A fight over "****ing idiot"

Tony Lang reports:

Jail tax opponent Jason Gloyd has accused Hamilton County Chief Deputy Sean Donovan of calling him a “****ing idiot,” and claims it’s part of a pattern of intimidation by the Sheriff’s office against foes of the half-cent sales tax increase on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The alleged incident occurred after a spirited debate about the Issue 27 jail plan Tuesday night at the Price Hill Civic Club. Anti-plan campaign chair Gloyd said Sheriff Simon Leis approached him, spoke very respectfully and walked away.

Then Donovan leaned in, about four inches from his face, and pronounced him a “****ing idiot,” according to Gloyd

UPDATE, 6:30 pm, Friday: Gloyd said that Donovan was armed and uniformed. But after this item was posted, several people present at the event - including Donovan and the organizer - called to say Donovan was wearing a suit - and no gun.

"I wasn't in uniform. I wasn't armed," said Donovan, who said he was wearing a coat and tie.

Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper also said Donovan was wearing a suit.

And Pete Witte, president of the Price Hill Civic Club and host of the event, said Donovan was "definitely in civilian clothes."

As for the "****ing idiot" remark, there are no witnesses. But, Witte said, "it was absolutely a spirited debate. There was a lot of passion."


Gloyd, a real estate agent, said he was left dumbfounded. “Maybe it was good-cop, bad-cop, I don’t know.”

The next day, he e-mailed Donovan and Leis to ask why the two sides can’t disagree, without venom.

Donovan said he didn’t recall any such incident, that jail opponents were “grasping at straws” for publicity, and that Gloyd was an “uninformed, nondescript puppet.”

The chief deputy believes this year the county is closer to getting the law enforcement resources it needs than at any other time in the last 20 years. “Nobody wants to pay taxes,” he said. “But they want to live in a safe county. I want people to stop moving out.”

As for Gloyd, Donovan said, “I couldn’t pick the guy out of a line-up.”

No one heard the alleged comment, but Charles Norman, an aide to Commissioner Pat DeWine, said he saw Donovan speaking to Gloyd.

Commissioner David Pepper attended the debate, but was busy talking with others. He argues the real story is that “crime is so bad in Price Hill, residents have to sit on lawn chairs on street corners to keep the drug dealers away.”

Issue 27’s sales tax increase would raise $736 million over 30 years to finance a new 1,800-bed jail, treatment programs for inmates and more neighborhood sheriff’s patrols.

Pepper said he planned to continue to be civil, and others should also, but he dismissed complaints by the WeDemandABetterPlan.Com group as “a small group of people saying how scared they are. It sounds like schoolyard silly stuff.”

Commissioner Todd Portune wasn’t there, but said the opponents have no plan, no solution. “They just make stuff up to get everybody distracted with bogus claims. Issue 27 is not just about a jail. It’s about public safety.”

Catholic group criticizes Chabot

Rep. Steve Chabot is under attack from members of his own religion – Catholics.

Chabot, a Republican from Westwood, is among 10 Catholic members of Congress who are being targeted in a radio ad sponsored by Catholics United for voting against legislation to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP.

The ad was unveiled today. Listen to it HERE.

It will air primarily on Christian and talk radio stations from Monday to Wednesday, and feature a mother urging Chabot to support SCHIP, saying that voting against health care for poor children is not a "pro-life" or "pro-family" vote.

“Building a true culture of life requires public policies that promote the welfare of the most vulnerable,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of the group, said in a release. “Pro-life Christians who serve in Congress should honor this commitment by supporting health care for poor children.”

Chabot's spokesman Todd Lindgren said the ad fails to tell the whole story.

Chabot did vote against the bill to expand SCHIP, but he did so because the bill expands the SCHIP program at a huge cost without finding ways to pay for the expansion.

The House passed the SCHIP bill but it was vetoed by President Bush. The ad comes as the House is poised to vote to override the veto later this week.

“While I believe it is necessary to renew the SCHIP program and continue to help provide assistance to the children of working families without health insurance, this bill is a fiscally irresponsible approach that cannot be adequately funded,” Chabot said last month.

