Northern Kentucky Loves Democracy | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
Release Date: 
Friday, October 25, 2013
Press Contact: 
Alex Searless
KFTC member
859-640-9435

Northern Kentucky Loves Democracy
Week of events to focus on keeping democracy healthy in a non-election year

Additional Contacts

Rachel Hastings
Center for Great Neighborhoods
859-547-5546

Lisa Ruschman
People Advocating Recovery [email protected]

Bonnie Meyer
Northern Kentucky Pride
513-461-4878

 

The Northern Kentucky KFTC Chapter is hosting a series of events they are calling Northern Kentucky Loves Democracy aimed at helping people interact with those elected to represent them.

The group hopes to use these events to celebrate, participate in and strengthen the democratic institutions that make our government representative and accountable, even in a non-election year.

Several other organizations, including Northern Kentucky Pride, the Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington, and People Advocating Recovery, are cosponsoring the "Meet Your Elected Official Nights" being hosted in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties.

The series will kick off with a “Meet Your Elected Official Night” in Boone County on Tuesday, October 29 at 6:30 p.m. The informal gathering will take place at the Gateway Community and Technical College - Boone Campus (500 Technology Way) in Florence.

A similar event will take place for Kenton County residents and officials on Saturday, November 2.  That will begin at 1 p.m. at the Center for Great Neighborhoods (1650 Russell Street) in Covington.

And for Campbell County folks will meet at the Mammoth Café (515 Monmouth Street) in Newport beginning at 5 p.m.

  • “The formats are aimed at allowing people to have serious conversations on the issues they care about, and to be able to meet people who represent them at several levels of government,” said KFTC member Virginia Johnson. “We welcome any elected official, but especially those who represent these three counties, to attend their respective local event.”

On Tuesday, November 5 – the first Tuesday in November that is Election Day in other years – the groups will host an “UnElection Party” featuring live music from local performers such as the Red Cedars, Kristi Kruer, Kyle Knapp and others.

“There is no election this year, but we want to raise awareness about what we need to do as a state to have a stronger democracy,” said KFTC member Alex Searles. “We hope folks will join us on the second floor of one of Covington's most recognized restaurants and bars for an evening featuring speakers who will talk about voting rights, our voter empowerment work and great local music.’

The series of democracy events will end on the following day with a letter writing party to allow time, skills building and materials to help folks feel comfortable writing letters to elected officials, media or other decision makers. That will take place at Roebling Point Books and Coffee (306 Greenup Street) in Covington beginning at 7 p.m.

Local KFTC chapter members extend thanks the hosts of each of these events, participating organizations listed above, and the musicians who are donating their time to the effort.