Tom gives Pat a pass

An interesting sidelight to the June 21 Pat DeWine fundraiser (see below):

Among the GOP luminaries listed as members of the host committee for the DeWine event is State Rep. Tom Brinkman Jr.

Interesting, because there was much speculation that Brinkman might challenge DeWine for the county commission seat in next March's Republican primary. Clearly, though, you don't begin a campaign to defeat an incumbent of your own party by helping him raise money.

Brinkman probably cooled his jets on that one after DeWine held fast to the no-new-taxes line when it came to construction of a new jail. Hard to run as the "fiscal conservative" alternative when the incumbent is doing exactly what you would have done.

Brinkman, though, is still fuming over the entry of Phil Heimlich into the 2nd Congressional District primary. Taking out Jean Schmidt, Brinkman thinks, is his mission in life. Word is Brinkman may jump in anyway, if only to mess with Heimlich.

Either way, don't expect Brinkman to help Heimlich raise money.