LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 46, October 18, 2024
YOUR 2024 ELECTION GUIDE
What’s at stake in November?
INSIDE:
How Amendment 2 could affect education in Kentucky p7
What would Amendment 1 actually do? p9
Covington to choose: Strong mayor or stick with manager? p10
Find out whether medical cannabis will be on your ballot p11
Hear from your legislative candidates, beginning on p13
By Meghan Goth
It’s a presidential election year.
That usually means higher voter turnout, which stems from more national interest. Turnout nationally for the 2020 general election soared to levels not seen in decades, according to the Pew Research Center, fueled by a divisive campaign between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Locally, all three Northern Kentucky counties saw 20% higher voter turnout in 2020 than the year before.
While passion for the race for the White House can be seen in signs in front yards across the country, it’s local races that have more impact on voters’ everyday lives.
“The race that we hear the most about is of course the president and sometimes our senators,” said Shauna Reilly, a political science professor at Northern Kentucky University. “But the ones that affect us the most are the ones that get the least amount Continues on page 4
Friendsgiving food made easy p26 Getting in the holiday spirits with drinksgiving p28 From Coppins to Amazon: How holiday shopping has changed in NKY over the years p30
Don’t want to buy stuff? Here are some experience gift ideas p32
Holiday displays the whole family can enjoy p34
Voting machines at the Kenton County Library in November 2023. Photo by Joe Simon | LINK nky
All 14 cash registers are in service at the Erlanger K-Mart on Dixie Highway on the day after Thanksgiving in 1990. Photo provided | Kenton County Library photo archives
PRESIDENT & CEO Lacy Starling
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Meghan Goth
SPORTS EDITOR Evan Dennison
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Election guides: Our investment in the future of NKY
By Lacy Starling
Before coming to LINK nky, I’ll admit that I was not a particularly engaged citizen. Sure, I voted, but I usually stopped about halfway down the ballot because I didn’t know anything about the candidates, their positions on issues or even what job they wanted. (How many of us can truly say we know what the Soil and Water Conservation District board does?)
Most of the reason for that was that there was no easily-accessible information about the elections. I wanted to be an informed voter, but I lived in Boone County for a decade, and there was no one out in Union telling me about the candidates for office every two years. There was no local news organization covering every race and every candidate, helping busy professionals like me (and you) make decisions in the voting booth.
Voter guides like this one simply didn’t exist in NKY before LINK started producing them in 2022.
I understand why the small digital publications that came before us — River City News and Fort Thomas Matters — didn’t produce this kind of voter guide. They are incredibly labor intensive and extremely expensive. Those small digital publications didn’t have the staff or the funding to cover Northern Kentucky’s complex elections at this level.
I also understand why legacy media abandoned Northern Kentucky election coverage. They are beholden to shareholders and parent corporations. An investment in local election coverage is difficult to recoup, and cuts into shareholder dividends and corporate salaries. It’s much easier and cheaper to just cover the “big races” south of the Ohio river and ignore the little ones.
But when we started in 2021, LINK made the decision to produce print voter guides and mail them to every single household in Northern Kentucky. Since our first election in 2022, we have covered every single contested race and every single candidate in those races — dozens and dozens of races and hundreds of candidates. We’ve printed and mailed voter guides for all six primary and general elections.
This is an enormous undertaking for our small team. We spend hundreds of hours interviewing candidates, writing and editing stories and conducting video candidate forums in order to ensure every voter has the information they need to make good decisions on election day. This election, we have 222 candidates running in 30 competitive races in Northern Kentucky - and every single one is receiving comprehensive coverage.
dreds of thousands of dollars each year. Just the printing and postage alone costs over $100,000 a year. And that doesn’t include the hundreds of hours our staff reporters, contributors, editors and designers spend putting the guide together. We estimate that cost to be an additional $150,000 each election year.
And while we’re doing all this election coverage, we’re still going to every single city meeting, covering high school sports, and letting you know what restaurants are opening or closing in your neighborhood each week. In other words, during election season, we’re doing twice as much work with the same resources.
We sell advertising to help offset the costs of this coverage, but that only covers about 75% of our expenses. The other 25% has to come from the community. We don’t
charge for our election coverage — this printed guide is free, as is all our digital coverage. The only way we can continue to do this work is with your support.
If you find value in what we do, please consider donating to the NKY Community Journalism Fund. Every single tax-deductible dollar donated goes directly to public-interest reporting here in your community. We don’t have shareholders or corporate salaries to pay — every dollar we raise, whether through advertising or community support, goes to expanding our coverage of Northern Kentucky.
We view comprehensive election coverage not as an expense or a hassle, but as an investment in the community in which we all live. I hope you’ll consider making an investment in LINK so we can continue to do this good work.
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Please scan this QR code or go to linknky.fundjournalism.org/donate You can also mail a check to: NKY Community Journalism Fund 50 E Rivercenter Blvd, Suite 431 Covington, KY 41011
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While we love our super issues and the connectivity they create in Northern Kentucky, LINK nky has always been a digital-first publication. Every week, we publish nearly 100 articles on our website covering everything from local government meetings to high school sports. We are truly the most comprehensive source for NKY news since the Kentucky Post closed in 2007.
But we understand that 100 articles a week can be a lot to read, which is why we created email newsletters meant to keep you informed without making reading the news a full-time job. We currently have three email newsletters, and you can sign up to receive as many or as few as you’d like.
The Daily LINK is our weekday newsletter, arriving in your inbox every morning at 6:45. It covers the seven most important stories of the day, keeping you up to date on local government, business, culture and sports news. If you want to head into your day knowing what’s happening in NKY, this is the email for you.
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Continued from page 1 of coverage – or the least amount of attention.”
For example, your home’s property tax rates, or how quickly potholes get filled on Pike Street or U.S. 27 or whether your town gets a medical cannabis dispensary. That’s all up to local governments, not the president.
Those local races are usually at the bottom of the ballot, Reilly said, which makes it more likely that people won’t get that far.
“When we think about who sets our housing taxes or who makes sure our children are educated or who sets policies that affect us on a daily basis or even who is in charge of putting extra stoplights in,” Reilly said, “those are the people that most people can’t even name.”
So, yes, it’s important to vote for the president. But the votes you cast on local races will directly affect the way you live your life.
“Every day we encounter government or
some sort of policy that influences our day without even knowing it,” Reilly said.
Bellevue City Councilman Ryan Salzman, whose term is over at the end of this year and who is not running for reelection, agreed. “Your police, your fire, your trash, your roads,” he said, “these are the things that, when they don’t work, people get very upset about.”
Here are races you should pay attention to if you care about …
School
funding
Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2 will be on the ballot for all Kentucky residents this fall. If voters approve it, the amendment would allow for laws to provide state funding for non-public schools, like private or charter schools.
Advocates say the amendment would give parents more choice in where their children are educated; opponents say it could take money from existing public schools.
See Page 6 to learn more about Amendment 2
Income tax
Kentucky’s state income tax is currently 4%. Legislators in the state’s House of Representatives and Senate are responsible for setting that rate, and many are running on a platform that includes lowering it to zero.
So the amount of state income tax that comes out of your paychecks or that you have to pay in 2026 may change depending on whom you vote for at the state level this November.
Property tax
City and county leaders set your property taxes.
Twenty-three cities in Northern Kentucky are voting for city council members and commissioners, who have a part in deciding whether your mortgage payments go up or down due to your property tax rate.
“A lot of folks just aren’t as aware or paying attention to those smaller races,” Reilly said. “And then when things happen they are surprised. Like, ‘Oh our tax rate went up.’ And it’s because of the people you didn’t vote for.”
See page 12 to find out which local races
Your school district
Five districts have contested races for their school boards this year: Boone County School Board divisions 1 and 2, Beechwood’s school board and Covington’s school board.
Their members do things like set goals and standards for the performance of their schools and superintendents; measure how the schools are making progress against those goals; decide how to use resources, and more.
“A lot of folks are looking at school board elections” this year, Reilly said. “What is being taught in schools. There are a lot of folks with opinions about who should be elected.”
Medical cannabis
Are you adamant that medical marijuana should be legally sold in your city?
If you live in one of the handful of cities whose councils or commissions decided to let residents vote on whether medical cannabis facilities should be allowed within city limits, like Alexandria, Bellevue or Florence, you’ll get to decide for yourself in the voting booth.
If you live in cities like Walton, Union or Taylor Mill, your city council decided to ban medical cannabis outright instead of letting voters decide. If those legislators are up for reelection, you can use that info to help guide your decision on their candidacies.
Either way, educate yourself before you go to the polls.
“I know someone who said, ‘I voted for soand-so because he’s so-and-so’s son,’ but actually he’s not,” Reilly said. “Not doing your homework means you might vote for someone you don’t know anything about.”
Roads and bridges
Did a pothole on a city road give you a flat? Your city government is the one that pays to fix potholes and decides whether to reimburse you for that flat.
If you’re passionate about cyclist access on the Fourth Street Bridge, for example, taking those opinions to your local city council isn’t going to do much, because the state owns that bridge and is responsible for all its repairs and maintenance.
Either way, the president isn’t responsible for making the decisions that keep your roads pothole free or create more cyclist friendly infrastructure – that’s either your city or state officials.
“Is
Mayor Eric Haas, right, opens the city of Fort Thomas property tax hearing. Photo by Robin Gee | LINK nky contributor
“To use Bellevue as an example,” Salzman said, “Bellevue does a half million dollars of road repair every year. We only get $100,000 from the state for that every year for our road funding. So 80% of that is coming from local taxes.”
If you have a negligent mayor, Salzman said, he or she won’t go after those federal funds, and your roads aren’t going to get repaired. “But if you have an active mayor,” he continued, “those things will be tended to.”
Housing
Do you own a house or apartment that you use as a short-term rental? The city you live in can determine whether you’re allowed to do so or how much you have to pay for a license to operate your rental business.
Covington, for example, approved new short-term rental regulations in 2023 after a surge in the availability of such housing. Officials in cities across Northern Kentucky began to express worry that leaving them unregulated could pose a safety risk, and leaving them unmonitored could translate into an oversaturated market –and remove valuable housing options for permanent residents. Studies also show that the presence of short-term rentals can drive up rent prices.
Even if you don’t own a short-term rental, then, their existence could affect how much you pay in rent or eventually affect your home’s value.
The people who make these decisions are city council members and commissioners.
Who is allowed to vote
Even who is allowed to vote in your state, which may seem like a decision made by the federal government, can come down to the decisions voters make about who represents them at the state level.
This year, voters will be asked to decide on Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 1, which says that only United States citizens can vote in elections in the state – including elections for school trustees and local school districts. (Federal law already forbids noncitizens from voting in federal elections.)
So, while the debate over who should be the next president of the United States may be top of mind for many voters heading to the polls this fall, the races that will really affect Northern Kentuckians are much closer to home.
What can you do to learn more?
“This is an opportunity to influence your community,” Reilly said about paying more attention to local races when casting your vote. “Think about how you want that to look, and that should influence who you vote for.”
Before going to the voting booth, she suggested, ask yourself what’s important to you. “Is it making sure your children are safe in schools or that they are learning X, Y and Z or not learning X, Y and Z?” she said.
Search online. If it’s hard to find information on candidates because they don’t have a website or even a Facebook page, Reilly said, do you want to vote for them?
“Sometimes,” Reilly said, “I like to read the local newspaper to find information about these candidates.”
You’d be surprised what you can find by spending a bit of time searching around the internet, Reilly said.
“You have to trust your sources and figure out what it means and what you want to support,” she said.
Salzman suggested taking a look at the larger issues affecting your community. Those can be found by looking at resources like the National League of Cities. Then, once you know which questions to ask, Salzman suggested reaching out to former elected officials. Especially those who have been out of office for a few years.
“Even after you’re off council, you’re still paying very close attention to what’s going on,” he said. Buy them a cup of coffee, he said, and pick their brain. It may seem intimidating, but, he said, former officials love it when people approach them about this stuff.
“It’s something in your DNA when you’re a former elected official,” he said. “You love it.”
One more suggestion from Reilly:
“It’s OK to take a cheat sheet into the voting booth,” she said. “You can make a list and write it down and take it in with you. That’s something people think that they have to memorize the names, but you can take notes in about who you want to vote for.”
How NKY may complicate things
Because Northern Kentucky is made up of so many small cities, soon to be former Bellevue City Councilman Ryan Salzman said it can probably be more difficult for voters to prepare adequately for elections that consist of a lot of races.
“Anytime you have small towns, they are going to get less coverage,” he said. “In Cincinnati they have this huge budget, and it’s easy to see why that’s important. But why does Bellevue’s much smaller budget matter?”
Just how many cities?
In our three county area – Boone, Kenton and Campbell – there are 38. Only three of those are in Boone County, so that leaves 35 cities between just Kenton and Campbell counties. Between the three counties, there are also 13 public school districts.
That means there are a LOT of people running. How many? Two hundred and twenty two.
Those 222 are competing in 30 races across the three counties. That’s 30 different budgets or school boards to consider. Which means the people voting have much more homework to do than people in, say, Cincinnati, before they vote.
By Nathan Granger
Voters in Northern Kentucky have several options when it comes to casting their ballots. Although turnout numbers from previous years suggest that most Northern Kentuckians like to vote in person, there are other ways, as well, for those who can’t make it out on Election Day.
General information about voting in the November election, including information about polling locations, write-ups on voters’ rights, candidate lists and results from previous elections at elect.ky.gov
Here are some of the different ways you can cast your ballots and the places where you can vote in person in Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties both on and before Election Day.
