One Cincinnati, two Cincinnatis, three Cincinnatis, four...

When Democratic activist Brian Crum Garry read in the Enquirer last week that Alicia Reece and Charlie Winburn were using the slogan "One Cincinnati" in their campaigns for mayor, he was livid.

He ran as an independent in 2003 under the banner of "O.N.E. Cincinnati," which he said was divinely inspired. "I was driving in my van and God imparted 'O.N.E. Cincinnati' to me," he said. But while God gave him the acronym, his campaign volunteers figured out what it stood for: "Opportunity. Neighborhoods. Equality."

On his web site, he's even put a trademark symbol next to "O.N.E. Cincinnati(tm)," though it's not registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

"I'm not willing to give away my intellectual property rights to people without them even consulting me about it," said Garry.

But that was last week. This week, he's decided to be more philosophical.

"I want to more stay on the idea that I'm happy that they are using it, and I'd like to welcome them to the bandwagon of 'O.N.E. Cincinnati,'" Garry said.

Garry, 40, of Clifton, was snubbed for an endorsement by the Cincinnati Democratic Committee May 10, though party leaders say he's making progress toward a possible 2007 endorsement. Garry said he hasn't decided whether to run for City Council as an independent again this year.

(Photo by Joseph Fuqua II/The Cincinnati Enquirer)