Last weekend open thread

It's the last weekend of the campaign.

What are your predictions for city council, CPS levy, and the sales tax?

Charter vs. Charter

For the second straight day in the campaign's homestretch, a top Charterite criticized the party's own candidates.

On Friday, the Enquirer published an op-ed column by Charter Committee President Michael Goldman, explaining the third party's support of Issue 22, the 9.95 mill property tax levy to support Cincinnati Public Schools. In it, he calls the school board's financial oversight "not acceptable."

That criticism of "the board" isn't meant to single out any one member, Goldman explained by phone today, but it does include veteran CPS board members Melanie Bates and Rick Williams, he said. Charterites back Bates in her race for City Council and Williams in his re-election attempt at CPS.

The column came just a day after Charterite Chris Bortz, an incumbent City Council candidate, slammed the school board himself.

Here's a few excerpts from Goldman's explanation as why they've endorsed candidates they believe made significant missteps at CPS:

"...We had endorsed Rick Williams twice before, and I think there was a predisposition to stick with him to be loyal. And when he explained his situation and how he read what had happened over the last couple of years, particularly with the last year, with the confusion or whatever you want to call it, the board of Charter had come away feeling Rick had learned something valuable from that experience."

As for Bates?

"We had endorsed Melanie twice for school board, and we believed in the person. There is a predisposition to the be loyal and stick with that person, even if they hit some rough weather, it's not totally of their own making. You want to give that person another chance. In both their cases, it seems very clear that they see what went on, and they're not happy about it either. They both believe the board could have performed better."

While Bates has long been on Charter's list for City Council, Williams was not a unanimous choice in his race. Last month, the party's Issues and Endorsements committee recommended that the party stay out of the CPS board race altogether. But Charter's full board overruled them and decided to give Williams the endorsement for the third straight time.

Williams did not return a phone call seeking comment. Bates said the criticism was only possible because she and Williams helped force the board to face up to its problems rather than hide them.

Tim Kraus, CPS teachers' union president, said Charter's missing the point by endorsing both Williams and the levy. He said even the levy's harshest opponents recognize its recent academic improvements and primarily take issue with the board's performance. The answer to that is to replace Williams, which the union hopes will happen.

"There's a distinction there, and Charter's not making it," Kraus said.

Ex-Pepper manager appointed to governor's job

Greg Landsman, campaign manager to David Pepper during the Hamilton County commissioner's 2005 race for Cincinnati mayor, has been appointed to a state job by Gov. Ted Strickland.

Landsman, 30, of Wilmington is the new director of the Governor's Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, a job that pays $75,000 annually.

Landsman, a native of Cincinnati and one-time congressional aide to Strickland and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, most recently worked as director of special projects with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Landsman, a former teacher who got his master's degree from Harvard Divinity School in 2004, replaces Eric McFadden, who took a job as volunteers administrator with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Shortly after McFadden's February appointment as director, he noticed unusual expenditures in the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, which resulted in an audit and Inspector General's investigation.

More details about Landsman can be found here:

Painter Announces Endorsements

Cincinnati City Council candidate Mitch Painter e-mailed today to say he has two new endorsements, from State Rep. Dale Mallory and former Senate President Stan Aronoff.

Though not Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.

From Painter's note:

“Mitch Painter will bring youth and energy to our council, along with building and development experience,” Mallory said. He has also contributed to Painter’s campaign, as have his brothers Joe and Bill, and his mother, Fannie.

The Painter and Mallory families have been friends for some time - Mitch grew up on Dayton Street in the West End, a block away from the Mallory home. Former State Senate President Stanley Aronoff also endorsed Painter, and contributed to his campaign, calling him “A strong new voice for the city.”

Painter welcomed the endorsements saying “The Mallorys and Stan Arpnoff (sic) have given so much to this community, and I am honored to have their help.”

Here's Another Upcoming Election To Talk About

For anyone tired of all the campaigning toward Tuesday...