Chabot voted to create SCHIP in 1997 and supports renewing the program – but in a fiscally responsible way, Lindgren said.

Fischer: I'll Pick Up The Ball and Throw It, Too

Ew, that horrible Opening Day pitch again. We see it in the beginning of Pat Fischer's television ad, which started running on cable today and will be on the networks soon. He showed it off today at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

He uses the ad to say that "at least" Mallory tried while council "hasn't even picked up the ball." The video shows a group of people (they're lawyers from Fischer's firm, plus some other volunteers) arguing on the pitcher's mound, the ball lying on the ground.

"Pat Fischer will" pick it up, the ad says. Then it shows Fischer pitching.

Fischer says it took a lot of tries to get the shot the videographer wanted, but that every one of the catches shown were pitches actually thrown by him. The idea for the ad came out of a question at an Oakley candidates forum. Asked what he thought of Mallory's pitch, Fischer responded that the mayor obviously needs a good bullpen and that Fischer himself would be a good relief pitcher.

See the ad here.

"God" left on flag certificates - UPDATED

UPDATE:

Rep. Mike Turner will award a U.S. flag and corrected certificate to Andrew Larochelle in Washington at noon on Tuesday. Larochelle, who is traveling to Capitol Hill with his family, will then present the flag to his grandfather.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


As of this week, anyone requesting a flag that has flown over the U.S. Captiol can use the word "God" in the dedication printed on the certificate accompanying the flag.

This may seem obvious, but earlier this year, the Architect of the Capitol had been enforcing a rule that prohibited expressions of religious faith on the certificates by deleting any mention of the word "God."

Andrew Larochelle, a 17-year-old student at Carroll High School in Dayton, had ordered a certificate that was supposed to say: "In honor of my grandfather Marcel Larochelle, and his dedication and love of God, country, and family."

But the word "God" was left of the message, prompting Larochelle to contact his congressman, Republican Mike Turner of Centerville.

Turner wrote letters to the Architect of the Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and President Bush calling for the policy to be repealed. He also introduced a bill to reverse the policy.

Yesterday , Pelosi announced that the policy had been overturned.

“We won a great victory for American traditions, religious freedoms and freedom of expression,” Turner said, thanking Larochelle for bringing the issue to his attention.

“If Andrew and his family had not been willing to challenge the Architect’s decision, we would not have this victory.”

Each year, about 100,000 people from across the country request one of these flags. The flags, which are each flown over the Capitol, are available for purchase through congressional offices.

The Mayor goes to Jerusalem

Jane Prendergast has the story here

Here's the top of the press release:

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory is one of six U.S. mayors who will travel to Israel next week for the 25th Annual Jerusalem Conference of Mayors hosted by Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski.

Mayor Mallory was selected by The U.S. Conference of Mayors to represent the conference as part of the delegation. Mayor Mallory is participating in the delegation as part of his on-going strategy to increase Cincinnati’s international profile and recruit new business investment and jobs to Cincinnati.

The meeting is sponsored by the American Jewish Congress-Council for World Jewry, which is covering the costs of the mayors’ participation, and The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and is conducted in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I am honored for the opportunity to represent Cincinnati at that prestigious gathering of International Mayors,” Mayor Mallory said. “Cincinnati has a great story to tell, and the best way to tell it is to take it directly to the world. By building relationships around the world, we increase Cincinnati’s global presence both economically and culturally.”

State Rep endorses Romney

Ohio state Rep. Shannon Jones, a Republican from Springboro and former aide U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, is backing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president.

The Romney campaign made the announcement earlier this week.

"I am grateful to have state Representative Jones' support," Romney said in a statement. " She will be an important member of my team in Ohio."

Jones, whose 67th House District includes half of Warren County, said she is backing Romney because he is a leader who understands the needs of everyday Americans.

"Like many Ohioians, he believes we need to bring conservative change to Washington by reducing government spending, keeping taxes low, and governing with the highest ethical standards," she said.

Before her election to the state Legislature, Jones served as district director, press secretary and chief of staff to Chabot, a Westwood Republican. Jones also served as regional director for former Sen. Mike DeWine of Cedarville.