Absentee voters
Eligible voters can request an absentee ballot by visiting govote.ky.gov and clicking on the first option on the menu. The website also has information about polling locations, registration status and sample ballots. You can request an absentee ballot online between Sept. 21 and Oct. 22.
From there, eligible voters can mail absentee ballots to the election offices indicated in their packets. They can also drop off their ballots at select locations in their county of permanent residence. Finally, eligible absentees can cast their ballots in person at specific locations and on specific days in their counties.
To learn more about voting absentee, including eligibility criteria, drop-off locations and in-person voting locations, check out LINK nky’s absentee voting guide at linknky.com/kentucky-absentee-ballots-2024
Everyone else
People who are not eligible for an absentee ballot can either vote early or cast their ballots normally at assigned polling places on Election Day.
In order to cast your vote, you’ll need to bring some form of official identification document that shows your name and a photo. These include any federal or commonwealth-issued documents like driver’s licenses and passports. Armed service members, Kentucky National Guard Members, employees of the Department of Defense and members of the Merchant Marine can use identifications from those agencies so long as they contain the voter’s name and photo. Students at public and private universities are allowed to bring in student IDs if they’re up to date, and voters can also use any ID documents from local or county governments if they contain the person’s name and photo.
Early voting
Make your voting plan
Early voting takes place on Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. If you want to vote early, you must go to an assigned voting location in your county and cast your vote during an allowable time frame, which varies by county. Consult the list below to find the locations in your county.
Boone County:
• Boone County Enrichment Center at 1824 Patrick Drive in Burlington.
• Northern Kentucky Area Development District at 22 Spiral Drive in Florence. Hours:
- Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Nov. 2, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kenton County:
• Kenton County Public Library Covington Branch at 502 Scott. St. in Covington.
• Lakeside Christian Church at 195 Buttermilk Pike in Lakeside Park.
• Kenton County Government Center at 1840 Simon Kenton Way in Covington.
• Calvary Student Life Center at 3708 Tibbatts St. in Covington.
• The Independence Senior Center at 2001 Jackwoods Parkway in Independence.
• The Northern Kentucky Convention Center at 1 Rivercenter Blvd. in Covington.
- Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Campbell County:
• Campbell County Administration Office at 1098 Monmouth St. in Newport.
• First Baptist Church at 4410 Alexandria Pike in Cold Spring.
• Southern Campbell Fire Department at 1050 Race Track Road in Alexandria.
- Hours: 9 a.m. 5 p.m.
Voting on Election Day
Where you vote normally on Election Day is determined by your home address and precinct location. Although you can request a provisional ballot on Election Day if you haven’t updated your registration, the process is somewhat involved and will likely extend your time at the polls.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. You can find your polling location and precinct number by checking your registration card or entering your information at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/VIC/. You can also consult our tables at right to find your polling location if you already know your precinct.
Kenton County voters can also go to vote at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, regardless of their address or precinct.
By Kenton Hornbeck
KWhat would Amendment 2 actually do?
entucky voters face a pivotal ballot measure on Election Day: whether or not to allow legislators to create laws that would provide public funding for non-public education.
Proponents say that passing the amendment would give Kentucky parents and students more choice when deciding where to attend school. Opponents and public education advocacy groups argue that it could lead to laws that would siphon funding from public schools, allowing it to be sent to private schools and prospective charter schools down the road.
What does it do?
Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, otherwise titled the Allow State Funding for Non-Public Education Amendment, would add language to the state’s constitution that
could enable the General Assembly to provide public funding for non-public education.
If passed, the amendment would add the sentence “The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools” to seven sections of the state’s constitution. The term “common schools” refers to public schools.
The amendment would add the sentence to sections 183, 186 and 189 of the state’s constitution. Section 183 tasks the General Assembly with providing “an efficient system of common schools throughout the state.”
Section 186 states that all accrued school funds shall only go to the maintenance of public schools, while section 189 effectively prevents public funds or taxes from being appropriated to, used by, or in aid of
any church, sectarian or denominational school.
If passed, the amendment eliminates these funding boundaries, giving the Republican supermajority in Kentucky’s General Assembly the power to change the law in future legislative sessions. It does not automatically create or enable a voucher program or fund charter schools. While changing the constitutional language won’t directly lead to any tangible change this year, it would effectively set up the legal environment to do so in the future.
Brigitte Blom, president and CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, corroborated this. She told LINK nky that if approved, bills would likely be presented during the General Assembly’s next legislative session to enable public funding of private schools or publicly funded charter schools.
One possibility is a school voucher program to allow public funding to pay for all or some private school tuition. Another is potential education savings accounts funded by private donors who, in turn, receive a tax credit for their donation.
“What that says to me is we are likely to see a voucher bill in the 2025 legislative session that would allow a family to enroll their student in private education, and the money that was going to public education follow the student directly,” Blom said.
For proponents of the amendment, the decision is often presented through the lens
of “school choice,” or the ability for public funds to follow students to the school or learning environment of their choice.
Ultimately, the choice lies in the hands of the parents, who can send their children to private schools or other public or independent school districts by paying a fee to allow their child to attend a district in which they do not reside.
In 2021, the passing of Kentucky House Bill 563 established a nonresident enrollment program that allows all public school districts to adopt nonresident student policies and allows Support Education Excellence in Kentucky, or SEEK, funding to follow enrolled nonresident students without an agreement with the student’s resident district. The law allows districts to charge private tuition to nonresident students.
Rep. Marianne Proctor, R-Union, is in favor of Amendment 2. Her campaign website lists school choice as one issue she is focused on in this upcoming election. Proctor advocates that education should focus on “core skills and academics.”
“Education is not a ‘one size fits all’ system,” said her website.
Kentucky Students First, a pro-Amendment 2 nonprofit based in Louisville, argues that passing the amendment would expand educational opportunities for students.
“Kentucky Students First is dedicated to supporting student success through edContinues on page 8
ucational choice,” reads the website. “We believe that every child should have access to the education that best suits their needs, which is why we’re supporting Amendment 2 to the Kentucky State Constitution to provide financial support for students in addition to public schools.”
Other supporters of Amendment 2 include diocesan school districts and other religious or nonreligious private schools in the commonwealth that could benefit from the amendment’s passing.
The Diocese of Covington has a dedicated webpage supporting Amendment 2, which claims that Amendment 2 would increase teacher pay and enhance opportunities for low-income, minority and disabled students while simultaneously protecting public schools.
In August, a volunteer button on the webpage called on individuals to join the diocese in “supporting a transformative update to Kentucky’s Constitution that champions the values we hold dear as Catholics – putting our children’s education first, empowering parents and supporting our dedicated teachers.”
It should be noted that private schools in Kentucky are concentrated mainly in the populous areas of Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky. Most Kentucky counties do not have private schools; instead, they rely on countywide and independent public school systems.
A report published by EducateNKY, a nonprofit organization focused on new approaches in education in Northern Kentucky, found that nearly 87% of Northern Kentucky school kids attend public schools as of the 2022-23 school year.
How did we get here?
Public schools in Kentucky are primarily funded using the SEEK formula. The money comes from several sources, including state and local taxes.
Each year, the General Assembly allocates a portion of the General Fund to education, which includes SEEK funding. General Fund revenues come from state income, sales and corporate taxes.
Essentially, the SEEK funding works on a per-pupil basis and guarantees each student a baseline funding level established through the biennial budget. The most recent budget sets the level at $4,586 per student next year. Over the past decade, SEEK funding amounts have incrementally eroded.
On the local side, the formula requires a minimum local tax contribution for local school districts of 30 cents per $100 of
assessed property valuation. Wealthier districts typically generate more local revenue and have higher property valuations than poorer districts. The SEEK formula is designed to equalize this discrepancy. The state provides additional funding to poorer districts to make up the difference.
One argument of the amendment’s opponents is that, if passed, public schools could lose out on some per-pupil funding if it started following students to private schools or publicly funded charter schools.
Currently, Kentucky has no charter schools in operation and charter schools that did open here could not receive public funding. During Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration, Kentucky Republicans set out to change this.
In 2017, the General Assembly approved legislation signed into law by then-Gov. Bevin that would allow charter schools to begin operating in the state starting in the fall of that year. However, that legislation did not include a funding mechanism for charter schools, and none were established.
In 2021, the General Assembly passed legislation that allowed funds to be transferred from local school boards to charter schools, effectively acting as a funding mechanism for prospective charter schools. Gov. Andy Beshear initially vetoed the bill, but the General Assembly overrode him.
One year later, Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd struck down the law, arguing that it violated the state’s constitution.
“This charter school legislation is effectively an attempt to bypass the system of common schools, and establish a separate class of publicly funded but privately controlled schools that have unique autonomy in management and operation of schools,” Shepherd ruled. “This ‘separate and unequal’ system of charter schools is inconsistent with the constitutional requirements for a common school system.”
Since the law was ruled unconstitutional, charter school supporters looked for another way. Enter Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2 which, if passed, would eliminate the ‘unconstitutional’ legal challenge.
Surrounding states
As of now, 46 U.S. states allow charter schools, 20 with voucher programs and 25 with enacted tax credit programs, according to Ballotopedia.
While Kentucky does not have an established charter school, voucher programs, or enacted tax credit programs, some of the Bluegrass State’s neighbors do. These states' programs could serve as potential
Amendment 2 text
To give parents choices in educational opportunities for their children, are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?
IT IS PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The General Assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186, and 189 of this Constitution notwithstanding.
models for Kentucky if Amendment 2 were to pass.
Ohio, for example, has its own school voucher program called the EdChoice Scholarship. Vouchers are government-funded scholarships allowing public school students to attend private schools. Vouchers redirect per-pupil education funding, putting it in the hands of students’ families rather than the district.
The EdChoice Scholarship allows students entering kindergarten through 12th grade scholarship opportunities based on their household income level. For kindergarten through eighth grade students, the scholarship amount is $6,166. It’s $8,408 for students in grades nine through 12.
To qualify for an EdChoice Scholarship, students must verify their family’s income. Students from households in lower income brackets can receive more, while students from higher income brackets can receive a reduced amount.
Indiana also has a school voucher program called the Choice Scholarship Program. Indiana vouchers are worth up to 90% of the state’s per-pupil spending. In contrast to Ohio, students’ families have fewer income requirements. In 2023, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law that slashed most income requirements, allowing students from households earning more than $150,000 to qualify.
On the other hand, Tennessee has an Education Savings Account Program. These programs allow families to receive public funds and deposit them into government-authorized private savings accounts to be used strictly for educational expenses like private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum and school supplies.
Students from Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools and Hamilton County Schools – some of the largest public school districts in the state –are the primary beneficiaries of ESAs, according to the Tennessee Department of Education.
A Prichard Committee White Paper published earlier this year studied how other states’ school voucher programs have fared since their inception. For instance, in Florida, newly eligible higher-income families account for over half of the enrollees in the program. In Indiana, 98% of vouchers go to religious schools.
“If it passes, there’s a big price tag to the state on the other side, and we’re not seeing from our research of education outcomes across the board in school choice strategies, commensurate improvements in education outcomes that provide a return on investment for those significant expenditures,” she said.
On the other end of the spectrum, EdChoice Kentucky, a nonprofit in favor of school choice legislation, published a report that found nonpublic schooling reduces public education costs in Kentucky by “billions of dollars every year,” with roughly $391.7 million in state SEEK cost savings alone during the 2021-22 school year. However, the report did not mention the potential costs that public schools or the state could bear if public funds go to private education in the future.
This article features reporting by LINK nky’s Rebecca Hanchett.
By Kenton Hornbeck
Kentucky is one of eight U.S. states proposing an amendment to their constitutions this November to clarify that only citizens can vote in state and local elections.
The other states considering similar amendments are Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
Titled the Citizenship Requirement for Voting Amendment, or Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 1, the state’s Constitution would be changed to say that only U.S. citizens could vote in elections in the state, according to Ballotpedia. This also includes elections for school trustees and local school board elections.
Noncitizens already are not allowed to vote or register to vote in state or local elections. To vote in Kentucky elections, individuals must be U.S. citizens and have resided in Kentucky at least 28 days before Election Day. In addition, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton, made it a criminal offense for a noncitizen to vote in a presidential election.
There is no evidence that noncitizens have ever voted in state elections, according to Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams. In a phone interview with LINK nky, Adams, a Republican, said the proposed amendment doesn’t outright bar noncitizens from voting in state and local elections, but rather clarifies constitutional language regarding the potential of noncitizens’ being able to vote in Kentucky.
“The amendment would not in any way change the mechanics of the election,” Adams said. “It would not change the voter experience. It would not create any new obligations on voters’ part. All it would do is clarify law, because the language in our constitution is somewhat indirectly written, and it implies, but does not outright state, that noncitizens cannot vote in Kentucky elections. It says that every citizen can vote, but it doesn’t say that the noncitizen can’t vote.”
What is Amendment 1?
Specifically, the amendment would add a sentence – “No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in said elections.” – to both sections 145 and 155 of the Kentucky Constitution. As currently written, section 145 outlines who qualifies to vote in statewide elections and who does not have the right to vote in said elections. Section 155 states that school trustee and school board elections shall not be governed by the state’s constitution.
Another purpose of the amendment, Adams said, is to provide a potential safeguard from future litigation regarding elections.
“If the law is unclear, if it’s ambiguous, then you litigate it, and you get the courts to tell you,” he said. “The idea here is to simply have the voters tell us in our constitution that they agree with our interpretation, that noncitizens should not be voting in our elections in Kentucky.”
