A Bolton-Mallory debate?

Dale Mallory, the ousted West End Community Council president who wants to win the Ohio House seat his brother and father once held, said he is willing to debate his principal Democratic opponent, Eve Bolton, but not on her turf.

Bolton, the former county recorder who ran a losing campaign for Cincinnati City Council last year, challenged Mallory to a debate in their 32nd Ohio House Districtrace and offered a venue where Democrats could come and here both of them - a school in College Hill, the neighborhood where she lives.

The Bolton campaign didn't hear form the Mallory campaign for about a week, but, on Monday night, Mallory campaign spokesman Dan Phenice started talking to Bolton campaign manager Martha Good about scheduling a debate between now and Tuesday's primary election.

But Phenice said the Mallory campaign preferred a debate on "neutral ground'' - not in College Hill and not in the West End, Mallory's home neighborhood, where he was impeached as community council president in February.

"Eve doesn't care where it is,'' said Bolton campaign spokeswoman Marily Hyland. "It seems a little silly to say you won't debate in certain neighborhoods when you are running in the whole district.

Hyland said she is looking for a venue in another neighborhood where the debate can be held this weekend.

The 32nd District includes neighborhoods such as Over-the-Rhine, Clifton, Camp Washington and the Heights neighborhoods.