Democrats have high hopes for Klembara candidacy By Patrick Crowley, The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 20, 2006 FORT THOMAS - Campbell County's 68th House District seat is a tough place for Democrats. The statehouse seat has been held for a dozen years by Republicans, first by Katie Stine, who is now President Pro Tem of the Kentucky Senate, and since 1998 by incumbent Joe Fischer of Fort Thomas. Fischer ran unopposed in the last three elections. The district has been anchored by heavily Republican Fort Thomas, and as the populations of Cold Spring and Alexandria have grown, the district has become even more Republican. So why are Democrats putting so much time, energy and money into this year's race? The answer: Linda Klembara. Klembara, a 52-year-old retired teacher who grew up in the eastern Kentucky mountains and lives in Fort Thomas, has given Democrats what they believe is the best hope of winning the seat in a decade. "She is such a dynamo," said Richmond political consultant Dale Emmons, who advises the Kentucky Democratic Party. "We didn't originally recruit anyone to run for the seat, but she stepped forward and is such a passionate and impressive person. "We're all encouraged by her prospects and her work ethic. She is going to make this a great race," Emmons said. Klembara has three possible advantages going into the race, Emmons says: Resumé: Klembara's career as a teacher and principal in the Fort Thomas, Walton-Verona, Campbell County and Boone County schools gives her credibility on public education - a major issue. Platform: Klembara describes herself as a "conservative Democrat" who is against abortion and favors gun rights. In fact, her Web site has a photograph of her firing a shotgun. (Lindaklembara.com) Timing: Democrats across Kentucky are anxious to exploit the legal and political problems of Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who is under indictment for allegedly breaking the state's hiring laws and under siege from leading members of his own party who don't want him to run for re-election. Klembara, a fire-and-brimstone style speaker, has raised more than $30,000 and is getting campaign assistance from the Campbell County Democratic Party. She fired up the partisan crowd during last week's Campbell County Democratic Women's Club annual dinner with her campaign proposals and attacks on Fischer. "I'm for children. I'm for families. I'm for an improved standard of living," she said. "Education is the silver bullet to giving people the opportunities to improve their lives, and I spent my career in education." Klembara claims Fischer has delivered little to the 68th District. He has "abandoned" families by voting against an affordable housing bill and against a drug importation bill that would have allowed Kentucky residents to buy less expensive prescriptions from other countries, including Canada. She also claims Fischer violated a pledge to not raise taxes by supporting Fletcher's tax modernization bill in Frankfort, which lowered some taxes but raised others. "We haven't had a voice in Frankfort for eight years," she said. "I'm tired of taxation without representation. We need road money, we need school money. Where has Joe Fischer been?" If Fischer, a soft-spoken 51-year-old lawyer, is rattled by Klembara's challenge, he certainly doesn't show it. "I believe I'll be reelected because I have been faithful to the values and principles of the people of the 68th District," Fischer said last week. "I've voted for private property rights, low taxes, economic development and growth, and pro-life and family values issues." Fischer says his top accomplishments include: Helping defeat vehicle tailpipe testing. Sponsoring the so-called fetal homicide law, which allows someone charged with causing the death of an unborn fetus to be tried for murder. Supporting legislation to spend millions of dollars to improve Northern Kentucky University. Fischer also says he has helped bring road and infrastructure money to the district, noting the state is spending more than $2 million to add truck turn lanes on Route 1998 and more than $200,000 on sidewalks in Fort Thomas. Fischer said he supported Fletcher's tax modernization bill because it was "revenue neutral", which he said means in lowered taxes as much as it raised them while making the state's overall tax structure more equitable. Fischer said he opposed the drug importation bill because he feared drugs purchased from other countries would lack the safety checks implemented in the United States. And he opposed the affordable housing bill because it increased the fees on real estate transactions, which he felt was unfair and unnecessary. Kentucky Republican Party Chairman Darrel Brock said Campbell County voters are comfortable with Fischer's "record and values" and will return him to Frankfort. "Voters are going to make all of this about local politics," Brock said. "Folks who get up everyday, pack their lunch, take their kids to school, go to work. That's what's important, jobs and education, and that's Joe Fischer and the Republicans are going to talk about."