Mounce: Gas prices biggest tourism obstacle

Local News

July 28, 2008

Local News

By TRICIA NEAL, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Mon Jul 28, 2008, 08:21 AM EDT

Somerset-Pulaski Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Carolyn Mounce believes that the cost of gas — not rumors of a dried up Lake Cumberland — is the biggest obstacle for Pulaski County tourists this summer.

In spite of that, however, tourism is up in the county, and Mounce believes that’s thanks in part to vacationers who want to find fun close to home.

“With advertising from the state and local tourism offices, I believe that we will continue to get the visitors who want to travel within three or four hours of home and be able to have the time of their lives,” Mounce says. “Here in Pulaski County, we can provide exactly that for our visitor.”

Statistics released by the Kentucky Department of Travel this month show that tourism in Pulaski County was up by 7.5 percent in 2007. According to an annual report compiled by the Travel Industry Association, $97,239,428 was added to the county’s economy in that time frame. The figures indicate a 7.2 percent increase in tourism statewide, which added $10.7 billion to the state’s economy.

The report shows that more than 176,600 people are employed statewide in the tourism industry, earning more than $3.46 billion in payroll.

Nearly $7.25 billion was spent directly by domestic travelers in Kentucky in 2007. Combined with indirect spending, the total value of the tourism industry totals $10.72 billion. These amounts generate just over $1 billion in local, state, and federal taxes.

“We know that travel and tourism are an essential part of Kentucky’s economy,” says Mike Cooper, commissioner for the department. “Money spent on tourism throughout the Commonwealth circulates several times into the economy, benefiting Kentucky communities through direct travel and in the service and retail sectors.”

“Attracting tourists to Pulaski County is an ongoing process, and local leaders have worked diligently to expand the number of visitors to the area,” Mounce says. “This report is good news for the area and an indication that our efforts are paying off. ...

“Transient room tax (in Pulaski County) for fiscal year 2007-2008 was only down 1.4 percent from fiscal year 2006-2007,” Mounce notes, adding that she is “very pleased” with that number.

Mounce says the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s past and ongoing relationship with events and locales such as Somernites Cruise, the Master Musician’s Festival, the Mill Springs Battlefield, the Mt. Victory Road Race, the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky Teen pageants, and Science Hill’s Bike Nite will continue to bring visitors to Pulaski County.

New events are also coming to the area this year.

“We are excited to partner with the Cal Ripken Little League Tournaments and Ohio Valley Babe Ruth Tournaments this year.” Mounce says. “These two events will bring in 25 to 35 teams each, in addition to parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, to see these young ball players. They will definitely be a boost to our economy.”

Mounce says the CVB is also committed to sponsoring several events in January 2009 — during what is referred to as the “shoulder season.”

“The (CVB) board has already committed to participate in nine sport, boat, and travel shows in early 2009,” she says. The Lake Cumberland area will be represented either by Mounce, personally, or with brochure distribution at the shows.

“This is, in my opinion, exactly what we as a tourism promoter should be doing,” Mounce adds.

The CVB is taking applications for special funding for events which will be held in October, November, and December of this year. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 30.

Groups requesting promotional assistance from the CVB should submit applications on a quarterly basis. The CVB board sets money aside in its budget each year for grants and donations which can be given to groups holding events in the area. Events which are eligible for funding should promote tourism and increase overnight visitation. Mounce says the CVB also makes a special effort to help promote events which are not held during the summer months.

Applications can be picked up at the CVB office, 522 Ogden Street, off East Ky. 80 near KMart.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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