More YouTube Videos

Here are a couple new ads added recently to YouTube.

Click here to see one from a group calling itself Fire The Fiscal Five Now!

This one, focused on the return of streetcars, is from John Eby.

A Little Politics With My Bleu Cheese Salad

It's a crowded field in the race for Wyoming City Council this year - 14 people running for half that many seats.

So Dale Hipsley, owner of the Half Day Cafe in Wyoming, decided to put up a corkboard in the hallway of his restaurant. Each of the 14 has a spot to post information. He says he knows it's kind of low-tech, but that he's just trying different things to get the word out to voters.

More Council Candidates' TV ads

If you haven't seen Jeff Berding's ad yet, you can check it out here. Titled "Kept Word," it emphasizes that Berding kept the promises he made in the ads that helped him get elected two years ago. He expected to run it for two weeks, and said more will follow.

Stay tuned this afternoon for Pat Fischer's ad.

Cates to take poll worker training

State Sen. Gary Cates said he will participate in poll worker training Monday afternoon in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of Ohio’s election system, while encouraging Ohioans to work at polling places on Election Day.

Cates, R-West Chester, said he plans to attend a three-hour introductory session at the Government Services Center, Court Street Entrance, 1st Floor, Room 02, 315 High Street, Hamilton at 1 p.m. Monday.

He also plans to work the polls on Nov. 6. In Butler County, depending on a poll worker’s job title at the precinct, pay ranges from $116 to $147 for the day. Cates said he will donate his Election Day pay to a local charity.

As chairman of the Senate's State & Local Government Committee, he is responsible for working on many elections issues. "Working the polls will be an excellent opportunity to better myself as a legislator and a citizen, while having a positive impact on elections in Butler County," Cates said in a prepared statement.

The Enquirer reported Monday that Hamilton County is about 350 workers short of the 3,520 people needed to cover the county’s 880 polling precincts. The Butler County Elections Board also estimates they will be short poll workers on Election Day.

Seitz lands four committee posts as newest senator

Ohio Senate President Bill Harris appointed Sen. Bill Seitz to four committees today as the Senate's newest member.

The Green Township Republican's appointment to the Senate Wednesday, to fill Patricia Clancy's vacant seat, triggered a reshuffling of committee posts by Harris, R-Ashland.

Seitz was named vice chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice. He also was named a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Civil Justice; the State & Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee; and the Health, Human Services & Aging Committee.

"Throughout my career in the General Assembly, I have fought to improve the lives of families in Southwest Ohio by helping enact laws that would help rid our communities of crime and violence, provide better access to quality and affordable health care and make our region’s economic climate attractive to new business and job growth," Seitz said in a prepared statement. "As I move over to the Senate and step into a new leadership role, I look forward to continuing this very important work."

Seitz was a member of the Ohio House since 2001. He replaced Clancy, R-Colerain Township, who left to become assistant chief probation officer for the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.

Harris said Seitz’ House committee experience and extensive knowledge of the law made him an excellent candidate to fill new leadership roles in the Senate.

"Bill brings with him a solid reputation, extensive knowledge of the law, and passionate drive to better the lives of his constituents and all Ohioans," Harris said. "He will be a welcome addition to our caucus, and I look forward to working with him in the coming months and years to enact good public policy to move our great state forward."

Vote No...and Have Some Wine

The opponants of Issue 27, a sales tax increase to pay for a new jail and safety programs, are holding a wine tasting to raise money for their cause.

Here's the invitation:

Please join us Thursday, October 18 from 6-8 at Tino Vino Vintners in Hyde Park. For a minimal $50 donation to Wedemandabetterplan.com, you'll receive 4 wine tasting's and light appetizers. Wines by the glass will also be available for purchase while you're there. A portion of all sales will be going to our fundraising effort. Tino Vino is located at the corner of Erie and Saybrook in Hyde Park.

Please let me know that you plan to come and how many people you will be bringing.
Thank you for all of your hard work! Together, we can beat this Super Sized Jail Tax!

