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Wednesday, October 04, 2006

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--."


9 Comments:

at 1:32 PM, October 04, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

If Portune is on a "fishing expedition", good for him. It's about time someone started asking questions about Heimlich's backroom deals and giveaways to his pals. Note Heimlich's fake concern for the reputations of the people he appointed to these committees. Nonsense. Heimlich is only concerned about his own reputation, which is currently swirling down the commode.

 
at 1:47 PM, October 04, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Props to Portune. He's finally realizing he can't be held down by Heimlich's antics. Was he blowing his nose while Portune was talking again?

 
at 3:03 PM, October 04, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

If Portune is on a "fishing expedition", good for him.

Argh, best o' luck to ye, Cap'n Portune! Methinks y'll be hauling in a big one, maybe even Moby Chris.

And if ye be usin' yer harpoon, aim for that ungodly big back side!

 
at 3:12 PM, October 04, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Finney is irate because he got caught. I wonder how much of his million dollar payroll is covered by Hamilton County taxpayers.

 
at 3:49 PM, October 04, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Phil Heimlich
Hamilton County Commissioner Office
138 East Court Street, Room 603
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
513-946-4407 & 513-351-7443 Fax
phil.heimlich@hamilton-co.org, phil@philheimlich.com

SENT VIA EMAIL & FACSIMILE

Dear Commissioner Heimlich,

As a tax-paying Hamilton County resident and homeowner, I am outraged at yesterday’s antics of your friend, business partner and adviser, Chris Finney. Mr. Finney rudely interrupted a speech being given by your opponent, David Pepper, and proceeded to launch into an obscene invective of profanity which is not fit to be reprinted. He also told a young lady present to “kiss my ass”, and proceeded to turn around, lift up his coat jacket, pat his posterior and said, “Bridget, kiss it right here.”

I ask you Commissioner, were Mr. Finney’s actions those of a Christian, a gentleman, or a rational, mature adult? Were his actions in I keeping with the tenants of the Character First! Organization? By any standard, the answers are a resounding ‘no’, they are not. Further, Mr. Finney’s vile outburst and actions came across as the actions of a very desperate man, fearful that he is in danger of losing his perceived connections to power in County government.

Aside from Mr. Finney’s profane outbursts, he made accusations and criticisms that Mr. Pepper is a ‘trust fund kid’ that lives at the bequest of a large family trust fund. Do you find it ironic commissioner that you are the beneficiary of several large and generous family trust funds ( The Kathryn Murray Family Limited Partnership; The Heimlich Family Limited Partnership No. 2; The Heimlich Institute Foundation; the Arthur Murray Trust)? Indeed, in the course of your entire adult life your sole sources of income have either been these family trust funds and/or the taxpayers of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
I am calling on you, Commissioner, to denounce and condemn Mr. Finney’s words and actions of yesterday. Further, I request that you openly state for the record the nature of your business dealings with Mr. Finney, including your real estate venture known as Three Centurions and any other business associations that you have with Mr. Finney. You might find that the of cronyism which are frequently leveled against you might be refuted by your ‘coming clean’ with regard to your association with Mr. Finney.

Will you condemn Mr. Finney’s actions commissioner, or will you tacitly approve of them by way of your silence? I think that you might find that the future of your campaign may rest on your action, or inaction, in regard to Mr. Finney.

Respectfully,

Richard Brockelmann
Hyde Park
rbrockelmann@yahoo.com

Cc: David Pepper; Todd Portune; Pat Dewine; The Cincinnati Enquire (Tom Callinan, Kimball Perry, Letters to the Editor, enquirer Government Blog); The Cincinnati Beacon; City Beat Magazine (Kevin Osbord, Porkopolis Blog); Rob Seddon; Chris Finney.

 
at 5:34 PM, October 04, 2006 Blogger Someone said...

Conspiracy theorists?

To use the words of Bob Fitrakis, I guess that makes you a coincidence theorist!

 
at 8:42 PM, October 04, 2006 Blogger Yossarian said...

Andy- Let me get this straight - You went to High School with Commissioner Portune, He goes on to serve on City Council and County Commission AND what have you done? (crickets chirping)

So really I think your post is more about sour grapes than any real insight.

 
at 11:55 PM, October 04, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

if portune were stupid - which he isn't -i'd still vote for him because i'd rather have a simple man with simple values and steadfast morals than a thiven, conniving genius.

 
at 11:56 PM, October 04, 2006 Anonymous Anonymous said...

it has been reported to st bernard police that finney the fink engaged in disorderly conduct and that there are videos and auditotapes of the vulgar offensive conduct onthe streets.
now let's see if the police cover up for finney or do their job.

 
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