Overwhelming GOP support
The amendment, or Senate Bill 143, was first proposed by 11 Republican state senators on Jan. 29. It passed the Senate on Feb. 12 with a 31-4 margin. In total, 29 Republican and two Democratic senators supported the amendment. Four Democrats voted against it.
All five Republican state senators representing portions of Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties – Gex Williams, John Schickel, Damon Thayer, Chris McDaniel and Shelley Funke Frommeyer – voted in favor of the amendment.
The amendment passed the Kentucky House on March 15, 72-12. Sixty-nine Republicans and three Democrats voted for the amendment, while only Democrats voted against it.
Northern Kentucky Republican representatives Kim Banta, Steve Doan, Mark Hart, Savannah Maddox, Marianne Proctor, Stephanie Dietz, Kim Moser and Mike Clines voted in favor of the amendment.
The lone Northern Kentucky Democrat in the House, Rachel Roberts of Newport, voted against it.
State Rep. Steve Rawlings, a Republican
from Burlington, did not attend the vote but does support the amendment, according to a release from his office. Rawlings, like other statewide Republicans, argued that the amendment is “aimed at closing a loophole that could allow non-citizens to vote in elections.”
“I believe it is crucial that only U.S. citizens vote in elections,” he said. “Letting only citizens vote helps ensure decisions are fair and protect everyone. To be clear, this does not mean we do not appreciate the role of legal immigrants; it simply means we do not want guests making decisions for residents.”
Rawlings is running this year for the 11th District Senate seat.
Solution looking for problem?
While the amendment garnered overwhelming support from Republicans statewide, some Kentucky Democrats aren’t convinced it’s necessary. Sen. David Yates, a Democrat from Louisville, argued that noncitizens simply aren’t voting in statewide elections.
“I, too, would not want someone who’s not a citizen of the United States to be voting in our elections,” Yates said during a Senate committee hearing. “But that’s not happening. And I don’t think there’s any fear of it happening since it’s already in Kentucky’s constitution.”
Other left-leaning organizations, such as progressive news and commentary website Forward Kentucky, argue that the amendment is a ploy to motivate Republicans to vote in November.
Despite some criticism from Democrats, Adams said the amendment hasn’t really received much negative media attention or backlash overall.
“The federal law that prevents noncitizens from voting was signed by Bill Clinton, so I don’t think it’s a partisan issue,” Adams said. “I don’t think it’s an emotional issue. I think it’s just a common sense, practical thing. Our constitution, since 1891, has implied that noncitizens shouldn’t be voting. We’re just clarifying it.”
Amendment 1 text
Here is the exact language of the proposed Amendment 1. Voters will be asked to vote yes or no:
IT IS PROPOSED THAT SECTION 145 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY BE AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
Every citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen years who has resided in the state one year, and in the county six months, and the precinct in which he or she offers to vote sixty days next preceding the election, shall be a voter in said precinct and not elsewhere. No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in this state. The following persons also shall not have the right to vote:
Persons convicted in any court of competent jurisdiction of treason, or felony, or bribery in an election, or of such high
misdemeanor as the General Assembly may declare shall operate as an exclusion from the right of suffrage, but persons hereby excluded may be restored to their civil rights by executive pardon. Persons who, at the time of the election, are in confinement under the judgment of a court for some penal offense. Idiots and insane persons.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT SECTION 155 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENTUCKY BE AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
The provisions of Sections 145 to 154, inclusive, shall not apply to the election of school trustees and other common school district elections. Said elections shall be regulated by the General Assembly, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. No person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in said elections.
Covington to choose: Strong mayor or stick with manager?
By Nathan Granger
Covington residents will vote on a ballot measure this November asking them if they would like to convert the city’s government structure from its current city manager form to a mayor-council form.
The result could have ramifications on the political power structure in Kenton County’s urban core and affect everything from dayto-day city operations to economic development to residents’ relationships with their elected leaders.
The ballot question will pose the issue in the form of a yes-or-no question: “Are you in favor of the proposal entitled ‘Petition for the City of Covington to adopt a Mayor-Council Plan’? Yes or No?”
The conversion has many advocates, including current Mayor Joe Meyer and sole mayoral candidate Ron Washington.
Five of the eight city commission candidates — Tim Downing, Shannon Smith, Cari Garriga, James Toebbe and Tim Acri — also have explicitly come out in favor of the conversion. Several former commissioners, a former city manager and several prominent business leaders have expressed support, as well.
Is it a good idea? Doesn’t Covington already have a mayor, anyway? Let’s explore the differences between the current system, the one being proposed and what a conversion may entail.
Who’s the boss?
Covington’s current government is a city manager form of government. Under it, a city manager manages most of the day-today business of the city and its departments. Four elected city commissioners plus the elected mayor, who has relatively little direct authority, appoint the city manager.
If voters approve converting the government, the four commissioners’ positions would be abolished and replaced with anywhere from six to 12 city council seats. The commissioners elected in November would write ordinances outlining details of the new government – including how many council seats the city would have – by the end of their two-year terms. Residents would vote to fill the new council seats in 2026.
Under the current model, both the commissioners and the mayor have a vote in local policies. Mayors are responsible for running meetings, signing contracts and acting as the public face of the city, but they share executive and legislative power with the commissioners. The mayor cannot veto legislation.
In other words, executive and legislative power is spread evenly between the commissioners and mayor. No one has any unilateral power; the commission and mayor can exercise power only as a group.
That means every staff vacancy, every contract, every budget change, every street naming, every equipment purchase, every public project is subject to a commission vote. City operations, meanwhile, fall to the city manager and other professional city workers.
“Commissioners are not involved in the day-to-day supervision of employees,” said Morgain Patterson, director of municipal law for the Kentucky League of Cities, before May’s primary election. “They cannot independently hire or fire an employee. They cannot make unilateral decisions on the needs of the city. The board of commissioners really only acts as a complete body in and of itself. They don’t have independent authority, per se.”
The mayor-council form of government, on the other hand, is the older of the two systems and more closely resembles state and federal governmental structures. It invests greater executive power with the mayor. In doing so, it strips the mayor of a vote on legislation (except to break a tie) but grants that person veto power. (City councils have the power to override a mayor’s veto with enough votes.)
Moreover, it grants the mayor’s office more direct control over the hiring and firing of city workers, including police and fire employees, and governing day-to-day city operations. As a result, this model of government is sometimes referred to as the strong mayor form of government. Although it would be possible for the council to hire a city administrator to help run the city, the mayor is expected to take on most of the responsibility.
Just over half of Kentucky’s cities have mayor-council governments, according to the Kentucky League of Cities. That includes the
other two major municipalities in Kenton County – Independence and Erlanger.
Pros and cons
Proponents of the conversion view the city manager system as sluggish, opaque and inefficient.
“It means that five people really do get individually involved in many decisions big and little,” Mayor Meyer told the Latonia Business Association in July. “The result is confusion, uncertainty [and] delayed decision-making. With the change to the mayor-council form of government, there will be one boss for the executive function, not five. It’s clear and simple.”
The thinking goes that, by investing more power in the mayor’s seat, a centralized authority can accomplish things more quickly. This is especially true with economic development, where businesses sometimes have to wait for the commission or another city board to vote on relevant ordinances or approvals before setting up shop in the city. Ditto for professionals looking to work for the city administration.
Depending on how one looks at it, however, that could be a good thing.
“Council-manager government specifically was created in order to limit the amount of power that was accumulated in any one elected official,” said J.T. Spence, a former Covington commissioner and professor of philosophy and political science at Thomas More University.
He did not directly advocate for either government form when he spoke with LINK nky. Instead, he encouraged residents to think critically about whether a change was warranted before casting their votes.
After the interview, however, he submitted a letter to LINK nky more directly expressing his views on the topic and discussing the historical context of the reform movement that led to the establishment of the the city manager government in Covington in 1930, which aimed to ensure “that city hall was not dominated by any one special interest.”
“Americans have always been wary of concentrating power in any one person or group because power tends to corrupt,” Spence writes in his letter. “When concentrated, power also tends to limit what interests in the community have access to
the public agenda. The idea that democracy benefits from a fragmentation of power and having more voices setting public policy is captured in the American constitution, generally referred to as the ‘balance of power’ between the executive and the legislature. Council-Manager government is a system that reflects this balance and it is important to note that a key value of a democracy is not about how fast a decision can be made, but how well it reflects the interests of the community.”
Only one commission candidate, former commissioner Bill Wells, expressed some trepidation about the potential for a conversion.
He did not outright say that he was against a conversion – he said that he would go with whatever the voters decided – but he did express concern about a rogue executive. In the current system, he said, three people have to make a bad decision for a bad policy to be enacted; with a strong mayor, it takes only one.
Anxieties about inefficiency are reflected in statements from conversion supporters, especially in the face of the city’s continued economic expansion.
“One of the problems with the current form of government is a lot has to be talked about in an open forum,” Richard Dickmann, owner of the restaurant Smoke Justis and chair of the committee backing the ballot measure. “And there is a line of command, so to speak, that doesn’t have any one person with authority. Any business person would know that [with] everyday business, it’s hard to run a business by committee.”
Spence, on the other hand, said voters should consider what the role of government is – to be efficient or to ensure representation and equity.
“Government’s principal job is not profit-making, per se,” Spence said. “It’s about creating a livable community where people feel connected and part of the community [where] their interests are represented. Businesses typically only have a more narrow idea about interests.”
“When people are looking at this, it’s not really that one form of government is better than another,” Patterson said. “It’s just a question of ‘How do you want your city to function?’”
The Dempsey Fritz Haskell Group Michael A Dempsey, Director
The state of medical cannabis in Northern Kentucky
By Maggy McDonel
Starting Jan. 1, medical cannabis will be legal in the state of Kentucky. Over the past few months, municipalities across Northern Kentucky have been deciding what that will look like in the region.
Each city is responsible for creating zoning regulations to make way for (or not allow) those types of businesses to operate.
The state accepted applications for licenses between July 1 and Aug. 31. According to the Office Of Medical Cannabis, there were a total of 2,650 medical cannabis facility applications submitted in the state, far exceeding the available licenses.
Of those applications, 248 were for cultivation facilities, 117 were for processors, 2,282 for dispensaries and three for safety compliance facilities.
Cultivators, according to the office, are responsible for planting, raising, harvesting, trimming and curing the raw marijuana plant; processors are responsible for processing and packaging the plant material into “usable product formats”; safety compliance facilities test the raw plant materials and projects for contamination and purity; dispensaries sell the finished product to cardholders.
The initial cannabis business license application period is closed. By Oct. 1, according to the Office Of Medical Cannabis, the state was set to decide on applications and, if necessary, hold a lottery for the licenses.
As of publication time, an official lottery has not been announced, it is clear that one will occur. During this first round of issuing licenses, there are only 48 dispensary licenses, 16 cultivator licenses and 10 processor licenses available with no initial limit on safety compliance facilities.
Each region will initially be granted at least four dispensary licenses, but no more than one dispensary can be located in each county – the exceptions being Kentucky’s two largest counties, Jefferson and Fayette. So, who can use medical cannabis?
To qualify for a medical card, according to the Office Of Medical Cannabis, the applicant must be a resident of Kentucky, have no disqualifying felony offenses and be diagnosed with at least one of these medical conditions:
• Any type or form of cancer.
• Chronic or severe pain.
• Epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorder.
• Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity.
• Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Applications for cards can be submitted starting Jan. 1. Before applying, those seeking a card must get a “written certification for medical cannabis from an authorized medical practitioner,” according to the Office Of Medical Cannabis.
The office is encouraging patients and caregivers to wait until at least Nov. 1 to get the written certification because the certifications are valid for only 60 days and will not be accepted if expired.
Local governments have until Jan. 1 to take action on whether they want to allow busi-
nesses to operate in their cities and counties.
Some local governments have banned cannabis facilities, others have chosen to allow them and some decided to put the issue on the ballot to allow the citizens to decide.
Here are the conversations happening in the cities and counties across Northern Kentucky.
The odor issue
In Fort Wright, the plant’s famously pungent smell has come up several times during discussions around medical cannabis facilities.
Since Planning and Development Services of Kenton County initially presented medical cannabis information to cities, members of the Fort Wright city council have been concerned about these operations emitting an unpleasant odor.
“We can’t let the odor impact our neighbors,” Councilmember Justin “Jay” Weber said during the council’s July meeting.
“[Medical cannabis operations] could produce an odor,” Jill Cain Bailey, city administrator, said in response. “But Burger King also produces an odor. What is the difference if the odor is not toxic?”
Council asked Sharmili Reddy, the executive director of Kenton County Planning and Development Services, whether requiring a dispensary to be a standalone
Continues on page 12
Graphic provided | Kentucky Office Of Medical Cannabis
building would be an “undue restriction.”
“I don’t think we usually see that in zoning ordinances — requiring a specific use to be standalone,” Reddy said. However, regarding dispensaries possibly emitting odors, Reddy said, “You allow vape and smoke shops that produce odors.”
There are several smoke or vape shops within Fort Wright city limits.
Keshar Ghimire, associate professor at the University of Cincinnati and expert on marijuana law, told LINK nky he had seen this discussion before around medical cannabis.
“Similar proposals have definitely been floated in several counties across the country but often they don’t survive,” Ghimire said. “Such restrictions may go against the spirit of the state law that seeks to allow easy access to medical marijuana.”
