Chris who?

He wasn'tin the room and his name was never mentioned, but Chris Finney was a big part of today's Hamilton County Commission meeting.

Commissioner Todd Portune asked aloud why some of those named to boards and commissions appointed by Hamilton County commissioners haven't filled out a required form listing jobs and other personal information aimed at preventing any conflict of interest for the appointee -- and embarrassment for the appointers, the commissioners.

Portune, a Democrat, believes that form is important because the appointees often serve on boards -- mostly advisory -- that recommend policy changes or the spending hundreds of millions of your tax dollars.

"You mean like the TLRC?" Republican Commissioner Phil Heimlich asked Portune.

The TLRC, or Tax Levy Review Committee, monitors the spending of property taxes voted for specific purposes like services for children, the elderly and the poor.

The head of the TLRC is Finney, one of Heimlich's friends and political supporters -- and the man who unleashed an expletive-laced tirade Tuesday at David Pepper, the Democrat trying to unseat Heimlich in the Nov. 7 election.

Portune insisted he was targeting no individual or specific commissioner-appointed board in making the suggestion, but believed those already appointed who haven't filled out the form should be notified that they have to.

Heimlich didn't seem convinced.

Heimlich wondered aloud if Portune -- who has endorsed Pepper -- wasn't on "a fishing expedition to learn more" about current board members, perhaps even Finney.

Finney has been criticized for sitting as head of the TLRC which recommends to commissioners at what level special levies should be placed on the ballot. That means, to some extent, Finney and all TLRC members, can help determine property tax rates. Because he and Heimlich own a real estate venture -- or rather, their wives legally own it -- conspiracy theorists believe Finney is trying to lower his taxes.

Finney counters that he, as head of the TLRC, receives the same tax benefit as any other Hamilton County property owner if the TLRC recommends a lowering of taxes that commissioners and voters ultimately approve.

Finney is irate that despite his hundreds of hours or volunteer service to the board and public, he is criticized for his business, political and personal relationships with Heimlich.

That was one of the reasons Finney showed up at a Tuesday Pepper press conference, accusing Pepper of smearing his name and then calling Pepper "a rich f------- ---hole" and told Pepper and a female Pepper campaign worker to "kiss my a--."