Pepper: Don't blame me

A day after incumbent Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich launched his media campaign attacking challenger David Pepper, Pepper wants to set the record straight.

At least his version of it.

Heimlich, a Republican, began airing television and radio ads Monday that blamed Pepper -- in part, at least -- for high homicide rates and procedures that Heimlich's side said prevents police from doing a better job.

Below is Pepper's response, received today:

Transcript of Commercial:
“Phil Heimlich put more police on the streets, helped stop early releases and led the fight to build a new jail."

The Facts:
Phil Heimlich knew about the jail overcrowding problem when he was elected four years ago, yet waited until months before the election to throw together any plan. It will now be another four years before a jail is completed. More than 8,000 prisoners have been released early in the years while Heimlich did nothing.

Transcript of Commercial:
"When riots rocked Cincinnati, Phil Heimlich supported the police when no one else would."

The Facts:
David Pepper was not on council during the riots. He arrived after 2001—the year of the greatest increase in violent crime and homicides in the past ten years. Pepper was endorsed by the FOP in the 2001 race.

Transcript of Commercial:
"David Pepper turned his back on them, twice voting for the agreement, handcuffing our police."

The Facts:
FALSE. The FOP (both its leaders, and its members through a formal vote) agreed to the Collaborative Agreement, as did a unanimous, bipartisan City Council, because it was a better alternative than a federal consent decree—the only other alternative the City faced. Pepper was endorsed by the FOP in his Mayoral race.

Transcript of Commercial:
"David Pepper even supported a deal with the boycotters and riot sympathizers for millions of our dollars. "

The Facts:
The FOP also supported this agreement because it removed their officers from legal jeopardy. They urged Council to settle.

Transcript of Commercial:
"The result? The highest murder rate in 34 years. "

The Facts:
Over the past six months, law enforcement officials have unanimously stated that the reason crime is so high is the revolving door at the jail. To blame it on the “agreements” suggests the police have not been out arresting people. Actually, arrests have increased every year since 2001 (Phil Heimlich’s last year on Council). But there was not enough jailspace to house those arrested. The police did their job—the County didn’t do its job.

Transcript of Commercial:
"David Pepper sold us out.”

The Facts:
David Pepper worked WITH the police and FOP on every thing discussed in the ad.