For the past 24 years, Rep. Joseph Fischer (R-Ft. Thomas) has represented the 68th District. Now that he’s retiring from the House and is running for the state’s Supreme Court, the district is wide open.
Fischer brought conservative values to the district, which after the latest round of redistricting, includes parts of Bellevue, California, Dayton, Crestview, Melbourne, Silver Grove, Southgate, Wilder, Woodlawn, Newport, Fort Thomas, Cold Spring, Highland Heights, Alexandria, and Mentor. Before him, Republican Katie Stine brought similar values, so the district has been long represented by Republicans.
The Republican primary is shaping up to be challenging, with three candidates vying for the seat. Mike Clines, Paul Kloeker, and Mirna Eads. Whoever survives the May 17 primary will face Democrat Kelly Jones in the General Election in the fall.
Let’s take a look at the candidates and what they plan to bring to the table.
Paul Kloeker
Like his potential predecessor, Kloeker said he would bring conservative values to the 68th. Currently serving on the Cold Spring City Council, he said he plans to bring some of his work on the council to the district if he’s elected, such as being fiscally responsible and cutting taxes.
“We’ve cut property tax two out of the last three years in Cold Spring, and we’re looking to do that statewide,” Kloeker said, who elaborated that his government experience separates him from the other candidates.
District 68 Winds along the Ohio River and Route 8 in Campbell County. But, in recent years, Route 8 has seen some major issues in Fort Thomas, with a large section being cut off to traffic between Tower Hill and River Road due to major disrepair of the road. Kloeker said that road and infrastructure projects are an important part of his candidacy and that getting that section of road open along the banks of the Ohio would be one of his top priorities.
“My biggest platform is infrastructure development,” he said, elaborating that it’s not only good for travelers but job growth and attracting people to the Northern Kentucky region.
He would also work to ensure that money that’s been earmarked for infrastructure for the region would be spent, and road projects would be completed, including the Brent Spence Bridge.
Mirna Eads
Eads said she never thought about politics until 2016. At the time, her child was in the Boone County school system, and they started a program that didn’t align with how she wanted her child to learn. Instead of pulling her child out of the school, she decided to get involved and went to school leadership to see what she could do.
“I talked to the principal, and she didn’t have the answers I was looking for,” Eads said. “I started going to the site-based council meetings, still wasn’t getting any answers.”
She started meeting up with some of the other parents who shared similar concerns. One of these concerns was in the Social Studies section of the learning material. She discovered there were links to articles on “why Muslims hate Americans” and “teaching Jihad.”
“I was like, yeah, no, this isn’t gonna happen,” Eads said.
She eventually moved her kid into the Fort Thomas school district, but Eads’ tenacity to be involved was cemented. From those days forward, she was determined to step up and make a difference, she said, and she’s been holding school boards accountable ever since.
“That was kind of my introduction into politics,” Eads said. “…just because I saw from other people who ran for office like Donald Trump, he was not a politician. Major Taylor Green, Lauren Boebert, and Kat Cammack. These are not career politicians.”
Eads considers herself a patriot and conservative American of the Republican party, and like the aforementioned politicians, she isn’t a career politician. She’s a single mother and nurse that wants to step up and do something. She’s a woman of action, she said, and that’s what separates her from the other candidates.
Mike Clines
Mike Clines has spent his career serving the citizens of Northern Kentucky.
“My leadership experience includes time spent as a superintendent, principal, counselor, teacher, and sports coach with the Diocese of Covington School System,” Clines said. “I was handed a front-row seat into the lives of families, and I have worked very hard to enrich those lives.”
It’s this leadership and involvement that Clines is hoping to bring to the 68th district if elected. He also brings Republican values, such as being involved in the pro-life movement and voting against a couple of measures that would have delayed in-school teaching during the pandemic.
“I’ve attended the National March for Life in Washington D.C. nine times, and my campaign received the endorsement of Kentucky Right to Life for House District 68, as well as the Northern Kentucky Right to Life endorsement,” Clines said.
His passion for people is the reason why he chose to run, he said, noting that families are currently working through rising inflation, high gas prices, and pandemic limitations and repercussions. He believes that his leadership is what will help constituents in the 68th district move past some of these challenges.
“I have over 28 years of experience working between community leaders, NKY legislators, and local families,” Clines said. “I believe my impact could be to offer the right perspective and use my background to get our residents a strong seat at the table in Frankfort.”