Covington Commission candidate speak out on issues

COVINGTON, Ky. - Six of the candidates running for Covington City Commission outlined Tuesday how they would deal with issues facing Northern Kentucky’s largest city.

The candidates spoke to a room of voters at the American Legion Hall in Latonia on issues ranging from helping neighborhoods and businesses to dealing with cutbacks in city government and a pension system that increasingly threatens to drain municipal budgets.

The approaches to city revitalization were similar with a focus on neighborhoods, attracting new small and medium-sized businesses to the downtown area and optimism over the development opportunities that Covington campus of the Gateway Community and Technical College will present.

Candidate Greg Paeth wants the focus placed first on the city’s neighborhoods and as new residents move in business growth will follow.

“We need to rebuild the neighborhoods one neighborhood at a time,” Paeth said.

Mildred Rains spoke of the important role code enforcement plays in uplifting neighborhoods and warned that cutting back on code enforcement inspection undermines that.

All of the candidates expressed concern about the erosion of the riverfront, particularly along Riverside Drive.

“If we don’t do something soon it’s not going to be Riverside Drive. It’s going to be drive in the river,” said Steve Frank, who is seeking re-election.

Chuck Eilerman agreed the riverfront needs attention, particularly in light of the opportunities for the city presented by a trail system in the works and the return of the Mike Fink restaurant. Michelle Williams spoke of turning the riverfront into a centerpiece for the city. Write-in candidate Alan “Chip” Terry said the city should begin by providing better maintenance of the area and improving its appearance by making sure weeds and grass is cut.

Candidates also expressed concern about an unsustainable pension system and its drain on municipal budgets but said  that the solution must come from Frankfort.

The event was presented by the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington, the Covington Business Council, the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative, Friends of Covington, KyPost.com, Latonia Business Association, MainStrasse Village Association and the Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky.