Finney to Pepper: Kiss my (expletive)

At an outdoor press conference today, David Pepper tried to describe his 10 rules to improve government as he seeks to become a Hamilton County Commissioner.

Pepper, though, was interrupted by two moving trains, dozens of passing tractor-trailers -- and a profanity-laced tirade from Cincinnati attorney Christopher Finney, a business partner and friend of Pepper’s opponent, incumbent Republican Commissioner Phil Heimlich.

Upon arrival, Pepper saw that Finney also was there. Pepper walked up to Finney, said hello and extended his hand. Finney rejected the offered handshake.

Pepper then started the press conference and was discussing how he believes total transparency and disclosure is vital in government, when Finney shouted “You’re trying to smear my name because you’re a rich f------- ---hole.

“Kiss my a--. Right here,” Finney said, patting his behind.

Finney was upset that Pepper mentioned Finney by name in his “10 Simple Rules to Clean Up Hamilton County Government,” suggesting neither Finney nor Heimlich had properly disclosed their business relationship even after Finney was appointed to head the Tax Levy Review Committee. That volunteer committee is charged with monitoring property taxes that fund special services such as health care for the poor.

Pepper’s point was that his rules are “Civics 101” and commonsense for good government, not personal attacks.

Pepper wants relationships like that of Finney and Heimlich – they own a real estate business together – openly disclosed.

“There’s frankly more suspicion about it” when it isn’t disclosed, Pepper said.

What Pepper really wants, Finney countered, is to leave unfair impressions about a man who has given hundreds of volunteer hours to the government and worked hard to build a law practice with 25 employees and a $1 million annual payroll.

“He makes these allegations but he has no proof of it,” Finney said.

Then he turned to Pepper and added, “You’re throwing around allegations of violations of the law willy nilly.”

Pepper asked Finney to behave while Bridget Doherty, Pepper’s campaign spokeswoman, told Finney he was acting “infantile.” Finney then told her she also could place her lips on his behind.

Finney noted the irony of the location of Pepper’s press conference – across the street from the old Ivorydale plant in St. Bernard, where Proctor & Gamble used to make Ivory soap.

Pepper, a Democrat, is the son of former P&G chairman John Pepper.

“We’re standing here in front of the former Procter & Gamble where David Pepper’s father made tens of millions of dollars and his family is worth more than $100 million. I work and invest for my living and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars directly and indirectly in taxes,” Finney said.

“I don’t need that from a trust fund, spoiled brat like David Pepper who has never had to work for a living. For some (expletive) who has never worked for a living to do that shows his immaturity and disqualification for county commissioner.”

Pepper, a lawyer with a downtown firm, notes his father didn’t take charge of P&G until Pepper was away at college.

"The effort to intimidate was there," Pepper said of Finney's confrontation. "That actually was more dramatic than some of the worst instances at City Hall. (But) the trains were more of a distraction."


When asked later about Finney’s actions, Pepper said: “I don’t care.”

In addition to Pepper and Finney, the others at today’s press conference were six Pepper campaign workers, a radio reporter and an Enquirer reporter.


Read Pepper's plan for yourself.