As part of the NKyTribune’s pre-election coverage, we have offered this space to the two candidates for mayor of Covington. Both candidates were invited to speak directly to voters in their own words. Today, current Mayor Sherry Carran; tomorrow, challenger Joseph Meyer. Remember that October 11 is your last chance to register to vote. Click here to register online.
Mayor Sherry Carran, Covington’s 41st and first woman mayor, served three two-year terms as a city commissioner starting in 2007 before becoming mayor in January 2013. She believes Covington should embrace the things that make it special, including its historic architecture, its distinct neighborhoods that enhance sense of place, and the quaint and quirky that add to the city’s charm.
Mayor Sherry Carran
In addition to her responsibilities as mayor, Sherry serves on the Green Umbrella Board, Tri-State Trails Board, Banklick Watershed Council, the NKY Heroin Impact Response Task Force, and Kentucky’s Law Enforcement Council.
For her work as a public servant, Sherry has been recognized by the following organizations:
• Northern Kentucky Area Development District’s Outstanding Volunteer Award
• Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky Award
• Kentucky Society of Architects’ John Russell Groves Citizens Laureate
Mayor Sherry Carran graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1974.
Why I should be Covington’s Mayor
My reasons for serving the City of Covington as an elected official have never been about the power or the politics, but about bringing a progressive voice to city decision-making that represents the best interests of the people.
My involvement in Covington and the larger community goes back to a time before I ever considered running for office. My focus has been on the future of Covington and its people. To prepare for the future, we must take a collaborative approach to smart growth, building strong neighborhoods, and creating positive energy.
My public service to Covington has helped make a positive difference and has brought the city past the pivotal point that some say the city is just reaching. Nationally, urban cores are becoming desirable places. If the city had waited until 2016 to bring about change to be included in this momentum, we would have missed a window of significant opportunity.
I have the background, the experience, and the right spirit that has helped guide us to where we are today and it is why I am the best candidate for mayor going forward.
Q: What are your top three goals for your (next) term as mayor?
1. Build a strong, connected community by supporting homeownership programs for all, eliminating blight, enhancing greenspaces, and focusing on people, not politics.
2. Grow Covington and attract talent by encouraging quality development and revitalization, addressing an aging infrastructure, maintaining a business-friendly environment, and improving walkability and bikeability.
3. Lead the fight against heroin by collaborating with agencies and grassroots organizations, increasing awareness among youth and adults, rallying support for those addicted and their families, and supporting law enforcement in reducing the supply and trafficking of the drug.
Q: What can the mayor and commission do to improve Covington schools? Is there a role for the city here?
The role of Covington City Government with Covington Independent Schools is to be supportive wherever and whenever possible and that is what we currently do. The city provides financial support to the Summer Scholar Program and playground improvement projects.
We also attend functions to show our moral support, including Read Across America Day, and by visiting classrooms to discuss the function and role of city government or to encourage students to think about their futures.
I personally have been involved with “Close the Deal,” a program brought to Holmes High School by former Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson four years ago to motivate students to graduate and to go on to college or other secondary education. In addition, Covington’s Bicentennial Legacy Project is a joint effort between community leaders and organizations to fast-track the improvements at CIPS.
Q: As mayor, what are your plans to address the heroin epidemic?
I have been involved with Northern Kentucky Heroin Impact Response Task Force for the last four years. This is a collaborative group of agencies, organizations, and grassroots initiatives working across Northern Kentucky. Recently, we have combined our efforts with Hamilton County Heroin Coalition to form Inject Hope Regional Collaborative, an initiative between Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana. Inject Hope has determined four focus areas where greatest success can be achieved:
1. Boosting prevention and public education efforts
2. Increasing and improving access to treatment
3. Reducing the number of fatal overdoses/reducing the harm and consequences
4. Controlling the supply.
I’m also involved with the Much in Common initiative that started as a regional group working with elected officials in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana on economic development. This past year, our focus has been directed toward the heroin crisis because of the serious impacts to safety, health and well-being of our communities and to our workforce. Much in Common works to inform elected officials at the city, county, state, and federal level.
Q: What do you hope will be your legacy as Covington’s mayor?
My hope is that when I leave office, Covington will be viewed in a positive light locally, regionally, and nationally. I hope our city government is seen as collaborative, fiscally sound, professional, and progressive. I hope our community is seen as inclusive, welcoming, and safe. I hope our city and its neighborhoods are seen as beautiful, cared for, and unique. Finally, I hope our city radiates the charm, creativity, and vibrancy conducive to a thriving environment for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.
Q: In what specific ways would you work with regional and state officials to improve Covington?
I have a track record of working regionally, as I mentioned previously. I’m also an active member in organizations as a representative for the City of Covington, including Ohio Kentucky & Indiana (OKI) Regional Council of Governments, Planning and Development Services (PDS) of Kenton County Management Board, Northern Kentucky District Health Board, Northern Kentucky Area Development District Board, and Kentucky League of Cities (KLC) Board. All of these organizations work towards the betterment of our cities, including Covington.