Campaigning will start soon for president of the Cincinnati police union, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 69. Officers vote next month after candidates are officially nominated Nov. 26.

Kathy Harrell, the current president and the first woman elected to the job, plans to run again. Opposing her will be Don Meece, who currently works nights in District 4.

Historically, the police union president has been a powerful force at City Hall. How visible that force is might be among the campaign issues. Meece's supporters say the president needs to be more vocal. But Harrell says she has a good working relationship with city leaders and that you don't have to be loud to be effective.

You've Gotta Hear This

Someone - that would be Jake Speed - actually took the names of all 25 Cincinnati City Council candidates and wrote them into a song.

Click here to go to the WVXU Web site, where the song's posted. Then click on the button to hear "Magic City Hall."

The lyrics are posted, too, so you can sing along about the "little superheroes that remodeled Fountain Square."

More Parties....

Election Night, you can find these candidates - either celebrating or crying in their beer - at these places:

John Eby: Price Hill Chili, starting at 7:30 pm in the new patio room.

Pat Fischer: Molly Malone's in Pleasant Ridge, his neighborhood.

Democrats send out a reminder

When the mail carrier comes to the homes of African-American voters in Cincinnati Saturday, he'll be delivering a reminder from the Hamilton County Democratic Party.

A reminder that while Sam Malone and Charlie Winburn are African-Americans, they are also Republicans - which most black voters in the city are not.

Democrats are clearly worried that Winburn and Malone are going to peel off black voters, hurting the Democratic slate. So, the Democratic mail piece features smiling photos of both Malone and Winburn, flanking a photo portrait of a fellow Republican who is, most assuredly, not very popular in Cincinnati's African-American community - George W. Bush.

Message: Vote for Winburn and Malone, and you're voting for the party of President Bush.

Winburn, for his part, says he doesn't care.

"It's not like these black voters don't know I'm a Republican,'' Winburn said. "So I want to thank the Democrats for keeping my name out there."

Pablo 1, Pete 0

We never thought we'd live to see a Cincinnati council candidate trying to get votes by dissing Pete Rose.

But we hadn't counted on Joan Kaup.

Kaup, the Charter candidate, has a highly-targeted direct mail piece - targeted at what Kaup likes to call "progressive thinkers" - that features the Andy Warhol screen print of Cincinnati's Hit King on the cover, with a pointed message in bold type: Forget Pete Rose! Picasso's the Man.

"We all know how important the Reds and the Bengals are to our local economy,'' it says inside the flyer. "but when we look at our competitive advantages as a city, the arts rise to the top."

It goes on to promise more investment in "cultural marketing,'' Kaup's efforts to help Jim Tarbell to preserve small arts funding in the city budget, and more encouragement for arts organizations that receive city funds to work with public school kids.

"Selling art. It's one way to make Cincinnati everything it can be."

Now, Pete may be more of a "piece of work" than a "work of art," but a head-first slide is a thing of beauty.

Cincy Dems: Trouble in Paradise?

Tim Burke is apparently a worried man; and worried men sing worried songs.

And write worried letters.

The Hamilton County Democratic Party chairman fired off a letter to Cincinnati Democratic leaders Thursday saying that, with the election only five days away, "maintaining a Democratic majority on Cincinnati City Council is very much in jeopardy."

"If we lose it,'' Burke writes, "it will be because Charlie Winburn returns to council."

It's not really clear what good having a majority of Democrats on council has done for the local party, given the fact that the five Democrats rarely hang together and it was a tri-partisan coalition - the "Fiscal Five" - which has often called the shots at City Hall.

But any majority is better than no majority. And Burke says that if the Democrats lose it, it will be because three of the Democratic incumbents - Jeff Berding, Laketa Cole and Cecil Thomas have some serious problems to deal with.

Berding, apparently, is at the top of the "vulnerable" list. "I would be less than frank if I did not acknowledge that Jeff Berding draws the most criticism from our own Democrats,'' Burke writes. "Some positions that he has taken over the past two years have not been well-received, but the fact of the matter is that Jeff has been a loyal Democrat."

