Meeting of the Mayors

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, a former state senator, will return to Columbus Wednesday for a New Mayors Conference at Gov. Bob Taft's mansion.

Mallory will be joined by newly elected mayors from three other major cities: Frank G. Jackson of Cleveland, Carleton S. Finkbeiner of Toledo and Jay Williams of Youngstown.

The meeting is an all-day affair, but Mallory said he'll leave early so he can drive back to Cincinnati in time for Wednesday's City Council meeting.

At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Mallory made a few additional announcements:

--He will honor the bet he made with Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor before the Steelers convincing 31-17 win over the Bengals Sunday, and travel to the steel city for a day-long tour. "I want to look at what they've done well, namely their riverfront development. They're building a new convention center, and they are making that a green building. I want to hear more about that. I also want to tour their theater and arts district. We have a whole list of things to talk about." Mayor O'Connor's office has it's own list -- namely showing Mallory the Steelers' four Super Bowl trophies.

-- He will meet with Baptist ministors Thursday, because the Baptist National Convention will come to Cincinnati in August. "It never hurts to have 8,000 members of the clergy coming to your city."

--The mayor's "State of the City" address will come a little later in the year than normal this year, probably in late February or early March. "I'm the first person elected to the office in 70 years that hadn't served on City Council."