Jason Gloyd
513-240-4996
Paid for by wedemandabetterplan.com 3630 Zumstein Cincinnati, Oh 45208 Jason Gloyd Treasurer

The new state senator

He's now State Sen. Bill Seitz, R-Green Twp.

You can't be both places at once

Wednesday brings us an intruiguing political scheduling conflict on the Cincinnati schools beat:

At 4 p.m. in Evanston, the CPS teachers' union and other pro-levy groups are holding a major campaign rally to gin up support for the property tax hike, which the district says is necessary to stave off deep deficits. The rally has been publicly planned since mid-September, union chief Tim Kraus said.

But thirty minutes earlier in Corryville, a school board committee controlled by board president Eileen Cooper Reed and chairman Rick Williams will meet to discuss its planned "redesign" of the school system in detail for the first time. The board first announced that meeting last Thursday.

If you're at one event, you're not at the other.

Here's the subtext: The union is backing a slate of candidates against Williams in the school board race and has been extremely skeptical of the redesign plan. Meanwhile, many of those CPS players likely who've committed to the rally are extremely interested in the content of the meeting, but obviously won't be able to attend the meeting.

Kraus won't say the conflict was intentional, only repeating that the rally was planned first. Tuesday, Cooper Reed called it an innocent scheduling conflict, and reasserted the entire board's support for the levy. "Business goes on as well," she said.

Union-backed candidate Eve Bolton said conspiracy theorists would have plenty to work with today.

"Unfortunately we are in an atmosphere of such distrust that this would even occur to anyone," Bolton said.

Schmidt's a "Right Woman"

Rep. Jean Schmidt is scheduled to speak next week at what's being billed as "the largest gathering of values voters from across the nation."

The event is sponsored by FRC Action, the political arm of the conservative Family Research Council. It features a weekend of seminars and speaches from most GOP presidential hopefuls and other leaders of the conservative movement, such as former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow - both Cincinnati natives.


Schmidt, of Miami Township, is also being featured at the event. She'll speak Friday morning (Oct. 19) on a panel called "The Right Women of the House" along with Reps. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

So you want to be a delegate?

From the state Democratic party:

Become a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention

Ohio Democratic Party Posts Rules to Become Delegate at www.ohiodems.org

Columbus, OH - The Ohio Democratic Party is now accepting candidates for Ohio Delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The process, candidacy forms and delegate selection plan can be viewed at www.ohiodems.org.

“Being a Delegate at the Democratic National Convention is one of the most patriotic things a Democrat can do,” said Chris Redfern, Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. “Our delegates will go to Denver and stand as one to demand an end to the failed policies of President Bush and the Republicans who would continue them."

There are 92 district delegates and 16 district alternates. Delegates and alternates are selected at a Congressional District Caucus held in each district on January 3, 2008. To become a delegate or alternate a voter must file a "Declaration of Candidacy" form with the Ohio Democratic Party by 5:00 PM on January 1, 2008. These forms are now available on the Ohio Democratic Party's website: www.ohiodems.org.

Completed forms should be faxed to 1-877-THE-DEMS. Candidates have to pledge their support to a presidential candidate in order to run as a district delegate or alternate. The presidential candidate may limit the number of candidates running in each district. Candidates must be registered to vote (18 before November 4, 2008) in the Congressional district in which they are running.

All caucuses are held on January 3, 2008. There will be individual caucuses for each presidential caucus. These may be held in the same building. Locations of all caucuses will be announced no later than December 23, 2007. Voters who sign a statement of support indicating their presidential preference may vote, but only at one caucus.

More Candidate Forums

If you're still looking to see Cincinnati City Council candidates in person, here are some more options:

Thursday: Hosted by ACORN, at the Carl Lindner YMCA, 1425-B Linn St., West End., 6-8:30 p.m. http://www.acorn.org/ and ohacornciro@acorn.org. ACORN's the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, which works to help organize and mobilize lower-income community groups.

Friday: Joint forum by the Hyde Park, Mount Lookout and Oakley community councils, 7-9 p.m., Crossroads Community church, Madison and Ridge roads.