Cole's recent domestic troubles should not be allowed to hurt her re-election chances, Burke said. Cole was attacked by her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend and asked police to keep her name out of the report. The council member said that police had suggested to her that she could be listed on the report as "Jane Doe."

Thomas may be vulnerable, Burke writes, "because of his quiet style of getting the job done." Thomas, frustrated that he is not getting credit for his work to reduce crime in the city, is running a TV ad that runs against the tide in a council election where it seems everyone else is running for sheriff - Thomas argues that crime is down; and that he had a lot to do with it.

The good news, Burke writes is that the other Democratic incumbents - David Crowley and John Cranley - are going to be re-elected with no problem.

But two seats, on a nine-member council, does not a majority make.

AFP says why it opposes Issue 27

Americans for Prosperity, which has opposed Issue 27--the sales tax increase to fund a new jail and public safety programs-- released this report listing some of its reasoning. The report primarily deals with the amount it will cost to build the new jail. The group compares those figures to what other communities spent on jails and jail expansions and found it to be much higher. (Officials in Hamilton and Butler County say inflation, especially on the cost of steel, makes it much more expensive to build a jail today versus 2002, when Butler County's opened)

The group also said changes should be made in the justice system.

Read the report here
Read the accompanying chart here

Issue 27 YouTube video

Watch it here

From Pat DeWine:

I just wanted to share with you a new video on the sales tax increase imposed by my two Democratic colleagues on the Board of County Commissioners. You can check it out by clicking on the link below.

Last-minute money

Cincinnati Public Schools levy supporters have launched a last-minute radio advertising blitz, which wasn't planned until a unexpected campaign donation from Frisch's Restaurants Inc. that came just six days before Election Day.

The restaurant chain pumped in $10,000 to the shoestring-budget pro-levy effort on Wednesday, confirmed campiagn manager Theresa Lubic. That donation more than doubled the $8,650 in available cash reported on Oct. 25 by Cincinnatians Active to Support Education.

$10,000 is hardly a massive amount in the grand scheme of things (Frisch's gave more to the pro-sales tax Citizens for Safe Community), but it figures to go a long way for the CPS levy, which as of mid-October, had raised less money than a similar effort in the much-smaller Northwest Local School District.

With the infusion, 30-second spots will run on five radio stations through Monday, Lubic said.

Bortz belt humor

Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Bortz said Thursday he'd like to explore the possibility of a city takeover of independent Cincinnati Public Schools -- or at least a radical change in how the school board is put together.

In response to a question at a lunchtime candidates' forum at the Christ Church Cathedral, Bortz explained his ideas: CPS management would still be independent for all practical purposes. But through a to-be-determined process, the Mayor, City Council and possibly other groups would appoint board members, instead of allowing voters to elect the school board. (More or less, that's how things are done in Cleveland schools today.)

"I think we'd be hard pressed to do much worse at this point," Bortz said.

Then all the city council members left the church and headed to the Underground Railroad Freedom Center to vote on the Banks project.

After they left, school board member Rick Williams, who's running for re-election, took the podium. He'd been sitting quietly in the audience.

"I'd like to begin my speech by explaning why I believe the Cincinnati school board should take over City Council."

UPDATE: As a commenter has rightly pointed out, there's a partisan dynamic to this. CPS board member Melanie Bates and Bortz are both running for Council with the Charter Committee's endorsement. Also, Williams is Charter's choice in the school board race. So it's not just run-of-the-mill political criticism -- it's intra-party criticism.

Winburn Predicted.....

things would start getting nasty. He said he'd heard about an effort to make him look bad.

Click here to see what might be that effort.

Another Candidate Getting Married

First Leslie Ghiz, now George Zamary.

Zamary and his fiancee, Sarah Gay, are planning a wedding for next spring or summer, he says. He proposed in September on Hyde Park Square.