Regarding the KLC, at my suggestion we now have quarterly meetings of cities our size. Individually, cities of our size did not have a strong voice in Frankfort. Collectively, however, we do and through these meetings we have been able to bring attention to needed changes in state legislation.
Working closely with OKI and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Covington has received significant transportation grants. One of our major successes was being awarded a $3.9 million grant for the Riverfront Commons project that came about because of my direct involvement.
Working closely with Tri-Ed and Judge Knochelmann (Kenton County), Judge Pendery (Campbell County) and Judge Moore (Boone County) made all the difference in our success in bringing CTI (500+ new jobs) to Covington and encouraging Huntington Bank to invest in its downtown Covington building, making it its Northern Kentucky headquarters and bringing 100+ jobs to the city. Although it took nearly eight-months to accomplish, it was a great experience to work with all those involved and was a big win for Covington.
Q: How do you plan to spur development in the city and create more jobs?
Making our city a more desirable place to be and maintaining a business-friendly environment will spur additional development and attract more businesses, jobs, and talent. By working collaboratively with local organizations such as the NKY Chamber, UpStart, Tri-Ed, and others, investing in our aging infrastructure and projects that promote better connectivity and quality of life, and creating a welcoming environment for companies who want to start or grow their business, we will be able to keep the momentum moving forward. Incentives help, but building positive relationships and creating positive energy is what really attracts business leaders and entrepreneurs to Covington.
Q: A question of choice: Since your time on Covington’s Board of Commission, what has been some of your most rewarding experiences as a commissioner or as mayor?
My most rewarding experience as a commissioner was the adoption of Covington’s hillside regulations. These regulations were a part of a new zoning code adopted before I came on Commission in 2006, but the areas where the regulations applied were never mapped, keeping them from being used. I was the lone vote on the 2007-2008 commission to move forward with the mapping, so I went to the community for support. A grassroots effort was formed to advocate for the mapping so the hillside regulations would be implemented. This grassroots group did their homework and presented their case in a truly professional manner that people still mention to this day as one of the most impressive presentations ever made at the Kenton County Planning Commission. That presentation resulted in the passing of Covington’s Hillside Regulations with Mapping.
Honestly, it’s hard to say which of my amazing experiences as mayor has been the most rewarding. At the time, I thought it was receiving a check from Governor Beshear for $3.9 million for Riverfront Commons. At the time, I thought it was bringing Red Bike to Covington and better connecting our city with its neighbors. And just recently, I thought the announcement that CTI would be coming to Covington topped the list. But then Hotel Covington opened and it was amazing to see this project that some thought would never happen, turn out to better than anyone ever thought possible. All of the above are special to me and have been extremely rewarding, but looking back at my time as mayor, my fondest memories will be working with the best city staff a mayor could hope for and working for some of the most caring and involved citizens I have ever known. Covington is a wonderful place.
Q: Second question of choice: Who inspired you to take on the challenge of being as involved as you are, especially running for a city commissioner and then mayor?
There are three people whom I never met but have read about who inspired me to push myself to do more and to get involved to make a positive difference: Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, who is known for saving the Everglades. These three women would not be considered glamorous or necessarily smart business women, but they stepped out of their comfort zone to stand up for what they believed in. All three accomplished great things but did not set out to be great. They found a purpose and stayed true to it.
My husband, Bob Carran, has also been an inspiration. He has a strong belief that integrity and justice matter and without these qualities, our society would be in a sorry state.
Conclusion
This election is probably one of the most important elections in the history of our city. It has also been the most challenging race I’ve ever been a part of.
When I ran for commission in 2006, the city had been struggling and the message was that change was necessary. Ten years later, the city has new life and new energy and is the best position it has been in for a very long time. The message is clear: We need to stay the course and continue building on Covington’s strengths.
I’m running for re-election not only because I feel a responsibility to stand up for what is right, but because I also feel a responsibility to the people of Covington and to all those who have invested in the city and share in a positive vision for Covington’s future.
This race is about what works with the electorate. Does negativity and serving one’s self-interests work or does being positive and serving the greater good resonate?
The city is being seen in a positive light like never before and it is the result of nurturing the progressive spirit and the collaboration of many who genuinely care about Covington’s future.
Please help keep the city moving in a positive direction by voting for me on November 8th as well as those commission candidates who will build upon the successes of our current commission, a group that has accomplished much because of its ability to work together.
Thank you.
Tomorrow: Joseph Meyer
You may also want to read this NKyTribune story: A round-up of all Kenton County races on the November 8 ballot and a sample ballot.
Sherry Carran is one of the most humble and generous people I know, and I know her well. She never grandstands and always gives credit where credit is due. She has always had Covington and its citizens best interests at ~ always will.