Ghimire provided Spokane County, Washington, as an example of a county that has tried to legislate cannabis odor. Due to citizen complaints about odor, Spokane instituted a moratorium on outdoor marijuana farms. Spokane eventually lifted the moratorium, but the county went on to impose additional rules, regulations and fees on those farms.
In September, Fort Wright passed an amendment to its zoning ordinances to accommodate medical cannabis facilities.
Walton’s water concerns
A unique discussion around medical cannabis happened in Walton. The city council
voted in August to ban cannabis business operations, partly because, according to council members, it could put a strain on the city’s water and sewer systems.
Council members discussed at their July meeting that Walton’s water and sewer capacity would not be able to support large new cannabis operations, as it is already struggling to keep up with Walton’s continued growth.
Councilman Dan Martin said that most of the council is actually in support of the use of medical cannabis and that despite the decision not to allow cannabis operations now, the decision has the potential to be reversed in the future.
“I feel like most of council is in support of medical cannabis,” Martin said. “[But] if a large operation wanted to come in, we couldn’t stop that, and we’re just worried about water supply.”
Products already on the market
The Newport Commission had a long debate about medical cannabis during its August meeting, where discussions surrounded cannabinoid products that are currently legally for sale in Kentucky.
Commissioner Ken Rechtin said he intends to vote against allowing cannabis operations in the city.
“Just because the General Assembly gives us the right to do something, I don’t think we just have to do it,” Rechtin said. “I’m not sure that this is what our city and our citizens want, so I’m going to vote no.”
Rechtin said that, when he needs medi-
Cannabis decisions
Here are what local municipalities have decided to do regarding medical cannabis facilities:
Allowed
• Covington
• Dayton
• Erlanger
• Fort Wright
Banned
• Boone County
• Campbell County
• Kenton County
• Union
• Taylor Mill
• Walton
Placed on the ballot
• Alexandria
• Bellevue
• Crestview Hills
• Elsmere
• Florence
• Independence
• Southgate
The above list is up to date as of press time, visit our election guide for the latest updates.
All three counties passed bans on medical cannabis facilities, so municipalities that have not taken action fall under the county ban. While the time to place the decision on the ballot has passed, municipalities can vote to allow facilities at any time or stick with the ban.
cine, he goes to the doctor, who sends it to a pharmacy that counts out the pills and ensures he gets the adequate dosage.
He said the city is already selling gummies in its vape shops. During the August meeting, Rechtin held up a bottle of 48 gummies that he bought for $25 at a Newport vape store. He said the active ingredient is THC, which is a cannabinoid found in cannabis that’s the primary psychoactive component of the plant.
“I can open this, and my grandchildren can open this,” he said. “It’s a gummy. Tastes like blueberry.”
Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said that he agreed the product Rechtin bought was “a real problem in the community,” and that was one of the reasons why the general assembly made this decision to legalize
medical cannabis.
“That product is not regulated,” he said. “It has no consistency throughout it, and it has no actual measurements. So, part of the purpose was to circumvent that with something that was more regulated, had proper dosing and actually could be placed and referred to in regard to their condition and the right dose.”
Guidugli Jr. said he wanted to draw the contrast between the vape shop gummies and medical cannabis dispensaries because of the requirements and the standards in place for medical facilities that don’t exist for retail sale gummies.
LINK nky reporter Haley Parnell and contributors Emma Balcom and Kathleen Bryant contributed reporting to this story.
comm UNITY
House District 60: Deb Ison Flowers vs. Marianne Proctor
By Rebecca Hanchett
Reproductive rights and public funding for non-public schools are issues that draw a clear ideological line between candidates for the 60th District House seat in Boone County.
Marianne Proctor, a Union Republican, is the incumbent. The licensed speech language pathologist is a staunch opponent of abortion “from conception to natural death” and an opponent of mandated vaccines. She also is an avowed constitutional conservative who holds fast to what she calls the mantle of life, liberty and right to property. She supports fewer taxes and less government spending.
At the same time, Proctor has touted to LINK her involvement in bringing “more than $136 million for road improvements within District 60” since she was elected to represent the district in 2022.
Deb Ison Flowers is a Union Democrat and career nurse challenging Proctor. Flowers has said she is opposed to mandated vaccines and any government act that may take away a woman’s right to control her own reproductive health.
“Every human being is entitled to bodily autonomy and to make decisions about their own health care,” said her campaign website.
As for spending public dollars on non-public K-12 education, Flowers said she’s against that, too.
“We need to keep our property tax dollars in House District 60,” Flowers said on her website. “Further, both Ryle and Cooper high schools need to be expanded. I will fight for the money from Frankfort to see that these expansions can move forward in order to decrease overcrowding and recruit quality teachers to add to our already amazing school staff in Boone County.”
Passage of Amendment 2, on the ballot this fall, would allow state lawmakers to budget public money for non-public K-12 education in future legislative sessions. Proctor was one of dozens of House Republicans voting early this year to put the amendment on the ballot.
“Education is not a one-size-fits-all system,” Proctor said on her campaign website. “I will advocate for parental authority and school choice over leftist indoctrination.”
Other campaign issues in the district are affordable housing and creation of good sala-
ried jobs.
Proctor told LINK she wants to increase the workforce by reducing regulations and emphasizing a return to core academic skills. New development, she said, must be carefully balanced with protection of property rights and “preservation of our local character.” She also intends to continue to campaign for reform of certificates of need, the state program that oversees growth of health care services and facilities in Kentucky.
Flowers said she wants to see high-quality development of more low- and middle-income housing and expanded access to highspeed internet in the district, now impacted by what Flowers called numerous “drop zones” that make access unreliable. She also wants to see expanded public transit, better sidewalks, traffic relief on Frogtown Road and more.
“I will seek out funding from Frankfort, all
grant opportunities as well as partnership with local businesses who would be served by increased public transportation and improved infrastructure in order to make these things happen,” Flowers said.
When asked what the 60th House District can expect them to deliver should they be elected, both women said communication and relationship building are central to their campaigns. Flowers said open communication between her, local officials and individual citizens should be expected.
“The best way for me to make sure that NKY’s voice in Frankfort is heard is to ensure that I fight for and speak up on behalf of every segment of our population,” she said.
Proctor said listening to her constituents and keeping them informed of how legislation important to them is progressing should be expected if she is reelected. “I will continue to listen carefully to them and keep them informed on the progress that is being made to turn bills that matter to them into laws that work for them,” she told LINK.
LEARN MORE
Kentucky’s state legislative races will appear on the Nov. 5 statewide general election ballot along with federal and local races and two proposed state constitutional amendments. Voters can view current candidate filings through the Kentucky secretary of state’s website, web.sos.ky.gov/CandidateFilings
Deb Ison Flowers
Marianne Proctor
House District 64: Heather Crabbe vs. Kimberly Poore Moser
By Rebecca Hanchett
The race for Kentucky’s 64th House District in central Kenton County is between a conservative state lawmaker and a Northern Kentucky attorney hoping to become the first Black woman elected to the seat.
Kimberly Poore Moser, a Taylor Mill Republican, is the incumbent. The retired nurse and longtime chair of the Kentucky House Health Services committee is looking to win her fifth term in the House. Her opponent is Heather Crabbe, an Independence Democrat and local attorney who is an assistant dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and a former NKY public defender.
Both women are wives and mothers, but they are very different candidates.
One issue on which they differ is public funding for non-public education. Moser voted during the 2024 legislative session to put before voters a proposed constitutional amendment – Amendment 2 – that would allow state lawmakers to use public funds for education outside of the public school system. The ballot measure follows a state court ruling that struck down a 2021 law supported by Moser that would have allowed tax credits for donations for non-public education.
Crabbe rejects the idea of public funding for non-public education and has said unequivocally, “Public funds are for public schools.” Allowing public funds for non-public schools, she told LINK, would be
“detrimental” to most families in the 64th District.
“Most families in this district send their children to public schools,” Crabbe said. “What we’re talking about would be detrimental. It would destroy our public school system to take those public funds out and siphon them to private institutions.”
They also disagree on women’s reproductive policy. Moser co-sponsored a 2019 state trigger law to ban abortion in Kentucky immediately should the constitutional right to an abortion under Roe v. Wade be overturned. The near total abortion ban allows exceptions only to save or prevent serious permanent injury to the mother, and not in cases of rape or incest. The ban went into effect with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022.
That year, Kentucky voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to en-
shrine the state’s near total ban in the state’s constitution. Crabbe said she stands by that vote.
“The people have spoken on their belief that a woman should be able to terminate a pregnancy within certain exceptions under the law,” Crabbe said, emphasizing she “stands with the majority of Kentuckians on this issue and supports common sense exceptions to the ban on abortion.”
Both candidates have said they are committed to building a stronger economy if elected, but they gave different answers as to how they would do so.
Moser told LINK in March she will continue to support infrastructure and development projects that bring jobs to NKY while supporting continued reduction of the state personal income tax, expected to fall to 3.5% in January 2026. Crabbe said she is a supporter of Gov. Andy Beshear’s Better
Kentucky Plan, announced in 2021 to create 14,500 jobs, build more schools and make other infrastructure improvements statewide.
Affordable housing, child care, transportation and overall health care access are also issues expected to drive voters to the polls this fall.
When LINK asked how she will deliver what her constituents expect from her if reelected, Moser emphasized working with her colleagues and others to create the best outcome for the district.
“It is important to learn from others, ask questions and pay less attention to political party and more to how an idea will broadly affect long-term realities for our district and state,” Moser said. “I am a proven effective leader, having passed and enacted more than 40 pieces of legislation since my first election. I work well with others and am known for hard work, collaboration and precision.”
Putting the interests of constituents and the district “above partisan politics” is what Crabbe said voters can expect her to deliver.
“I will work to build partnerships and find common ground to deliver results for our community,” Crabbe said. “I will prioritize the needs of our constituents over political games.”
House District 64 is made up of Taylor Mill, parts of Independence and Ryland Heights.
Effective Conservative Leadership for NKy
PRO-FAMILY
Pushing for affordable healthcare, defending educational freedom, parental rights, and religious liberty rooted in our nation’s core values.
PRO-WOMEN
Pioneering healthcare reforms to lower maternal and infant mortality rates and expanding mental health services provided by trained professionals.
PRO-BUSINESS
Driving job creation, cutting taxes for a stronger economy, and working to reduce insurance rates for businesses and consumers.
PRO-PUBLIC SAFETY
Backing law enforcement and first responders in their fight against violent crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal immigration.
Kimberly Poore Moser
Heather Crabbe
House District 65: Aaron Currin vs. Stephanie Dietz
By Rebecca Hanchett
Two Northern Kentucky attorneys are battling this year for election to Kenton County’s 65th House District that includes part of Covington, Edgewood, Fort Wright, Lakeview and Park Hills.
The Democrat in the race is Aaron Currin of Fort Wright, a Northern Kentucky native who told LINK nky he is running for election because of what he called “an extreme Kentucky GOP agenda that tramples on our fundamental rights, endangers women’s lives and is hostile to public education.”
The 65th District native said he “will work to bring accountability to Frankfort and support policies that build strong communities in the 65th District and throughout the commonwealth. I will stand up to special interests, work to fully fund public schools, and protect health care, women’s reproductive rights, worker rights and our personal freedoms.”
Stephanie Dietz, an Edgewood Republican, is a lifelong Kentuckian, mother of two and family law attorney first elected to represent the district in 2022.
She told LINK she is seeking a second term to continue her work, including passing laws that bring what she called “real dollars” to the district, improve public safety and create opportunity.
“My constituents expect me to be available
for them, listen to them, bring home money for projects within the district and pass good legislation,” Dietz said. “I have consistently made myself available to listen to my constituents in order to provide them with the information they need and deserve. I don’t care what party you belong to, I am the representative for this district, and I stand for all 44,000 of my constituents.”
Both Currin and Dietz received their law degrees from NKU’s Chase College of Law.
Dietz is the lead attorney and partner at Dietz Family Law, where she represents parties in divorce proceedings, including division of business interests, retirement accounts and other property, as well as child custody issues. She has been practicing law for 30 years.
On her campaign website, Dietz days that she is an active member of St. Pius X Church in Edgewood.
Currin served 17 years as a public defender before going into private law practice about two years ago. He graduated from St. Pius X in Edgewood and graduated from Covington Catholic High School in 1995.
Currin emphasizes on his campaign website that he is endorsed by Gov. Andy Beshear and is a strong supporter of Beshear’s Better Kentucky Plan to strengthen the state’s economy.
Both candidates said they are committed to public service and working collaboratively for the good of the 65th.
“65th District constituents expect a rep-
resentative who understands the district, will work in its best interest, is accessible to constituents and city leaders, listens to their concerns and advocates on their behalf,” said Currin, who vowed to work with Gov. Andy Beshear if elected. “Gov. Beshear won the 65th by 17 points last year, so they also expect a representative who supports the governor’s agenda and will work with him to build a better, brighter future for ALL Kentuckians.”
Dietz said she will continue to build relationships within the Kentucky General Assembly and the district where, she said, she began forging connections long before her race for office in 2022.
“I’ve spent my legal career building relationships in my community,” Dietz said. “Over the last two years, I’ve expanded those relationships to include my colleagues in Frankfort on both sides of the aisle. I quickly learned that I need the support of my friends in leadership, in the Senate, and those who aren’t members of my party, in order to pass effective legislation.
“I also believe it is critical to take the time to genuinely listen to the people you represent,” she said. “I work hard to get out into all parts of our community in order to hear the stories, the ideas, and the criticisms from Northern Kentucky residents.”
