Three challengers in the race for Newport City Commission participated in a forum sponsored by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth last Thursday.
Three incumbents and one other challenger declined to participate citing scheduling conflicts or other reasons, or no reason at all. The event had multiple dates at one point as organizers attempted to land a time that all the candidates could attend. All seven candidates participated in a forum sponsored by the Newport Business Association the night before – an event, held at the Syndicate, that only called for opening and closing remarks from the candidates. There were no questions.
Both forums were moderated by RCN publisher Michael Monks.
On Thursday, the three challengers – former city commissioner and county commissioner Ken Rechtin, former police officer Robert McCray, and first-time candidate Rachel Comte answered questions written by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth’s Northern Kentucky chapter. The candidates that did not attend submitted remarks for voters’ consideration, but did not necessarily address any of the questions posed at the forum.
Candidates were quizzed about whether Newport should adopt legislation allowing a needle exchange/syringe access program in the city. The only barrier to such a program operating in Kenton or Campbell County is a city in Campbell. Kenton and Campbell’s fiscal courts approved an ordinance, as did the City of Covington, contingent upon two counties and a city in each moving to allow it.
“Clean needle exchanges have worked throughout the country and it is a disease. Let’s take the covers off it,” Rechtin said. “Once the heroin is there in the brain it physically changes. It is a true disease like alcoholism.” But he stopped short of welcoming the exchange in Newport, suggesting instead that since St. Elizabeth Healthcare – which is a proponent of the exchange and which would host the mobile program in Covington – operates a location in Ft. Thomas.
“It could be Ft. Thomas,” Rechtin said. “We are going to treat people as human beings, why not do it there, with a medical facility right there?”
McCray said that he “could not speak intelligently” on the subject and Compte said that she would “look into it more.”
PARTIAL STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY CANDIDATES WHO DID NOT ATTEND (Comments have been edited for brevity)
Frank Peluso, incumbent
“I am proud of the accomplishments that have occurred over the last ten years and I would like to mention a few of them: We have 350 additional businesses operating in our city; $250,000 each year for street improvements; $300,000 for recreation each year; 450 new residential units and 230 more coming online in the near future; lowest property tax in Campbell County; increased the fund balance from $150,000 in 2006 to more than $2 million in 2016.”
Nikki Hayden, challenger
“Throughout my life, I have participated in or volunteered for City events and activities such as coaching in the City’s recreation league for 11 years, holiday events and parades. I created a program to deliver books to Newport children and personally delivered them for the last two years. As many of you know, my husband is John Hayden who has successfully served as City Commissioner for eight years. Through this connection with the City, I have developed an interest in city government and a desire to make a positive impact through this role.”
Beth Fennell, incumbent
“I have been on the Board and Executive Committee of the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana Regional Council of Governments for many years. Most federal transportation dollars are funneled through OKI. There was little city involvement with OKI prior to my involvement. Through our partnership with OKI, millions of dollars of federal road funds have been received for a better connection in Cincinnati to the Taylor Southgate Bridge, reconstruction of Route 9 and Carothers Road and the upcoming rehabilitation of the underpass and South Monmouth Corridor. In addition I am working with OKI, the City of Cincinnati, the Northern Kentucky streetcar committee, the Federal Transportation Administration and our representatives in Washington to extend the streetcar to Newport.”
Thomas Guidugli, incumbent
As your commissioner, I am committed to moving Newport forward while honoring our shared history and all that makes our city so special. Ensuring that our streets and neighborhoods are both safe and walkable.Fighting for infrastructure investments for roads, waterlines, sewers and flood control. Attracting business development with good paying jobs. Implementing beautification projects like gateways, streetscapes, parks and green spaces.Preserving our historic business district, brick streets and stunning architecture. Engaging Forward thinking partnerships with residents and businesses.
To a question about transparency in Newport’s government, McCray argued that the city is transparent. “I’m not sure where we need more transparency,” he said. “If I were to say that the city is not being transparent enough then I would be pointing the finger at the government and saying they are concealing something.”
Comte called for more communication from the city. “People need to feel like they are being heard, so I think it is important to be proactive,” she said.
“We can always be more transparent,” said Rechtin, who lost his race for Campbell County Judge/Executive in 2014 after several years as a county commissioner. He recalled a retreat that the Newport city commission went on when he was a member, where a mission statement and vision for the city were adopted. “One was to be a transparent government,” he said. Rechtin suggested that Newport could join other local cities in acquiring Open Gov software which keeps updated records of how the government is spending money. “We could actually move to that system and have more transparency.”
