Heimlich: Thanks a million

It took 10 days, but incumbent Republican Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich issued a Friday thank-you to those who helped on his campaign.

Heimlich lost to Democrat David Pepper, giving the Democrats a majority of the three-member Board of Commissioners for the first time in 44 years.

Here is Heimlich's email of today:

Dear friends,

Thank you for your strong support throughout this campaign. I was disappointed in the election results but proud of what we accomplished in my term as county commissioner.

When I took office four years ago, county spending was increasing at two and a half times the rate of inflation, and taxes were going up three times inflation. We brought spending under inflation each year I was in office and reduced property taxes by over $100 million (over five years).

Drake Hospital had been wasting taxpayer dollars and was headed towards bankruptcy. Powerful interests criticized me for exposing the abuses at Drake, but speaking out was the right thing to do. We placed Drake under new management. Now Drake serves over 50 percent more patients and the annual payment that taxpayers receive from the hospital has increased from one dollar to one million dollars.

City Councilmembers said The Banks could not be developed without more taxpayer subsidies. But now a master developer agreement is being finalized with AIG/Carter, the firm we recruited, that includes no additional public cost.

We strengthened law enforcement by putting Sheriff’s patrols and off-duty Cincinnati Police Officers on the streets of Over-The-Rhine. We cut back on early releases at the jail by sending up to 300 prisoners a night to Butler County – at no higher cost than we spend to house inmates at our Justice Center. Even though Issue 12 – the jail proposal that Sheriff Leis and I developed - did not pass, I am glad we stepped up to the plate with a well-researched plan for a new jail that has been needed for 20 years.

I worked to be a good steward of your tax dollars these past four years. We set out to reform county government and succeeded.

In my concession speech, I stated we should not focus on one defeat, but rather on what we have accomplished.

Rebecca, Henry, Allie and I thank you for your kind words and continued support. The Bible says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)
God has a different path for me at this time, and we look forward to seeing where it leads.

With much gratitude,

Phil
Paid for by Citizens for Heimlich, Bill Luchsinger, CPA, Treasurer, 5909 Stewart Rd., Suite 1, Cincinnati, OH 45227