DeWine's call-list

UPDATE: DeWine said about 525 people participated in the conference call, which lasted about 75 minutes.

"Everyone asked about the cost, where they could sign up for petitions, what all the money was going for, general comments about the format of the conference call," DeWine said. "I think they were pleased to have such a forum. They asked general questions like why can't we put them (inmates) in old school buildings."

The call was paid for by DeWine's 2008 re-election campaign. The campaign called just Republicans, though DeWine is considering doing another one that is not party-specific.

At 7 p.m. tonight, the phones of 50,000 Hamilton County residents will ring.

If you happen to be pick it up, you'll hear an automated message from Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine. You'll be invited to listen in on and even ask questions during a live telephone conference call about the county's sales tax increase.

DeWine will explain to you why you should sign a referendum petition that will get the sales tax on the ballot.

You'll be on the phone about an hour.

It's not the only move DeWine is making to get the sales tax on the ballot. The Republican, who is up for re-election next year, also is circulating petitions at festivals, according to his campaign Web site http://www.patdewine.com/. He also made mention of direct mailings at some point.



Democratic commissioners Todd Portune and David Pepper passed the tax May 30 to pay for a new jail and related programs. DeWine, the lone Republican was in staunch opposition.

He thinks the tax (a half percent) is too much and it should have been presented to voters in the first place.