He adds that she's is the daughter of Charles Gay and Delle Jones, step-daughter of Dr. Ted Jones, and granddaughter to Paul Christensen.

Parties In The Works

UPDATE:

Chris Monzel, after a special 8 p.m. Mass at his church, St. Bernard Church (740 Circle Avenue in Spring Grove Village), will watch the returns in the parish hall.

Greg Harris: Sycamore Place, 7th & Sycamore (634 Sycamore Street, downtown) in the Tavern Room. After 8:30 p.m.


Whether they'll be victory parties or not remains to be seen Tuesday. But here's where some Cincinnati City Council members have decided to celebrate with their supporters.

Vice Mayor David Crowley: Where else? Crowley's pub in Mount Adams.

Leslie Ghiz: Andy's Mediterranean Grill in Walnut Hills.

Steve Pavelish: At home with his son.

Roxanne Qualls: Arnold's, downtown.

Two more Catholic groups endorse Issue 27

Less than a week after Issue 27 won the endorsements of three major religious coalitions--including the Archdiocese of Cincinnati -- two individual Archdiocese offices made a separate announcement Wednesday re-iterating their support.

"These two wanted to call attention to it and make sure people know that they specifically support Issue 27," said Dan Andriacco, Archiocese spokesman.

The Offices of African American Catholic Ministries and Catholic Social Action sent a memo to all pastors and pastoral administrators of Catholic parishes in Hamilton County.

In it, Rev. Royce Winters and Tony Stieritz acknowledged that Issue 27 is controversial, and the tax increase may be a burden to some low-income residents. They also said more still needs to be done to make the justice system completely fair.

"However, we are deeply concerned that, given the increasingly inhumane housing of inmates in our current system and reliance upon the Butler County jail system, that Hamilton County will soon be forced to address its overcrowding problem, perhaps in a much less comprehensive manner," they stated. "Our offices feel that the Comprehensive Safety Plan may be our best option to deal with an imperfect situation while still incorporating more life-giving alternatives.”

The Cincinnati Archdioces, effectively endorsed the sales tax last week when the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati (MARCC) endorsed it because the Archdioses is MARCC's largest member.

"Taft endorsement" release a sham

The campaign opposing Issue 27, the sales tax increase to pay for a new jail and public safety programs, had a little fun today.

But some didn't think think it was so funny.

We Demand A Better Plan sent out this press release today claiming former Ohio Governor Bob Taft had endorsed Issue 27. It's not true. After reading a sentence or two into the sarcastic press release it becomes clear that the "endorsement" is a toungue-in-cheek joke. There is a disclaimer at the end of the statement too.

But supporters of Issue 27 think it's no laughing matter.

After the Hamilton County Commission meeting Wednesday morning, Commissioner Todd Portune said it ought to be illegal to misrepresent the facts in that manner.

"This is the same group that'll do anything to win an election," Portune said.

Portune said he'd heard that campaign spokesman Jason Gloyd was on 700 WLW that morning talking about the "endorsement," which made him even angrier. Gloyd says he was not on the radio, but he'd heard that some of the talk show hosts had, indeed, discussed the fake press release.

Sam Malone ordered to repay $22,000

Howard Wilkinson has the story here

Pavelish in Sayler Park

Here's an e-mail we got this morning from Cincinnati City Council candidate Steve Pavelish:



I have been walking the whole City, by myself, since July 20. I've been to most neighborhoods, spoken with thousands of people and visited tens of thousands of homes.I believe I have a pulse of what the neighborhoods need. I'm off to Sayler Park.

Pavelish

Here's Something Not Election-Related

Organizers of Westwood Concern and Price Hill Civic Club say goodbye Monday to Cincinnati Police Capt. Drew Raabe.

Raabe recently was transferred from the West Side's District 3, where he was the leader for more than seven years. He went to a new assignment downtown as part of a group of supervisor moves around the department.