House District 65 includes Covington, Park Hills, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright and Edgewood.
Aaron Currin
Stephanie Dietz
House District 66: Peggy Houston-Nienaber vs. T.J. Roberts
By Rebecca Hanchett
Limited government versus more responsive government is at the crux of the 2024 race to represent the 66th House District in northwest Boone County.
Northern Kentucky attorney and Republican T.J. Roberts of Burlington and Democratic school teacher Peggy HoustonNienaber of Union are in the race for the seat now held by Rep. Steve Rawlings, a Burlington Republican who this year is running unopposed for the state Senate.
Roberts, like Rawlings, is a constitutional conservative who believes in limited government. He said the district expects him to “fight for a limited government that respects the faith, families and freedoms of Kentuckians.”
“Part of what I’m focused on is not what I’m going to do but more so what I’m not going to do,” the fourth-generation Boone countian told LINK nky. “I’m not here to run your life; I don’t know how to raise your family. The constitution doesn’t give me the authority to run your life or raise your family, and, even if it did, I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that.
“I’m focused on ensuring we have a government that focuses on protecting individual liberty and facilitating human prosperity,” he said.
As such, Roberts’ campaign website says that he is in favor of school choice and pa-
rental rights, and told LINK nky he will be voting yes on Amendment 2. It also says that he is taking the fight to Gov. Andy Beshear.
“Get ready,” his website says, “because T.J.’s taking the fight straight to Beshear’s doorstep. No more government outreach – T.J.’s got your back.”
Roberts boasts endorsements by U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, Boone County Commissioner Chet Hand, Rep. Savannah Maddox and Rep. Steve Rawlings, among others.
Houston-Nienaber, a former accountant and real estate agent, said she is running “because the Kentucky legislature needs representation that cares for the people of Kentucky.”
She cited concerns about medicine prices, wages and public school funding.
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“I am a proud Boone County, Kentuckian and I decided to run because our legislature needs people like me,” she says on her campaign website. “ My accounting/ finance experience and my ability to communicate effectively will help lift up Kentuckians, and bring our state to the level it needs.”
Houston-Nienaber said she's focused on helping current and future generations in a state where she said public schools need more support and health care needs are underserved.
“Our public schools deserve to be enhanced instead of constantly belittled and held in contempt with the legislature,” she told LINK.
When asked how she will deliver as a lawmaker, Houston-Nienaber said she’ll work well with others. Collaboration and build-
ing consensus in Frankfort is, she said, “essential.”
“A state representative should be able to collaborate effectively with colleagues from both their own and other parties, building coalitions to pass legislation and address issues,” she said.
Roberts – one of three local churchgoers who successfully sued the Beshear administration after they were ordered to quarantine or possibly face misdemeanor charges for attending Easter morning church services against Beshear’s COVID-19 orders in 2020 – is willing to challenge the status quo when necessary, he told LINK.
“The biggest thing I want to leave as a legacy is standing up for the average person against those who would suppress their pursuit of what gives them meaning,” Roberts told LINK. Reducing taxes, legislatively supporting small business and local infrastructure, and keeping government where he believes it belongs are among his plans if elected.
“I intend to fight for Northern Kentucky’s interests by advocating for the true role of government, which is to fight for life, liberty and property so that Northern Kentucky families can thrive,” Roberts said.
House District 66 is made up of part of Boone County, including Hebron, Burlington and Florence.
T.J. Roberts
Peggy Houston-Nienaber
By Rebecca Hanchett
DHouse District 67: Terry Hatton vs. Matt Lehman
emocrat Matt Lehman and Republican Terry Hatton have both vowed to put their constituents first should they be elected to the 67th House District seat left open this year with the retirement of Democratic Rep. Rachel Roberts.
Hatton, of Bellevue, is the owner of a private security and consulting firm and a military veteran who has been involved for over 25 years with the Bellevue Vets youth ball leagues and other groups. While serving in the United States Army, he received honors such as an Army Service Ribbon, an Army Achievement Medal and the good conduct medal.
Lehman, of Newport, is a longtime health care executive and local volunteer with groups including the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. He told LINK nky the district needs a “work horse” to meet regional needs.
Both said they are running for the seat because they believe they better represent the people in the 67th District.
“I will deliver by being a dedicated advocate for my constituents, prioritizing their needs and concerns in every decision I make,” Hatton said. “I want to ensure that our state government works for all Kentuckians, protecting the values we hold dear while addressing the challenges we face.… I never want our district to be forgotten about in Frankfort. I will always make sure that we,
According to his campaign website, Hatton has volunteered in Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio for more than 30 years with multiple organizations, including Bellevue Veterans Club, American Society for Industrial Security, the Reds Community Fund and Knights of Columbus.
Lehman said he intends to bring “good representation” to the 67th district.
“This part of the state is booming, population is increasing, and we need to make sure that people are working for our interests in Frankfort,” Lehman said. “That’s what led me to do this. It’s important to have good representation for our district, and I think I have the ability to do the job well.”
In a survey of about 5,000 voters in the district, Lehman said housing costs, transportation needs and reproductive rights
were among their top concerns. Improving district infrastructure, worker’s rights and supporting public education are also part of his platform.
Lehman graduated from Covington Catholic High School. He received his bachelor’s from the University of Louisville and his master’s from Columbia University. He has managed and founded several health care companies, his website says, and currently works in the biotechnology field, helping to develop new therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
This is the second time in two years that Lehman has been on the ballot in Kentucky. In 2022, he lost his race to unseat 4th District U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican. Massie is running unopposed this fall after defeating two challengers in the May 21 primary.
The open seat left by Roberts’ retirement
encouraged Lehman to try for state office, he said – adding that he thinks he can win.
“The issues that are important to me are the issues that are important to my neighbors,” Lehman told LINK.
On his campaign website, Lehman says that “significant work remains to ensure all of us have access to opportunities in our region.”
Those include affordable housing, teacher pay, what he calls “extremist” abortion laws and the opioid crisis.
Hatton said he is ready to get to work on “key issues such as education, infrastructure, public safety and economic growth, leveraging my experience and skills to develop practical solutions.”
Economic development is one of the issues Hatton emphasizes on his website, saying that, by fostering economic growth, the region can attract new businesses, support existing industries, and create opportunities for individuals and families to prosper.
“I am dedicated to fighting for better education, supporting our veterans, and ensuring that our infrastructure meets the needs of our growing communities,” Hatton told LINK. “I also believe in the importance of parental rights in education, giving families a voice in their children’s future.”
The 67th House District includes Bellevue, Dayton, Newport, Wilder, Woodlawn, parts of Highland Heights and Southgate, and parts of Fort Thomas and Cold Spring.
District 67, have a seat at the table.”
Matt Lehman
Terry Hatton
By Rebecca Hanchett
THouse District 68: Mike Clines vs. Brandon Long
wo Northern Kentucky educators with different views on issues impacting public schools are squaring off in a battle for the 68th House District seat that crosses urban and suburban Campbell County.
Mike Clines, an Alexandria Republican, is a longtime NKY private school educator first elected to represent the district in 2022. His challenger is Fort Thomas Democrat Brandon Long, a Harlan County-born school teacher, ordained minister and director of education at Trinity Episcopal Covington.
Both men spent years teaching at private schools, with Long most recently teaching second grade students in private schools in Cincinnati and Clines most recently serving as an administrator in the Diocese of Covington school system.
Long, who is gay, said he is running on a “Kids First” platform that he said attempts to make space for everyone, including transgender students. Part of his inspiration, he said, comes from the Kentucky state flag and its emblem of a statesman and pioneer.
“That’s the true spirit of Kentucky,” Long said. “That’s how we’ve been – and we need to get back to that. If I’m a state representative, I will be a representative for all, and I would expect you to tell me your opinions.”
Clines told LINK he is running on his re-
cord, including votes to increase funding for the district’s public schools, safeguard the due process rights of certified teachers, improve services for children on the autism spectrum and secure nearly $34 million for both roads and other local projects. The Campbell County native said he has built a strong network of personal and professional relationships both through the education community and beyond that he sees as a strength going forward.
“These relationships have enabled me to be an effective advocate for our community, bringing about tangible benefits for our district,” Clines told LINK.
Clines said he’s in office to help the district and represent its interests, which he said he has done.
“My constituents expect me to be active in
the community, to be a tireless advocate for their needs and to stand up for their best interests,” Clines said. “They look for leadership that prioritizes addressing the housing shortage, bolstering child care, enhancing education, improving health care, reducing taxes and boosting infrastructure. They also expect me to support job creation, employee benefits and economic development while staying deeply connected to the values and concerns of Campbell County and Northern Kentucky.”
Long took issue with at least two of Clines’ votes. One was the first-term lawmaker’s vote for 2023 Senate Bill 150, a law limiting student gender expression in public schools and access to gender-affirming health care for minors, among other provisions. This year, Clines voted to put on the ballot Amendment 2 – a proposed constitutional amendment to allow state law-
makers to fund K-12 education outside of public schools.
Long opposes both SB 150 and the proposed amendment that, in his words, would allow money to be moved out of public schools already struggling for funding. As for SB 150, Long had a more personal story.
The 37 year old said he survived numerous attempts to “treat” his homosexuality via conversion therapy starting when he was in sixth grade. He said it sent him the message that there was something wrong with him that had to be fixed.
Part of SB 150 requires parental notification before a student struggling with mental health or other health issues can be referred to school health services – effectively removing school as a “safe space,” Long said.
“I remember little Brandon in 1999 in sixth grade trying to figure myself out, terrified of Matthew Shepard [a Wyoming gay man murdered in a 1988 hate crime], couldn’t really trust my family to come out to, so now imagine all of those children right now who hear about the legislation, hear the rhetoric,” Long told LINK. “If you remove those resources [from students] that’s not a safe space. My constituents can expect me to put kids first in every legislative decision.”
House District 68 includes parts of Highland Heights and Alexandria.
Mike Clines
Brandon Long
House District 69: Steven Doan vs. Wilanne Stangel
By Rebecca Hanchett
Erlanger is ground zero in the 2024 race for the 69th House District, as two candidates who call the city home vie for the 69th House District seat.
Facing off are Steven Doan, the incumbent Republican, and Democrat Wilanne Stangel, a library media specialist with 18 years experience in public and private schools. Both are lifelong Erlanger residents who say they have in mind the best interests of the district that straddles northcentral Boone and Kenton counties.
Doan, a local attorney, husband and father elected to the seat in 2022, is running for a second term. He served previously as general counsel in then-Gov. Matt Bevin’s Office of Agricultural Policy and as a member of Erlanger City Council.
His state legislative record includes efforts to bolster affordable housing by reducing regulatory burdens on builders and support for a proposed constitutional amendment to allow lawmakers to fund private education with public funds.
Doan “is running for reelection because it’s time that the legislature aggressively advances conservative public policy,” his campaign’s website says.
Across the political aisle is Stangel, a mother and grandmother who said in response to LINK nky’s candidate survey that she is running for the 69th District to unite the
community.
“My neighbors and community expect a representative who will go to Frankfort and focus on the kitchen table issues that impact real Kentuckians – not the culture wars that seek to divide us,” Stangel told LINK. “I will show up in Frankfort ready to focus on the issues important to my district, and ready to work with Gov. Beshear on Day 1 to support Kentucky’s working families.”
Stangel has emphasized her support for public education, reproductive rights and Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration on her campaign website.
“Her time spent in a wide variety of schools and her experiences raising a child on the autism spectrum have led her to be a strong advocate for public education and intellectual freedom; affordable, accessible health care that is medically, not politically, de-
termined; and the workforce development and support systems (child care, affordable housing, etc.) that working families deserve in the changing economic landscape,” the site says.
Stangel is a lifelong Erlanger resident who went to Lloyd High School. She raised her three children in Erlanger, according to her campaign website, and all of them still live there.
Stangel has a master’s degree in library media education and worked in both private and public school settings for 18 years.
“Her time spent in a wide variety of schools, and her experiences raising a child on the autism spectrum, have led her to be a strong advocate for public education and intellectual freedom,” her campaign website says.
Doan‘s campaign website lists his policy stances as opposing abortion rights, supporting the Second Amendment, being fiscally conservative and “intent to clean out corruption from Frankfort while making it easier for you to live your life without government interference.
“As a father with two children under the age of 3, I am deeply concerned by the state of our economy, educational system and the erosion of the American dream,” the website says. “Too often our leaders make promises and never uphold them. I can proudly say that, when I tell you I am ‘fighting for the future of Kentucky,’ you can see it in my actions. I am fighting not only for the future of my children, but for the futures of children all over the commonwealth.”
Doan’s website says that he served on judiciary, education and local government standing committees and that he successfully represented law enforcement in federal court.
It continues to say that Doan “is committed to defending the unborn and will advocate for the life at conception act.”
Doan graduated from Lloyd High School and Northern Kentucky University for his undergraduate degree. He received his law degree from NKU’s Chase College of Law.
Doan did not respond to LINK’s request for answers to our candidate questions.
House District 69 is made up of parts of Boone and Kenton Counties.
Steven Doan
Wilanne Stangel
House District 78: Mark Hart vs. Timothy Johnson
By Rebecca Hanchett
Mark Hart is running against independent challenger Timothy D. Johnson of Walton for the House 78th District.
Hart has held the seat since 2017.
Since then, he has been reelected three times and racked up several legislative wins, especially on issues involving emergency medical services. It’s a field that Hart – an experienced paramedic and firefighter – knows well.
