Weekly newspapers split on mayoral endorsements

Two weeklies endorsed candidates for mayor today, with each candidate adding an endorsement to the tally.

The alternative weekly City Beat endorsed Mark Mallory. After a three-paragraph warm-up that called the Mallory-Pepper race "everything we could have hoped for" and wishing out loud for a tie vote that would force a co-mayoralty, the newspaper gave the nod to Mallory. Publisher John Fox said in a signed editorial that Mallory is committed to many of the same social issues the paper holds dear: gay rights, arts funding, better schools, and stricter oversight of the Cincinnati Police Department:

His status as an "outsider" in city politics, derided by Pepper supporters, will actually be a benefit, allowing Mallory to set a new tone and a new direction for council. His statesmanship and legislative experience will help produce better laws from council and improved relationships among council, the mayor and the new city manager.

Don't underestimate Mallory's ability to relate to both corporate CEOs and neighborhood activists, his track record of working with statehouse Republicans, his family's dedication to service and his experiences growing up an African-American male in this city. These traits make Mallory a likeable, approachable, professional politician who would elevate the manner and substance of what gets done at City Hall.

The Community Press Newspapers -- which include the Eastern Hills Journal, the Hilltop Press and the Western Hills Press -- endorsed David Pepper. They called Pepper a "Hyde Park guy" and said he's the candidate "most involved in issues that matter to the suburbs:"

We especially like his idea of monitoring the city's customer service to its residents. People who try to maneuver their way through the city's structure to get simple questions answered usually walk away frustrated. For those of us who can't walk to the city building, that's huge.

What's more, he doesn't believe in "directionless consensus," which means every action needs substance. It means sometimes you don't make everyone happy.

And, that means something to us.

The Community Press newspapers were purchased this year by Gannett, which owns the Cincinnati Enquirer, but its editorial operations remain separate. The Enquirer's editorial page has said its endorsement will appear Sunday; the Cincinnati Post has not yet made an endorsement.