Mary Kuhl, of Westwood Concern, and others hope for a big turnout Monday night at their party, 7-8:30 p.m. and - where else do you party on the West Side? - Price Hill Chili, 4920 Glenway Ave.

Charter endorses "yes" vote on CPS levy

In case you missed it -- it's not on their Web site yet -- the Charter Commitee last week endorsed Issue 22, the Cincinnati Public Schools tax levy.

The statement of support amounts to an endorsement with caveats, said President Michael Goldman.

With the schools endorsement, Charter is now officially in support of all four money issues on the ballot in the city of Cincinnati.

By the way, Charterites also endorsed CPS board incumbent Rick Williams for a third four-year term. Williams, whom Charter also endorsed in 1999 and 2003, is running against a slate of three newcomers, who were not endorsed. The top three finishers in a four-way race will win.

Bortz's Suggested Revisions To Banks Deal

A really odd thing happened during Monday's joint meeting of Cincinnati City Council's finance and economic development committees, a meeting to discuss The Banks. All nine council members were there and talked about the proposed development for more than six hours.

Toward the end, Councilman Chris Bortz proposed amendments to the cooperation agreement. Council members started to discuss the changes - then Mayor Mark Mallory walked into the room and spoke to Bortz for the first of several times. Suddenly, the proposed amendments were "just suggestions" that nobody - including Bortz - brought up for discussion.

His changes would have: committed the city and county to moving ahead with the public infrastructure even if the current developers pulled out of the plan; set up the port authority to be the ongoing overseer of the project; and guaranteed that rates charged by the county in the new Banks parking facilities would be competitive with the rates charged by the city in garages in the central business district. The latter, he said, would guarantee that at least some of the parking in the new development would be affordable.

Here are more details, from an e-mail Bortz sent Monday night:

"If the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County are truly committed to getting The Banks built, then we should put in writing now our intent to proceed with the public infrastructure (the streets, the utilities, the park, the garage, the podium) even if the development team chooses or is unable to proceed.

I have great confidence in the Carter/Dawson team but a "proceed anyway provision" in the City-County Cooperative Agreement is a nod to the tremendous amount of work that has been put in over the last 11 years, particularly in the last 18 months. The Banks Working Group has done what most of us considered impossible.

Before the blinding light of victory overtakes us, let's acknowledge the contingencies that exist, including the challenging hurdle Carter/Dawson face of securing private financing. A commitment to proceed signals to the developer, and the public, that despite the real estate market and despite the outcome of the election, the City and the County will be breaking ground.

I have also suggested that we guarantee some affordable parking on The Banks. We must maintain a competitive edge with our suburban neighbors, and affordable parking is that edge. With a public subsidy of this magnitude, I believe citizens deserve a commitment that parking rates are going to remain reasonable for at least some of the spots. We already know the residential components of this first phase will be priced out of range of most folks. But at least we can make it affordable to park at The Banks so people can enjoy the park, the retail, and all the other entertainment amenities we are building.

And finally, let's answer the most important question, "What's next?". The success of The Banks Working Group is a direct result of removing politics from the process. Let's stick with what works. Hand off management to a properly formed and authorized professional Port Authority. That is how it is done, and done successfully, all over the country. The success of this first phase is critical and will determine the development of the remaining blocks. "

'The gates of hell'

Sherry Coolidge reports:

More than three dozen members of the NAACP gathered outside the Hamilton County Courthouse this morning where they rallied against a sales tax increase to build a new jail and fund public safety programs voters are being asked to approve Nov. 6.

The group was at the courthouse to watch the trial of Marc Frison, a 34-year-old Sycamore Township man accused of trying to sneak a knife into the courthouse in August.

Frison has been jailed on $100,000 bond since Aug. 7, which the NAACP says is unjust. Frison’s trial was continued until Nov. 13.

“Do we need a bigger and badder jail?” Cincinnati NAACP President Christopher Smitherman asked the crowd. “No,” the crowd shouted back.”