The Falmouth Republican is both a captain with Pendleton County Emergency Medical Services and a founding member of Pendleton County Search and Rescue.
Hart also worked as a paramedic and fire-
fighter with the Lexington Fire Department, retiring as a lieutenant.
That experience has worked its way into statute through recently passed legislation Hart has sponsored, including:
• 2023 House Bill 157, which created the Kentucky Urban Search and Rescue Program under the state Division of Emergency Management.
• 2022 House Bill 372 (now law), which involves administrative and budget reporting by fire districts and requires yearly financial review of both fire districts and nonprofit fire departments.
In addition to his legislative service, Hart also served from 1994 to 2003 in the Kentucky Army National Guard.
Hart is the House chair of the statutory
Government Contract Review Committee responsible for legislative review of state agency memoranda of agreements and personal service contracts.
Outside of his current public service is past military service. According to his biography published by the Legislative Research Commission, Hart served in the Kentucky Army National Guard as an artilleryman, combat MP, and medic from 1994 to 2003.
LINK nky was unable to reach Johnson for this story. Johnson does not have a website or Facebook page with information about what he stands for or what he intends to do if he wins.
House district 78 is made up of parts of Alexandria, Independence and Walton. Mark Hart
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION:
ON AMENDMENT 2
On Oct. 14, LINK nky held its first Community Conversation event about Amendment 2, which proposes significant changes to how school funding can be used in Kentucky. The panel discussion included Protect our Schools Chair Tom Shelton, Bluegrass Institute President Jim Waters and Jorge Elorza, CEO of Democrats for Education Reform.
The event was the first in a continuing series that will occur bimonthly in 2025.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH A RECORDING OF THE EVENT.
Tom Shelton
Jim Waters
Jorge Elorza
By Rebecca Hanchett
ESenate District 17: Kiana Fields vs. Matt Nunn
ducation and the economy top the list of issues for two candidates running to replace Georgetown Republican Damon Thayer in the 17th Senate District. The district includes part of Kenton and Fayette counties and all of Scott and Grant counties.
The Democrat in the race is Kiana Fields of Georgetown, a Scott County native whose family roots in the region trace back to the enslavement of her ancestors in the 1840s.
Fields attended Scott County public schools and is a graduate of Centre College and the University of Louisville, where she is the university’s research and education coordinator.
Fields told LINK nky that her years in public school and her career in postsecondary education have shown her “the importance of funding and resources for public schools from pre-K to college age.”
Support for education, she said, leads to a stronger workforce.
“My career in postsecondary education has provided me with the opportunity to work, recruit and learn about different parts of Kentucky, supporting the growth and retention of talent for our state’s workforce,” Fields said. “This experience has given me a deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities that exist within our district and throughout the commonwealth.”
Access to health care for all – including mental health care – and economic growth “built on small businesses, attracting new industries and supporting the Kentucky agricultural community” while protecting workers’ labor rights are also part of Fields’ platform
Matt Nunn is a Sadieville Republican who is vice president of enterprise risk management at Toyota’s sole general trading company Toyota Tsusho America and owner (along with his wife, Ashley Nunn) of Slainte Public House in Georgetown. He also served with the Kentucky Army National Guard.
His focus for the district, Nunn told LINK, is business-friendly policies, eliminating the state income tax, limited government and improving public schools no matter what voters decide on Amendment 2 this fall.
He did tell LINK nky he will be voting for Amendment 2, which is a proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot that would allow state lawmakers to budget public funding for K-12 education outside of the public school system.
“Regardless of what happens with the ballot measure, 85% or 90% of our kids are going to remain in public schools, and they have to be effective,” Nunn told LINK nky. “They have to be places where parents feel comfortable sending their kids but also places where teachers want to be. So I’m very passionate and intent on doing all I can to support public schools.”
Nunn told LINK nky he is opposed to exceptions to Kentucky’s abortion ban for rape or incest because the trauma of having an abortion can be equal to the trauma of carrying a child who is the result of rape
or incest to term.
When asked by LINK how they will deliver on their goals if elected, both candidates talked about working well with others to improve life in the 17th.
Nunn said he will use his experience as a problem solver and consensus builder, “listening to learn so I can understand an issue from different perspectives, working hard to develop effective solutions to problems, and keeping my reason for running at the forefront.”
Fields said she will use her professional skills “to foster collaboration across the aisle. Transparency is key; I will ensure that the public is informed about what is happening and the reasons behind my proposed and supported legislation.”
Fields told LINK nky that when it comes to Kentucky’s abortion ban, she believes that is a medical decision that should be up to a family and their doctor and not up to the legislative body. She also said that, should she win election, she would work to tackle the problem of maternal mortality.
Fields told LINK that, regarding Kentucky’s abortion ban, rather than diverting funds away from public schools, Kentucky should focus on how to fix the problems that exist within public schools in the first place.
Senate District 17 includes part of Kenton County, including Independence, Crittenden and Dry Ridge.
Kiana Fields
Matt Nunn
Senate District 23: Chris McDaniel vs. Jennifer Sierra
By Rebecca Hanchett
Chris McDaniel squares off with local business owner Jennifer Sierra in the 23rd Senate District race to represent north Kenton County.
McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, is a former commissioned U.S. Army officer and president of McD Concrete in Erlanger. He’s running for a fourth term in the Kentucky Senate, where he chairs the powerful Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Sierra, D-Covington, is a small business owner, artist and children’s book author.
When LINK nky asked both candidates what the district should expect from them if elected, McDaniel emphasized lower taxes, investments in education, infrastructure and quality of life. Sierra emphasized reproductive rights, support for public education, better health care and economic growth, including in Kentucky’s clean energy sector.
As budget chair, McDaniel played a key role in helping to lower the state income tax under a 2022 law that allowed the individual tax rate to fall to 4% over the past two fiscal years. He said Northern Kentucky can expect lower taxes if he is elected, and that he would be in favor of lowering Kentucky’s income tax to zero.
“I have a record of accomplishment for Northern Kentucky,” he told LINK. “I have been at the forefront of reducing taxes by 33%, crafting incentives to recruit companies like Amazon and Coca-Cola, and shor-
Classifieds
ing up safety nets for our most vulnerable.”
Projects brought to the region while McDaniel has held the 23rd District seat include the Brent Spence Bridge project, Fourth Street Bridge project and funding for a new biomedical center at the old IRS site in Covington.
“Along with numerous other projects, I have been at the forefront of demonstrating that a conservative approach to government delivers major wins for our region,” McDaniel told LINK.
McDaniel was born in Covington and grew up in Taylor Mill. He graduated from Covington Latin, then the Citadel before being commissioned as an infantry officer in the United States Army. He currently lives in Ryland Heights with his wife, Renee, and six children.
Sierra said she is running against McDaniel “because District 23 is not being represented or heard on the issues that impact their lives, like women’s reproductive rights, quality public education, health care access and affordability, workers’ rights and protecting our environment.”
The owner of Framed NKY and Silver Sun Studio in Crescent Springs, artist and author of the children’s book “Merry Christmas, Y’all” said her “persistent, compassionate and honest” leadership style will make her the effective leader Kentuckians expect.
“I am a creative person, and will go to Frankfort ready to listen to my constituents and my colleagues and work together to find solutions to the problems that face Northern Kentucky,” she told LINK. “I am a small business owner and will support
policies that encourage strong economic growth and bring good jobs” to NKY.
If Sierra wins, it will be the first time a Democrat has won the 23rd district since Joe Meyer, now Covington’s mayor, held the seat from 1980 to 1997.
Sierra has served on the boards of nonprofit organizations including the March of Dimes, Women Helping Women. She has also volunteered with local arts organizations including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Sierra says, on her campaign website, that she wants to see working Kentuckians treated fairly and get the benefits they need and deserve.
McDaniel – who described his leadership style to LINK as “from the front” – had two words to describe why he is hoping to win a fourth term: servant leadership, which he believes he delivers.
“I believe firmly in the greatness of our nation and our commonwealth,” McDaniel said. “Providing servant leadership is the only way to preserve that greatness, which is why I am running.”
Kentucky Senate District 23 is made up of mostly of Kenton County, including parts of Covington, Park Hills, Villa Hills, Crescent Springs, Fort Wright, Crestview Hills, Erlanger and Taylor Mill.
Jennifer Sierra
Chris McDaniel
Building trust and homes: Clear Sight Homes’ commitment to delivering value
In today’s housing market, which can be difficult to navigate, finding a builder that delivers more for your money is essential. Clear Sight Homes excels by offering exceptional value while ensuring that every customer enjoys a seamless home-building experience. With Clear Sight, the price is transparent, the quality is unmatched, and your vision is brought to life with a personal touch.
“In an industry that works to advertise the lowest price possible, customers often find themselves disappointed in the value of what they get with larger builders. At Clear Sight we take a different approach and believe our customers will be relieved at the included value of our homes,” said Anthony Beauchene, director of sales.
“Our CORE VALUES are non-negotiable for us,” said Archie Searp, owner. “From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, our customers know exactly what value to expect. There’s no ambiguity, no second guessing. We use these principles to guide us through every step of the process, and our clients appreciate the peace of mind that comes with it.”
This customer commitment is especially valuable for homebuyers, whether it is their first home or their fifth. Clear Sight simplifies the journey by ensuring every client understands the costs, timelines, and steps involved. By eliminating surprises, the company fosters trust and builds strong relationships with each homeowner.
Personalized Customer Experience: Building Homes, Not Houses
Beyond integrity and transparency, Clear Sight Homes offers a unique level of customization rarely seen in the industry. Not only can homeowners visit their design center to choose features that match their style and preferences, they can fully customize the house, down to creating their own floor plans. This flexibility, typically reserved for high-end homes, is a testament to Clear Sight’s dedication to making every house a reflection of its owner’s vision.
“We believe, regardless of price point, every customer should have options
to customize their home,” said Isabelle Wilson, design consultant. “Every homeowner is unique, and their homes should be too. Whether it’s selecting the perfect countertops or customizing the layout to fit a homeowner’s needs, we give our clients the opportunity to create a home they’ll love for years to come.”
Clients can work directly with Clear Sight’s architects, ensuring their input is considered throughout the design process. This personalized attention ensures homes are not only aesthetically beautiful but also functional for the people who will live in them, demonstrating the company’s focus on continuous improvement
Rob and Lyndsey Hassman, customers of Clear Sight Homes, shared their experience: “Their craftsmanship, expertise, and attention to detail made our home a showstopper,” said the Hassmans. “Throughout the project, their personalized customer service was outstanding.”
Building on Your Own Lot: A Unique Flexibility
One of Clear Sight Homes’ standout offerings is the ability to build on your own lot, or choose one of the many Clear Sight-owned lots throughout Northern Kentucky. Unlike many builders that limit clients to predetermined plots in large developments, Clear Sight gives homeowners the freedom to choose their location. This flexibility is a game-changer for families who already own land or have a specific place in mind, highlighting Clear Sight’s dedication to communi-
ty betterment and personalized service.
This flexibility in lot choice allows homeowners to select locations offering more privacy, better views, or a sense of community they’ve already grown to love. Clear Sight Homes’ team works closely with each client to ensure the chosen lot accommodates their vision, making the entire process more personal and tailored to the homeowner’s needs.
A Dedicated Team Focused on Results
What truly sets Clear Sight Homes apart is the dedicated attention each client receives. Unlike larger builders where customers can feel like their experience is limited, Clear Sight operates with a team committed to making every project special. Their accountability and focus on results ensure every homeowner feels supported and heard throughout the entire process.
“The home building process can be overwhelming,” said Bre Schweitzer, construction manager. “But because we value quality over quantity, we are able to give each of our clients the attention they deserve. We’re there every step of the way ensuring they are happy with their final result.”
Clear Sight Homes’ intimate, hands-on approach means clients can expect frequent communication and updates. There’s always someone available to
answer questions, address concerns, or walk through the next steps. This level of customer commitment is rare in the home-building industry and has earned the company glowing reviews.
Crafting a Better Future, One Home at a Time
Clear Sight Homes has carved out a niche in the home-building industry by providing a unique combination of integrity, customization, and personalized service. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or building your forever home, Clear Sight ensures that every step of the process is smooth, straightforward, and satisfying.
By allowing clients to build on their own lot or choose one of Clear Sight’s lots, offering a highly personalized design experience, and maintaining a focus on continuous improvement and transparency, Clear Sight Homes is making dream homes a reality for families across the region.
Jason Norwick, who built a home with Clear Sight, had nothing but good things to say about his experience.
“Building a new home with Clear Sight Homes was an experience that exceeded my expectations,” Norwick said. “I’d recommend Clear Sight Homes to anyone who wants quality work and outstanding service.”
With Clear Sight Homes, the value is clear, and your dream home is just a blueprint away.
Senior Living & Nursing Care
Where Care & Community Meet
Barrington of Fort Thomas
Boonespring of Boone County
Coldspring of Campbell County
Highlandspring of Fort Thomas
Villaspring of Erlanger
Contested races in Kenton County
Candidate names appear as they do on ballot lists.
