http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... /609300352

Immigrants issue in city race

Post staff report


As congressional candidates across the country continue debating the illegal immigration issue, at least one candidate in a Northern Kentucky city race is adding it to his agenda as well.

Covington City Commission candidate Steve Megerle said he wants the commission to pass an ordinance allowing the city to revoke the occupational license of businesses that knowingly employ illegal aliens.

Megerle's proposal also would apply to landlords who knowingly rent to illegals.

"Covington has been illegally invaded by hundreds of people who do not pay taxes yet still consume city services," he said.

Illegal immigration has become a hot-button election year issue.

In Kentucky, U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, a Republican from Hebron, has run ads attacking his opponent and predecssor in Congress, Democrat Ken Lucas, on the issue.

In Ohio, U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot and Democratic challenger John Cranley also have been trading barbs on illegal immigration.

Megerle is running against retired Covington Code Enforcement Director Mildred Rains for the Ward C seat.

Rains said she doesn't know if the hiring of illegal immigrants is a big problem in the city.

She said she wouldn't oppose such an ordinance so long as business owners get a warning the first time and are given a chance to appeal if a license is revoked.

"Everybody needs to be given the chance to make right what they've done wrong," she said.