Showdown with the Sheriff

Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine and fellow Sheriff Simon Leis both Republicans, had words at Wednesday's commission meeting.

The sheriff blasted DeWine for not supporting Democrat Commissioners David Pepper and Todd Portune's sales tax increase to pay for a new jail and safety plan.

The exchange occurred during a discussion about what to do about the 300 overflow inmates being housed in Butler County. Commissioners can't afford to rent space there anymore and want to triple bunk at the Justice Center until a new jail can be built (read the Enquirer story.)

We'll bring you the video from the meeting too as soon as it's available. In the meantime here's some of the exchange:

Sheriff Leis: "DeWine, you've created nothing but serious problems for safety in Hamilton County. I want to tell you that personally. And you'll be the person responsible in the event that a major catastrophe happens."

DeWine: "We don’t need to have a shouting match. You can come to these meetings and yell but the approach that you and the majority of the board has taken is not faring very well."

DeWine said he believes voters should have a say where their money is spent and pointed out that more than 50,000 people - those who signed a referendum petition - agree with him.

" Let’s not have a bullying match," he said.

He asked the sheriff to sit down. Leis refused. He asked again. Leis refused. After several more requests, the sheriff finally sat.

But Leis wasn't done. He continued to blast the commissioner while talking to the media after the meeting.

Leis: "I'm not a DeWine supporter. He's caused major problems in the county. He's caused more problems than any commissioner in my experience. He doesn't make any sense. Everyone knows we need a new jail and now he's submarined the plan."