Countywide
Soil and water conservation
district supervisor
(5 candidates, vote for 4)
q Andrew Johnson
q Gailen Bridges
q Nicole Clements
q Mark A. Nienaber
q Chris Kaeff
Municipal
Bromley City Council (10 candidates, vote for 6)
q Dianne Wartman
q Tim Wartman
q Gail Smith
q Keith Williams
q Michael Kendall
q Andrew Clift
q Kelly P. Dudley
q Patty R. Miller
q Jeffrey A. Creekmore
q Dave Radford
Covington City Commission (8 candidates, vote for 4)
q Bill Wells
q Tim Downing
q Bradie Bowen
q Aaron Wolpert
q James Toebbe
q Shannon Smith
q Tim Acri
q Cari Garriga
Crescent Springs City Council (9 candidates, vote for 6)
Elsmere City Council (7 candidates, vote for 6)
q Joanne Barnett Smith
q Rusty C. Smith III
q Maria A. Vogt
q Missy Enxel Tester
q Gloria Grubbs
q Justin Clifford Wade
q Serena Owen
Erlanger City Council (13 candidates, vote for 9)
q Diana Niceley
q Tyson Hermes
q Victoria Kyle
q Rebecca Reckers
q Jennifer Jasper-Lucas
q Michele Fields
q Thomas Cahill
q Gary Meyer
q Renee Skidmore
q Don Skidmore
q Frank A. Wichmann
q Christopher Farmer
q Renee Wilson
Fort Wright City Council (7 candidates, vote for 6)
q Bernie Wessels
q David Abeln
q Justin “Jay” C. Weber Jr.
q Scott Wall
q Jason C. Collins
q Margie Witt
q Jason Worms
Independence City Council (9 candidates, vote for 6)
Ludlow City Council (8 candidates, vote for 6)
q Julia Terry Navarre
q David Ziegler
q Stephen A. Chapman Sr.
q Sarah Thompson
q Abigail Miller
q Paula Hughes Graszus
q Samantha Matthews Frank
q Lori Davenport
Park Hills City Council (11 candidates, vote for 6)
q David Costas
q Joe Daugherty
q Greg Claypole
q Pamela Spoor
q Dan Warner
q Sarah Froelich
q Emily Sayers
q Laura Rippe Cardosi
q Matthew Breeze
q Steve Elkins
q Carlton Trinkle
Taylor Mill City Commission (6 candidates, vote for 4)
q Caroline Ann Braden
q Ed “Keeney” Kuehne
q Mark Kreimborg
q Daniel E. Murray
q Rose Merritt
q Stuart Bowns
Walton Mayor (2 candidates, vote for 1)
q Terri Lynn Courtney
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Bryan Roemer
Carol Franzen
Christopher Vogelpohl
Matthew Fehler
Christopher R. Barbour
Lakeside Park City Council (7 candidates, vote for 6)
Cassi Schabell
Dennis Landwehr
Mary Ann Thaman
Tom Bernheimer
Christopher M. Gongola
Schools
Beechwood Independent Public Schools Board of Education (4 candidates, vote for 2)
q Kyle Burns
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q Michelle Williams
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Please scan this QR code or go to linknky.com/ 2024-general-election/ for comprehensive coverage of ALL local races
When was the last time Republicans and Democrats agreed?
THEY AGREE THAT KENTUCKY PARENTS & STUDENTS NEED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES NOW!
WHAT IS AMENDMENT 2?
An update to Kentucky’s Constitution to allow for more educational opportunities for parents, students, and teachers. It puts students first, empowers parents, and increases teacher pay. It will protect Kentucky’s public school funding and structure.
WHAT WILL AMENDMENT 2 DO?
Increase teacher pay
Enhance opportunities for low-income, minority, and disabled students
Give parents more say in their child’s education
Put more money into Kentucky education
Protect public school funding
Enable Governor Beshear & lawmakers to create innovative education policies
VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT 2 ON TUESDAY, NOV. 5TH
Read the amendment at kentuckystudents.org
By Maria Hehman
Thanksgiving has evolved from a one day celebration with immediate loved ones and home-cooked meals centered around gigantic poultry to a nearly monthlong celebration. As part of that, “Friendsgiving” has become the unofficial day of recognizing those close to you that aren’t relatives.
As a true millennial, I have participated in this holiday many times over the past few years, and the biggest obstacle always is the food.
To truly embrace this unholiday and make the most of time spent with friends, the caterers below have got you covered. No burned turkeys or oven fires to ruin the occasion, just delicious cooking without all the mess and worry.
These five suppliers have all the essentials from appetizers, dinner, desserts and even drinks; no one in your friend group will have any complaints.
Brewed and Frothy Coffee Co.
Schedules don’t always line up, so making plans for a Friendsgiving event can seem nearly impossible. Sometimes it’s a two hour window on Tuesday morning that the entire crew is free. Traditional Thanksgiving food isn’t quite as appealing at 10 a.m., so brunch is the perfect solution. And what’s Thanksgiving brunch without a pumpkin spice latte?
Brewed and Frothy Coffee is a mobile coffee cart with all the coffee essentials and, best of all, a barista. You and your friends won’t have to worry about butchering their PSLs; they’re hand crafted for you when you book the coffee cart.
The coffee services are fully customizable,
Additional Info and Contact
Brewed and Frothy Coffee
Phone: 859-287-4515
Website: brewedfrothycoffee.com
Facebook: Brewed and Frothy Coffee Co
Instagram: brewed.frothy.coffee
Lucky Kentucky BBQ
Phone: 859-866-4523
Website: luckykentuckybbq.com
Facebook: Lucky Kentucky BBQ
Instagram: lucky_kentucky_bbq
RoRo’s Cookies
Phone: 859-466-4046
Facebook: RoRo’s Cookie Co
Instagram: @roroscookieco
Social Grazer
Phone: 859-307-8493
Website: social-grazer.com
Facebook/Instagram: Social Grazer
Eat Well Celebrations and Feasts
Phone: 859-291-9355
Website: eatwellonline.com
Facebook: Eat Well Celebrations and Feasts
Instagram: eatwellcincinnati
Friendsgiving food made easy
from menu to decor to custom latte stencils for a picture perfect cup of coffee. Beside coffee, Brewed and Frothy also offers tea, mocktails, lemonade and more. It works with guests to create a menu customized exactly to their needs.
Those with a smaller space or a trained barista already in the group may not need the full catering cart. Those guests can still order coffee – either as beans or bottled cold brew – along with house-made syrups.
This woman-owned business is popular for weddings, graduations and corporate events, but who says you can’t celebrate friendships with the same level of enthusiasm … and caffeine.
Lucky Kentucky BBQ
Nothing says casual Friendsgiving better than barbecue. Lucky Kentucky serves authentic homemade BBQ and all the comforting sides to pair with it.
Pork, chicken, turkey, brisket and salmon are just some of their BBQ choices. Your friends will be extra thankful when they show up to a smoked turkey and creamy mac and cheese instead of a boring dry grocery store turkey.
Lucky Kentucky offers full service catering, take away catering as well as cold kits, ensuring you’re covered whether it’s for a small gathering of close friends or a full fledged Friendsgiving frenzy.
Cold kits/warm ups serve between 10-15 guests and come with trays of chopped pork, mac and cheese, spoon bread and coleslaw, in addition to house-made sauces and buns.
Friendsgiving is meant to spend time with those that we choose to be in our lives. If someone’s stuck in the kitchen all day, it takes away from the experience. The ease of these cold kits ensures everyone has a chance to celebrate and chat.
In the true spirit of Friendsgiving, it should also be casual and fun, and nothing says that better than a little KY BBQ.
No party is complete without dessert. Pies tend to get all the recognition this time of year, but for large groups, they’re not always practical. For a dessert that will be a crowd pleaser while still giving the option of variety, RoRo’s Cookie Co. is the dessert destination for your friendsgiving.
This family owned business offers monster gourmet cookies in every flavor imagin-
able. Each cookie is adorably named after family members, with a brief description of the flavor.
RoRo’s namesake chocolate chip cookie is named after the owners’ son, Rowan. As a chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, this is in my top three of all time. Moist, chewy with a little crunch, the exact formula every cookie should be.
There are seven core flavors and often additional seasonal ones as well. The Dad, a rainbow sprinkle cookie, can be swapped with any color of sprinkles to match the ambiance of your Friendsgiving theme. If you’d prefer traditional fall colors, RoRo’s has leafy orange, green and brown hues to go with it.
The cookies can be ordered in normal and mini sizes and in a variety of quantities from three up to 48 cookies. RoRo’s offers pickup for all NKY residents and delivery within 10 miles of Union for an additional charge. These cookies also make for yummy goodie bags to send home with friends after a get-together.
Social Grazer
I once read that millennials like charcuterie because they grew up on Lunchables, and charcuterie is its adult counterpart. I’m not saying they’re right, but I’m also not saying they’re wrong. Charcuterie always feels like an easier idea than it actually is. After failing at making a salami flower for the 13th time, you start to question if a Friendsgiving is worth it.
Social Grazer takes away all the stress of charcuterie while still delivering delicious and stunning results. Its grazer boards are the perfect solution to a variety of finger foods that easily serves a crowd.
RoRo’s Cookie Co.
Coffee and avocado toast from Brewed & Frothy Coffee Co. Provided | Brewed & Frothy Coffee Co.
Lots of options are available at Lucky Kentucky BBQ in Walton. Provided | Lucky Kentucky BBQ Facebook page
What’s a Friendsgiving without dessert? Provided | Ro Ro’s Cookie Co. Instagram page
What’s better for Friendsgiving than a beautiful charcuterie board? Social Grazer’s got you covered. Provided | Social Grazer
bottles of wine, and no friend will have any room to complain. Literally. They’ll be too full.
Eat Well Celebrations and Feasts
HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE
Eat Well’s catering services cover the gamut for any gathering from a large corporate function to an at-home Friendsgiving feast. From appetizers to a full four-course dining experience, Eat Well has countless choices with a seasonal menu to pair with it. Its menus include choices for all meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner while also having ample options that cover all diets.
There’s a takeaway shop, ideal for smaller gatherings that don’t need a full catering service but still want the ease of not cooking.
The takeaway for Thanksgiving features classic dishes: an herb roasted turkey, stuffing, potatoes and a pumpkin cheesecake that is delectable. There are also options outside of the traditional favorites, like lasagna and quiche. The takeaway shop has pickup and delivery options to suit your party’s needs. It can be found on Eat Well’s website and, like its other services, can book quickly.
The almond flour and chocolate chip cookies are personal favorite desserts and rank in the cookie hall of fame. If you’re wanting an easy, nocook Friendsgiving meal with choices everyone in the group can enjoy, Eat Well has your gathering covered.
A Thanksgiving meal from Eat Well. Provided | Eat Well Cincinnati Instagram page
By Maria Hehman
DDrinksgiving: Dive into the holiday spirits
ive bars often have a bad reputation and negative connotation. Sticky floors, questionable characters and a touchtunes machine that hasn’t been used in a decade. Yet these are the same bars we rely on for cheap drinks and a hometown ambiance where all are welcome. There’s no bouncer guarding access at the door, no dress code, no enforced male-female ratio. The doors are always open, and the drinks are usually cold.
When out of town relatives come in, we may want to impress them with spots that serve flashy drinks coupled with unique decor, but those wanting to feel at home and just relax and catch up are better suited visiting these iconic NKY dive bars.
The Goat
The Goat is one of the newest places in Covington’s Latonia neighborhood. This corner bar has all the essentials for a fun and casual night out. Countless drink choices and snacks under $5, darts and occasional live music and trivia – there’s always a reason to visit.
The newly renovated interior still exudes traditional bar vibes in a less sticky and smokey way. One of the coolest features of the Goat’s bar is that guests can also order six or 12 packs of beer to go. It’s commonplace for breweries to do this with their homebrews, but for a bar it’s borderline brilliant.
It’s great for a pit stop before a family party where you can conveniently grab a case to go to bring the party home.
Old Guy’s Tavern
In a small strip in Burlington, a new dive bar awaits thirsty guests with beers and a laid back atmosphere. Old Guy’s Tavern exudes hometown charm and is a spot for all occasions. Like all good dive bars, its main focus is on a relaxing atmosphere for hanging out or watching a game with a cold beer.
Although it’s in the name, it isn’t just a spot
for old guys. Guests of all drinking ages are welcome. There are plentiful beer choices on draft, and in bottles or cans. There’s full selection of liquor, too.
For food there are fried appetizers, pizza, wings and burgers – bar classics that always taste good. The interior has plenty of seating that doesn’t feel crowded in a smaller space and plenty of TVs so you never miss a touchdown.
Pee Wee’s Place
Pee Wee’s is best known for its causal atmosphere and reasonable prices. Its slogan, “great fun, great food, great friends,” perfectly encapsulates the Pee Wee’s experience.
Beer buckets, sand volleyball and a slew of yummy food are a trifecta for a great evening. The wings are the best matches to the beer buckets. For football Sundays, the starters menu is the way to go. With choices of fried pickles, nachos and potato skins, fans will be full and focused on the game.
The large patio can fit every member of the family. From siblings to your third cousin, there’s a seat and a drink waiting.
Finke’s Pub
Those looking to hit the Covington bar scene have most likely passed this unassuming bar along Dixie Highway in Park Hills. If you blink too quickly, you may miss it, but those that visit can expect alarmingly cheap drinks, darts and TVs with the latest game. The front of the bar has a garage-like opening that opens to an outdoor patio. This welcomes the warm weather and sunshine in the summer, illuminating the bar’s interior.
Although the space is on the smaller side, you won’t be standing shoulder to shoulder screaming over music to order your favorite domestic beer. The drink selection is primarily domestic canned and bottled beer, with seltzers and select spirits thrown in for variety.
The easygoing, welcoming atmosphere is perfect for a pit stop to or from a family celebration. There’s nothing like decompressing with your favorite family member over a drink after a dysfunctional family gathering.