Register by Friday for this one by the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce: Oct. 16, registration at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon, New Stage Collective, 1140 Main St., OTR. $15 for members, $20 for "future members." RSVP to the chamber, 241-2690.

Others this week?

Mitt makes a new friend....

So far, it's been pretty hard to find a southwest Ohio Republican elected official who has committed to one of the herd of GOP presidential candidates. They've pretty much been sitting on their hands, which appears to be a posture adopted by a whole lot of potential GOP primary voters as well.

Cincinnati Council member Leslie Ghiz has pledged allegiance to Rudy Giuliani, but it's pretty slim picking after that.

It's most unlike the Democratic side, where you can find plenty of high-profile politicians who have jumped on either the Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama bandwagons.

So, no wonder the Mitt Romney campaign is crowing about an endorsement from freshman State Rep. Shannon Jones, who represents Warren County.

Whether the Jones endorsement will cure Republican timidity about their presidential contest remains to be seen.

Winburn: More Power Than HUD?

Charlie Winburn, to no one's surprise, revved up the audience at the POWR PAC event Monday night like a preacher does his flock, vowing to make new city law that would send landlords to jail if they let convicted felons stay in Section 8 properties and if they don't force Section 8 tenants to go to work.

People in the crowd muttered that he must have forgotten that Section 8 rules are pretty much set by the federal government. But they were enjoying the speechifying anyway - Section 8 and the increase of it is a huge topic on the West Side.

Winburn said he has his lawyers researching Cincinnati Municipal Code section 740-11 and said it "forces landlords to take Section 8." His law, as he proposed it Monday night standing on a box covered with a rug in the side room at Price Hill Chili, would prohibit convicted felons from getting Section 8 vouches, would force Section 8 recipients to go to work and would limit people from staying on Section 8 for more than 3 to 5 years at a time.


Here's what that code actually says:

Sec. 740-11. Discrimination Against Government Housing Allowance Recipients Forbidden.
It is unlawful for owners of residential rental units or their agents to refuse to rent a vacant dwelling unit, to evict any person or otherwise discriminate in the terms of tenancy solely because a tenant or prospective tenant is a holder of a Certificate of Family Participation under the Section 8 Existing Housing Program of the Housing and Community for Development Act of 1974, as amended, or is a recipient of any other government housing allowance program.(Ordained by Ord. No. 238-1990, eff. June 4, 1990; a. Ord. 299-1992, eff. Aug. 17, 1992; a. Ord. No. 268-1999, eff. June 23, 1999)

From the POWR PAC Event

The West Side political action group introduced its endorsed candidates Monday night at an event at Price Hill Chili (where else?). Here's some of what went on, what was said, who showed, etc.:

The event was supposed to just be for the candidates the group endorsed. That's Jeff Berding, Chris Bortz, Leslie Ghiz, Cecil Thomas, John Eby, Chris Monzel, Laketa Cole, John Cranley and Charlie Winburn. Winburn announced that, if elected, he'll give council more power than HUD. But more on that later.

Wendell Young also showed up, introducing himself to people and asking for their support despite the lack of a POWR PAC endorsement. He's a former Cincinnati police officer who went back to work in August teaching at Aiken.

David Faust, president of Cincinnati Christian University, was there, talking about the importance of Price Hill to the school. He admits there were questions about the neighborhood from trustees when the school was planning its $25 million-plus expansion, but he says moving to the suburbs would create problems for teaching students about urban communities and preparing them to help all different kinds of people.

So CCU stayed. Faust and his wife built a new house adjacent to the property and moved in in May. "So we have, as they say, skin in the game."

Pete Witte, president of Price Hill Civic Club and sometimes referred to as Cincinnati's 10th council member, did the introductions. "We need to keep working hard, people," he said to the about 75 people in the room. "West Side neighborhoods are under attack."

Eby showed the blue dots again and said it's time voters "invest in people who think like we do." Cranley said he supports the West Side, of course, but that West Siders' issues also are important in other parts of the city too. Monzel, who took ribbing for going to Moeller rather than a West Side school, said the only way to fix problems associated with Section 8, litter and safety is "to get folks down there (in City Hall) who get it. We need a council who gets it." And he added: "And of course, vote for me."

