for democracy,’ enabling public entities to test various ideas and proposals.

“Local control is a thing that we really like a lot, because when we work together, we have access to all the best brains in our community,” Pendery said. “We’re going to come up with something, and it may or may not work, but we’re laboratories of democracy, so to speak, all that all the little cities and counties are trying to come up with a better way to do things.”