Heimlich and football go together?

Reported by Enquirer reporters Kimball Perry and Denise Smith Amos

Phil Heimlich apparently has developed a serious interest in high school football this election season.

In addition to asking popular Colerain High football coach Kerry Coombs to speak at a fundraiser, Heimlich also was in a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office helicopter – paid for and operated with public money -- that was part of the Sept. 15 Northwest High game.

Earlier this week, the campaign to re-elect Heimlich to his Hamilton County Commission seat sent out a notice that Coombs would be speaking at a Thursday fundraiser.

Coombs, an assistant principal at Colerain High in the Northwest Local School District, “never made the connection” between the campaign even and his role at the public school.

“I’m not doing it as an employee. I’m just doing it as a citizen. I’m just going to the thing. I’m not aware of what the invitation says,” Coombs said.

“(Heimlich) asked me if I would say a few words. I don’t think I’m the featured speaker. I’m not affiliated with the school while I’m there in any way, shape or form. I know Phil personally. He’s done different things for the team.

“It’s just kind of sudden. He called Saturday and left a voice mail on my cell phone asking if I would mind saying a few words. I don’t know any of the details. I wasn’t going as anything but a guy who supports Phil. I’ve got a sign in my front yard.”

Coombs isn’t being paid for the appearance – and isn’t in trouble.

Northwest Schools Superintendent Rick Glatfelter wrote in an e-mail response to the Enquirer:

“Mr. Coombs, as a public employee, has the right to engage in political activities outside the workplace. He may not represent the school district, or imply that he represents the district. The publicity for such an event may not reference the district, the school or Mr. Coombs affiliation and/or position within the district.

I have received information from the organizers of the event in question that Mr. Coombs had no input or knowledge about the publicity that would be used. I have also received an apology from one of the organizers.

I am satisfied that Mr. Coombs has not violated any policy or law in this case, and is properly exercising his rights as a citizen outside of the workplace. “

Then came word that Heimlich popped out of a Hamilton County Sheriff’s office helicopter before the start of a Northwest High game.

Heimlich insists the event wasn’t politically related and is purely innocent.

Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. agreed to allow executives from Rumpke Consolidated Services to use a Sheriff's helicopter to arrive at the game -- where they presented a ceremonial key to the new Northwest High weight room to which Rumpke donated $165,000 to build.

Rumpke, Heimlich said, invited many elected officials – including all three county commissioners – to join them for the presentation. Heimlich was the only one to go.

The Sheriff’s office often donates the helicopter time for charity and other public service events.

“Unbeknownst to the Sheriff,” Heimlich was on the helicopter, invited by the Rumpke executives, said Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Barnett.

The ride – like the others allowed to charity and public service events – cost taxpayers nothing, Barnett said, because it was done during a normal helicopter patrol.

“There was no mention of politics whatsoever. There was no mention of campaigns whatsoever,” Heimlich said Wednesday.

Heimlich was tickled he also delivered the game ball after the helicopter landed.

“That was one ball I didn’t fumble,” Heimlich joked.