Pepper's police, fire supporters consider future

Keith Fangman, vice president and spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police, which endorsed David Pepper: "Although we are concerned with (Mark) Mallory's opposition to building a new jail and his belief that we do not need more Cincinnati police officers and his opposition to Tasers, we are hopeful that he will at least reach out to our police officers in the belief that we can have a productive relationship with Mayor Mallory.''

Joe Diebold, president of the Cincinnati Fire Fighters Local 48, which also endorsed Pepper, said: "David's a friend of ours. We've worked with him for the past four years. He has supported firefighter issues. He would've been good for this city, and that's why we endorsed him.''

As his party wound down, Pepper continued to speak with reporters about the loss. He said he and his supporters would look at individual ward and precinct results Wednesday to see what sent the election Mallory's way.

"That's something for the pundits to figure out,'' he said. "As I look back, I wouldn't have done anything differently. We had a great team, we had a great strategy.''

-- Jane Prendergast