Berding pitched taking money from the sale of the Blue Ash airport and turning it into an economic development fund that could be used to buy and demolish dilapidated houses. He likened City Hall to a cruise ship on the ocean, in that it takes time to turn it around. He thinks the current crop has turned it around and is headed in the right direction.

Ghiz said she knows she wouldn't be on council without the group in the room. She was endorsed last time. "You charge me up like nobody else in the city does...I am the person on council who always stands up and says what you're thinking."

Thomas says he understand the crime issue because he's a former cop. He also said Witte would make a pretty good councilman, too. Bortz: in addition to working on crime, the West Side needs economic development. Price Hill can be the next Mount Adams, he said, because it, too, has people who push and push for what they think the neighborhood needs.

Winburn sounded, not surprisingly, like a preacher, since he is one. He ended his little speech with, "Can I get an Amen?" and "I'm Charlie Winburn and I approved this message."

Corrections study enters "debate"

Hamilton County Commissioners David Pepper and Pat DeWine held a debate Monday night on Issue 27, also known as the "Comprehensive Safety Plan" or the "Super-sized tax increase" depending on who you ask.



An interesting thing about this debate that hasn't been quite so prevalent at some other public speaking engagements was the use of the Vera Institute of Justice. The non-profit organization specializes in helping governments solve justice-related problems. It was contacted last year to compile and analyze data about Hamilton County's corrections system. It issued a report last year and are working now on new numbers to quantify things like who is in jail, and why and how long they stay there.

Both commissioners referenced Vera in their answers to almost every question. The Vera study, its data, and even the institution's very presence in Hamilton County were used by both commissioners to back up their (at times very different) points.

DeWine said Vera studies conclude a bigger jail will just fill up unless the whole justice system is reformed, so therefore he thinks Issue 27 (80 percent of the money goes to jail/jail operations vs. treatment) just won't work.

Pepper argues that the Vera studies actually show that the safety plan, crafted by him and Commissioner Todd Portune, is exactly what will work because it also creates a committee to figure out whether treatment programs are working.

New data from Vera is expected to come out in the next few weeks. So it will be interesting to see what that adds to the Issue 27 discussion. In the meantime, stay tuned for a list of future Pepper/DeWine debates.

Ghiz: All things in moderation

The endorsement of Leslie Ghiz for another term on Cincinnati City Council by the Republican Leadership Council (RLC) may be one of the more interesting endorsements of the council campaign season, especially given the fact that the RLC has had no real presence in Ohio up to this point.

The RLC is a Washington-based organization formed to counter-balance the influence of the religious right and the social conservatives in the Republican Party - an attempt to bring the party back toward the center. Just like the centrist Democrats did back in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) was formed to do the same thing for the Democratic party - only in the DLC's case, the idea was to halt the party's drift toward the left. Back then, they had a pretty good national spokesman - a young governor from Arkansas named Bill Clinton.

The RLC is headed by former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, whose own presidential and/or vice presidential ambitions were thwarted by opposition from the right wing of her party; former Missouri Sen. John Danforth, an Episcopal priest who has waged a running battle with the Christian conservative movement; and Michael Steele, the Maryland lieutenant governor, who has argued for a "big tent" GOP.

Combine the fact that the RLC is backing her bid for re-election and her very public support for the presidential candidacy of Rudy Giuliani and it becomes clear where Ghiz falls in the spectrum of American Republicanism.

In other words, we don't look for Citizens for Community Values or Family First PAC to be endorsing her any time soon.

GOP North

Press release from the Hamilton County GOP:

We’re Growing! We’re Growing! We’re Growing!

The Hamilton County Republican Party
invites YOU to visit

The Hamilton County
Republican Party’s
new
North Headquarters
Open House
Tuesday, October 16
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
8260 Northcreek, Suite 300
Kenwood, OH 45236
(Located behind Kenwood Towne Center on Galbraith Road)


**Raffle: Win 2 free tickets to the Hamilton County Lincoln Day Dinner
and Private Reception**