Larry’s
Nothing says all-American bar like neon beer signs, mismatched bar stools, pool and hot dogs. Larry’s in Covington has got the recipe for a dive bar down, and patrons can’t get enough.
Long before Zach Bryan came into town and put Larry’s onto the radar for many people, including me, true fans were downing hot dogs and shooting pool at Larry’s. A longtime staple of the Mainstrasse area, Larry’s can easily be overlooked nestled a street over from the majority of the Main Street bar and restaurant scene.
Larry’s is best known for its creative yet cheap hot dogs. They got all the bar necessities one needs for an enjoyable evening out. Any out of town relatives will be impressed with the marriage of simplicity and authenticity in this bar.
B-List
Every city has a hometown bar like the B-List, but only Bellevue has the B-List. It’s even dubbed itself as “the greatest neighborhood dive bar on the planet.” This dive bar has an old-school vintage feel, a spot even your old cranky out of town uncle will love.
The full bar assortment, with local and domestic beer choices along with over 30 bourbons, assures no patron leaves thirsty. It’s got a pool table and darts for your competitive cousins to play on as well as a large outdoor patio if you need space from your aunt’s incessant questions.
It’s a place where regulars and newcomers alike are welcome. Try it out with friends and family on Drinksgiving for a full and fun experience.
What to Know If You Go
The Goat Location: 3702 Huntington Ave., Covington
The GOAT, the newest addition to the Latonia area. Photos by Maria Hehman
Old Guy’s Tavern entrance in Burlington, a new neighborhood bar.
Finke’s Pub exterior patio, a small dive bar along Dixie Highway in Park Hills.
Holiday shopping in Northern Kentucky past
By Robin Gee
As the holidays approach, so, too, does the holiday shopping season. How and where we shop has changed significantly over the years. Holiday shopping in Northern Kentucky, like the rest of the nation, has reflected changes in mobility, access and tastes.
Spirit of Christmas shopping past
In the 1950s Northern Kentuckians could catch a bus to downtown Cincinnati to watch the Shillito elves in Santa’s workshop or wonder at the trains at the Cincinnati Gas and Electric display. Yet, they didn’t have to cross the river to find the perfect gifts at the department stores and five and
dimes that filled the downtown streets of Covington, Newport, Florence and other cities.
“Covington was a very vibrant city in the ’40s and ’50s,” said Jim Claypool, a retired NKU professor, local historian and Fort Mitchell native. “Every Christmas, there were decorations on Madison Avenue, starting at the bottom of Madison, running probably up to 16th Street or so with Christmas type lights, ornaments and so on.”
The streets were crowded with shoppers going in and out of the John R. Coppin’s Department Store, J.C. Penney’s, Sears, Robert Hall clothing, Woolworth’s and other stores in Covington’s downtown, he said.
Over in Campbell County, it was hustle and bustle, too.
“I remember window shopping on Monmouth Street with my mother right before Christmas, and then she would take us to the bakery on York Street and we would have the pastries for dinner that night,” Cathy Ahlbrand of Dayton said on Facebook.
Becky Griess Shanks also had fond memories of Newport shopping.
“I would ride a red bus named the Merchant Bus that ran from Dayton to Monmouth Street in Newport with my mom to go shopping. Monmouth had colorful Christmas lights strung across the streets.
We would shop at all the stores then eat BBQ sandwiches at the lunch counter in Woolworth or chili at Dixie Chili. We would then climb back onto the Merchant Bus and head back home loaded down with our colorful Christmas packages.”
Children were often given an amount to buy their own gifts for the family. Woolworth’s, Kresge and the Dayton Dime store were favorites for young shoppers. From 1939 until 2009, parents headed to Johnny’s Toys in Latonia to find gifts to fill Santa’s satchel.
The malls move in
By the 1970s the advent of large suburban shopping malls and plazas was underway,
The parking lot was packed outside Lazarus, one of Florence Mall’s anchor stores. The mall opened in 1976 and soon siphoned customers from downtown stores. Provided | Kenton County Public Library
siphoning customers from downtowns. Big box stores, such as Walmart and Target also expanded around this time.
Chuck Eilerman’s family built their Covington men’s and boy’s clothing store in 1892, a beautiful four-story building that dominated the corner of Pike Street and Madison Avenue. The business thrived for over 60 years, but, like many downtown stores, the malls and suburban plazas took their toll. The store closed in the late 1970s.
Florence Mall opened for business in 1976 with anchor stores Shillito’s, J.C. Penney and Pogue’s, although the offerings changed over the years. Malls offered convenient parking and one-stop access to the big anchor stores and smaller venues. By the 1980s, the malls became a mecca for teens and families.
Back to the future?
Many malls have shuttered or are struggling today thanks to another shift. Internet shopping — and the convenience of buying from one’s living room — has taken over a good share of holiday shopping.
Black Friday, the big brick-and-mortar shopping day after Thanksgiving, is still a thing. Yet, it is now followed by a weekend of online activity culminating in what has become known as Cyber Monday. When Amazon came online in 1995 it changed our expectations of how fast we can get what we want when we want it.
Despite the convenience of online shopping, recent years have seen some return to shopping in person. Today, holiday shoppers are encouraged to “shop small and shop local.” Northern Kentucky cities offer special holiday shopping events designed to bring visitors to their downtowns and commercial centers.
Locally sourced, sustainable gifts are popular as are hand crafted and artisan gifts. Is this the future of holiday shopping? We don’t know, but the reasons we shop are unchanged — to express love and cheer to family and friends.
People are encouraged to shop small and shop local at Bellevue’s Holiday Walk. Provided | City of Bellevue
Crowds fill Covington’s busy Coppin’s Department store at holiday time. This is a crowd from 1977. Provided | Kenton County Library Archives
Shoppers focus on holiday bargains at J.C. Penney in Covington in the early 1970s. Provided | Kenton County Library Archives
Packages stack up as more people are buying their gifts online, especially from the retail giant Amazon. Photo by Robin Gee | Link nky
Too many things? Give the gift of an experience
By Maggy McDonel
Sometimes you just don’t know what sort of gift someone might want, or you know someone who has everything. In that case, the gift of an experience might be the way to go.
Good thing Northern Kentucky is full of fun and fulfilling activities that range from creating custom bottles of bourbon to golf lessons to watching the Florence Y’alls play.
Create your own charcuterie board
Give the gift of cured meats with a charcuterie board-making class at VomFass in Crestview Hills.
During the class, participants learn techniques for creating a charcuterie board, which the class will then enjoy along with a salad, bread and dip, plus two glasses of wine. Recipes for items made during the class and discounts on any purchases made during the event are included with the class.
In the advanced charcuterie class, participants will be able to take home the board and the food they pick out. If you have six or more people participating, you can book a private class for just $5 more than a public class.
“Tailor
Public classes are $25 for regular and $30 for advanced. To register, call the store at 859-331-1896 or visit their Eventbrite page.
VomFass Crestview Hills, 2770 Town Center Blvd., Crestview Hills.
Get better at golf
While the holiday season may not seem like the best time for golfing, the weather is always perfect at Always in Play in Fort Thomas.
This indoor golf simulator offers both standard as well as private bay rentals, plus a putting simulation game and a full bar. Available courses on the simulator range from Pebble Beach to Marina Bay and more.
When booking, Always in Play recommends planning for about an hour per person as it takes around 50 minutes for someone to play 18 holes. Clubs are available for rent, but guests are welcome to bring their own.
Bay rentals are $20 an hour for both standard and private. The putting simulator is $15 for 15 minutes and $20 for 30 minutes. Club rentals are available for $10 an hour.
Always in Play, 90 Alexandria Pike, Suite 15, Fort Thomas.
Maid to Meet Your Cleaning Needs”
Bounce
the energy out of your kids
Looking for some indoor fun for when it’s too cold to send the kids outside? Or maybe you want to help a mom or dad friend with a way to get their kids’ energy out.
Head over to Sky Zone in Florence. On top of tons of trampolines, this indoor trampoline park offers a zip line, ultimate dodgeball, jousting, areas for parkour, air-filled courts for basketball, volleyball and more, plus a “Ninja Warrior” course and a “drop zone” for trying out cool jumps.
Memberships to Sky Zone start at $25.99 a month, and single-day passes are available starting at $25.99 for 90 minutes of bouncing.
Sky Zone Florence, 4999 Houston Road, Florence.
Blend your own bottle of bourbon
Give the bourbon lover in your life the opportunity to create his or her own custom bottle at Wenzel Whiskey in Covington. Participants try four barrel-proof samples from different distilleries around the country; they pick their favorites and create a unique blend of bourbon. If you fall in love, Wenzel will fill up a bottle or case for you to take home for an additional price.
Wenzel is open for walk-ins Thursday nights from 5-9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from noon-5 p.m. for groups of six or fewer; appointments are recommended for groups of seven or more.
The bourbon blending experience starts at $40 per person; all participants must be over 21.
Wenzel Whiskey, 15 Tobacco Alley, Covington.
Take someone out to the ball game
Give a day at the ballpark with a ticket to the Florence Y’alls. The season runs from April through September, with tons of home games where you can grab a hotdog and a beer. Tickets are available for individual games plus six- and 12-game packs as well as season tickets. Theme nights with specialty merch, drink and food deals and more happen almost every week.
Individual tickets start at $14, and season tickets are $384.
Thomas More Stadium, 950 Freedom Way, Florence.
A dog at a Florence Y’alls game. Photo provided | Florence Y’alls on Facebook Wenzel Whiskey on a shelf. Photo provided | Wenzel Whiskey on Facebook
Holiday events in Northern Kentucky everyone can enjoy
By Maggy McDonel
It’s almost the holiday season, and Santa Claus has lots of toys for every good girl and good little boy.
And Northern Kentucky has lots of fun for the whole family.
Whether you’re looking for something to do with your kids while they’re off school, need somewhere to take out-of-town family, or you’re looking for a Christmas-y date night, there are plenty of options for festive fun in NKY.
From ice skating to visits with the big man himself to light displays and more, there’s something for everyone. Read on to find an NKY holiday event for you:
Deck the Y’alls Lightfest –Thomas More Stadium
Thomas More Stadium is decked out in over two and a half million lights in celebration of the festive season. This is the second annual iteration of this holiday extravaganza, and this year, there are eight immersive themed displays, plus an ice skating rink and more. Select nightly events include fireworks displays, date nights, kids free skating and “lights and leashes” for pet parents.
Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. Tickets: $9 (children), $13 (adults), $11 (military/seniors); kids under 3 free. Information: decktheyalls.com.
Scuba Santa’s Water Wonderland –Newport Aquarium
Head over to the Newport Aquarium this holiday season to see Santa don a scuba suit and take a dip in a tank full of sharks, including the aquarium’s new zebra sharks and Shan, the new shark ray. While he’s diving, visitors can take the opportunity to tell him what they want him to bring them this holiday season. Wish-makers will also be able to color their own magic bubble to make sure their requests make it right to Santa’s ears.
Nov. 29 through Dec. 24. Scuba Santa included with general admission to aquarium ($22.99 for age 13 and up). Information: newportaquarium.com.
The Reindeer Farm –Bowling Green
While it is a bit of a drive, the Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green promises to get the whole family in the holiday spirit. Visit with live reindeer (yes, they are real animals), play games on the farm, enjoy the indoor playground and spend time at the petting zoo. Food trucks and free hot chocolate are available every day, and adults can enjoy tastings with wine from local Carriage House Vineyards. On select
days, there will be visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, plus book a reindeer encounter where guests can get in the pen with some reindeer.
General admission: $15. Information: the reindeerfarm.com.
Winter Nights & River Lights –Purple People Bridge
Walk the Purple People Bridge from Newport to Cincinnati and experience thousands of holiday lights, projected lighting, seasonal music, wreaths and views of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The bridge also features a 25-foot-tall Christmas Wish Tree, which connects with the community to provide gifts for individuals in need.
Through Jan. 5. Free.
A Window Through Time –Behringer-Crawford Museum
Celebrate Christmas past at the Behringer-Crawford Museum’s “A Window Through Time” exhibit. Visitors can view vintage feather Christmas trees, antique German ornaments, toys and more donated by Mary and Pat Ashcraf. Check out the displays of British cottages and “Carmen Miranda tutti-frutti trees.” Finally, stop at the classic “Holiday Toy Trains” display, which has been ongoing since 1992, featuring eight O-gauge Lionel model trains circling over 250 feet of track, with 30 moving accessories.
Available Nov. 16 through Jan. 12 during museum hours. Tickets: $9 (adults), $8 (seniors 60 and older), $5 (children 3-17). Information: bcmuseum.org.
ChristmasTown 2023 –Creation Museum
Walk through the Creation Museum’s botanical gardens, which will be lit up with thousands of lights, creating the Brilliant Lights display this Christmas season. Includes access to a petting zoo and children’s playground, plus performances at Legacy Hall.
Tuesday through Sunday, Nov. 29 through Jan. 4. Free with cost of parking; museum tickets sold separately. Information: creationmuseum.org.
A little girl looks at a reindeer at the Reindeer Farm. Provided | The Reindeer Farm on Facebook
Scuba Santa at the Newport Aquarium. Provided | Newport Aquarium
Winter Nights & River Lights on the Purple People Bridge. Provided | Purple People Bridge on Facebook
People walking through the Brilliant Lights Display at the Creation Museum. Provided Creation Museum | Facebook
The skating rink during Deck the Y’alls 2022. Provided | Deck the Y’alls on Facebook
