It is going to be a tough year of campaigning in Northern Kentucky with strong fields for local councils and mayors – and primaries for county offices on both sides of the Licking River.
In Covington and Newport, there are no mayor’s races but the city commission is on the ballot. With Jordan Huizenga making a run for state representative, that opens up a seat on the Covington city commission where the other three incumbents hope to stave off serious challenges – including one from former mayor Denny Bowman.
In Newport, the four commission incumbents are all running again with just one challenger, Jason Walter.
Dayton and Bellevue are of interest this year. There will be a primary for Bellevue mayor and in Dayton, the incumbent mayor will be challenged by an incumbent councilman.
At the county level, it looks like Charlie Coleman is not running again as a Campbell County Commissioner, and that Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn has two Republican rivals in the primary, and Kenton Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders drew a GOP challenger, too.
Here’s a look at the city and county races (i = incumbent):
Covington City Commission
Michelle Williams (i)
Tim Downing (i)
Bill Wells (i)
Denny Bowman
John Flesch
Brandon Mims
Christi Blair
Dara McDowell
Del Shawn Renee Hayes
M. Spears
Shannon C. Smith
With more than eight candidates, there will be a primary.
Newport City Commission
Beth Fennell (i)
Thomas Guidugli (i)
Frank Peluso (i)
Ken Rechtin (i)
Jason Walter
Robbie Hall
Without more than eight candidates, there will be no primary.
Special note about Erlanger:Â There will be no primary for mayor or council, but two council members are running for mayor, and the mayor is running for council. RCN will have more on this later. See the full list at the Kenton County Clerk’s website here.
Contested primary races at the county level:
Campbell Judge/Executive
Republican:Â Steve Pendery (i), Anna Zinkhon (Democrat Calvin Sidle is running unopposed)
Campbell Commission – District 1
Republican: Brian Painter (i), Lloyd Rogers, Tyler Owen, Dave Fischer (Democrat Connie Grubbs is running unopposed)
Campbell Commission – District 2
Republican: Geoff Besecker, Pete Garrett, Jerry Gearding
Campbell Commission – District 3
Republican:Â Tom Lampe (i), Jim Livers
Campbell Jailer
Republican:Â James Daley (i), Chris Maloney
Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney
Republican:Â Rob Sanders (i), Sean Fitzgerald
Kenton County Sheriff
Republican: Chuck Korzenborn (i), Seymour Fisk, Marc Chapman
-Michael Monks, editor & publisher
