The Key To Our Hearts

German Consul Wolfgang Drautz became the first foreign dignitary to visit Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory's office last week. The consul, who is stationed in Chicago, is his country's diplomatic representative to Cincinnati, which is part of a territory that extends from Minnesota to Kentucky, Missouri to Pennsylvania, and all points in between.

Mallory gave Drautz a key to the city. But what, exactly, does that key open? Mallory's office? Fifth-Third bank vaults?

"The heart and soul of the city," Mallory responded with a chuckle. "That's why I've been so judicious in handing them out."

Mallory has handed out only four other keys to the city -- to four "Great Living Cincinnatians" at a ceremony in February. They are: Neil Bortz, co-founder of development company Towne properties; John Pepper, former chairman and chief executive of P&G and the new CEO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center; Myrtis Powell, former president of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and former vice president for student affairs at Miami University; and retired Rev. Herbert Thompson, Jr., former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio.

"Lots of people have requested them, but we've really tightened things up," Mallory said.

Or locked things down.