Schmidt parade

First her parade car stalled. Then she faced accusations that, as Rep. Tom Brinkman said, “She snuck into the parade!”

Yes, we're talking about Rep. Jean Schmidt.

Those of you reading the Opening Day blog might have found this nugget:

At 12:01, we had the first parade snafu.

A red Corvette in Congresswoman Jean Schmidt's entourage stalled in the middle of the intersection of 5th and Sycamore.

Six or eight floats had to go around, until others in her entourage could push it out of the way, and get it rolling back down 5th.

Most of the other politicians were on foot. Cincinnati Vice-Mayor Jim Tarbell was pushing a peanut cart and dressed as Peanut Jim. City Councilman Chris Monzel and Congressman Steve Chabot were on foot and walking with their families.

But as Reporter Quan Truong reports, Schmidt's lousy day wasn't over yet.

Several Schmidt critics accused her of jumping into the parade without paying the required fee.

“As an elected official, they should have some integrity,” said Brinkman, a Schmidt critic who has endorsed her GOP primary opponent, Bob McEwen.

Brinkman recalled observing Schmidt enter the parade.

After consulting Mike Luken, of the parade committee, Brinkman checked the finalized parade list and alleged Schmidt did not make the contribution required to participate in the Opening day celebration.

Luken admitted there was speculation about Schmidt’s presence but refused to comment further, requesting the Enquirer drop the issue.

In the end, Schmidt’s campaign manager, Allen Freeman, responded to the accusations with a check number for $75 paid to the Findlay Market Association.

“We are paid in full,” Freeman said. “I think it’s another one of those issues that our opponent keeps trying to gin up and it really amounts to a whole lot of nothing.”

Parade Chairman, Neil Luken, could not be reached for comment.