Mallory and Pepper bust it up over the radio

Things got a little testy today when Mark Mallory and David Pepper met in the WDBZ studios for a two-and-a-half hour radio debate.

The high point came after Pepper continued to press Mallory on his plan, since shelved, to have the mayor make appointments to the Cincinnati Board of Education.

"Chill out before I have to bust you up over the radio," Mallory said.

Host Jonathan "Jay" Love thought that was pretty funny.

Pepper campaign manager Greg Landsman said afterward: "For a usually mild-tempered state senator like Mark Mallory to get as angry as he did suggests that Mallory recognizes how significant of an error in leadership it is" to flip-flop on the school takeover bill.

Mallory said he got a little frustrated because he felt Pepper was calling him a liar. Mallory said he went on record in August as no longer supporting a mayoral takeover of schools, but Pepper keeps bringing it up. Pepper says some Mallory campaign literature sent after the Sept. 13 primary continues to tout the takeover plan.

Mallory said he was clearly joking about telling Pepper to "chill out."

"Just so we're clear, to 'bust someone up over the radio' would be with words," Mallory explained afterward. "David does not take my jokes very well."