Portune blasts Heimlich over nondisclosure

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune said Phil Heimlich should have told his fellow commissioners -- before they voted on a resolution approving the appointment of Robert Rhein to the Banks Working Group -- that Rhein gave $20,000 to Heimlich's re-election campaign.

Portune, at Wednesday's commission meeting, criticized Heimlich for "the politicization" of the appointments to the group that is expected to recommend how the proposed $600 million Banks development should be built.

Officially, Rhein, an Indian Hill real estate developer, was appointed to the five-man Banks Working Group by that group's chair, Reds owner Bob Castellini. But Hamilton County had the right to approve Castellini's selection.

Heimlich told the Enquirer last week -- after he specifically was asked -- that Rhein and his wife gave $10,000 each to Heimlich's re-election campaign.

The Enquirer's additional research showed that Rhein also gave more than $250,000 in the past few years to the national Republican Party.

"I think those are factors that should have been disclosed before we voted," Portune said.

Heimlich didn't respond to Portune's comments and continued to other meeting business.

Last week's vote to accept Rhein's appointment was unanimous.

Heimlich, an incumbent Republican, seeking re-election to the commission and is running against David Pepper, who, like Portune, is a Democrat.