“We don’t have a million dollars, but on Nov. 6 we will have victory,” Smitherman said. “Then, on Nov. 13 we’ll walk Marc Frison right out of the gates of hell.”

The last pool report from Bush visit

Pool Report No. 3, October 29, 2007

The president left the fundraiser at 6:40, as scheduled, but made a previously announced stop at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, a barbeque restaurant on the river, where he attended the 60th birthday party for Johnny Bench, the Hall-of-Fame catcher for the Big Red Machine. As it turned out, after two closed events, it was the president's only public appearance of the day.

Mr. Bench and his wife, Lauren (double check the spelling), attended the fundraiser earlier and accompanied the president's motorcade to the restaurant. The president waded into the first floor dining hall, campaign style, working the room. The pool was kept at bay but at least one supporter shouted, "Keep it up, George."

The president made his way to the stairs where he stopped and turned to a man, Todd Upton, who hoisted his three-and-half-year-old son, E.J., over a banister. "Guess what he wanted me to see?" the president said, tugging at the boy's Ohio State University sweatshirt, as the elder Upton held him up for the cameras.

The president went upstairs to a separate section for Mr. Bench's party.

"Believe it or not, he's 60," the president said.
He remarked something like that wasn't so old, but the pool could not hear terribly well. Whatever he said, Mr. Bench agreed.

"He can still play," the president said.

"My accountant wants me to," Mr. Bench replied.

A considerable amount of laughing, posing and handshaking then took place in a scrum surrounding the president and Mr. Bench. At least three friends of Mr. Bench could be heard expressing surprise at the visit. "The president of the United States ­ how cool is that?" one guest said. He introduced himself as "a friend of John's" but the pool didn't have time to get his name before being ushered out and down the stairs.

The president stopped at the cashier and picked up an order, apparently placed in advance. It included, in full, three racks of pork spare ribs, Saratoga chips (kettle fried), onion straws and the inn's barbeque sauce, according to the press office. The president appeared to insist on paying, but left it to someone else to settle the bill. The president's aide, Barry Jackson, a local, said the ribs were the best in the world.

The president carried them in a large white paper sack back to the motorcade, which arrived at the airport uneventfully, though the friendly crowd at the gate had grown considerably. Air Force One departed at 7:30 p.m. and returned to Andrews at 8:30 p.m.

Steven Lee Myers
New York Times


Pool Report No. 3A

A correction, with apologies: the pool mistyped and should have said that the stop at the Boathouse was previously UNannounced.

Also, as the press office clarifies, Mr. Bench did not ride in the motorcade, though he was at the earlier fundraiser. He made his own way to the party.

Steven Lee Myers
New York Times

The personal touch

With just a few thousand dollars in the campaign fund heading into the homestrech before Election Day, Cincinnatians Active to Support Education is stretching its resources with a massive postcard blitz this week.

Ten thousand handwritten postcards will be in the mail by the end of today, said Theresa Lubic, campaign manager for CASE, the independent campaign group behind the proposed tax hike to fund Cincinnati Public Schools.

Each postcard contains a message pleading for a Yes vote on Issue 22, which would raise property taxes by $294 per $100,000 of property value and raise $65.3 million annually for five years for CPS.

A team of parents, grandparents, alumni and employees volunteered to pen the messages, which are either written off a standard script or tell a personal story of their experiences in the school system, Lubic said.

There won't be any more paid commercial buys for CASE before next Tuesday, Lubic said. The one and only radio spot can be heard here.

Hamilton County's newsletter posted

Read about the county's budget, the Banks, and find out why the Public Defender's office recieved an award in the Hello Hamilton County newsletter: http://www.hamiltoncountyohio.gov/hc/hc_pdfs/102907HHC.pdf

White House pool report!

Pool Report No. 2 with correction to No. 1, October 29, 2007.

The president arrived at Philadelphia International at 3:15 and left within 10 minutes. He arrived just before 5 at Cincinnati Municipal Airport-Lunken Field.

He was met by Senator George Voinovich; Rep. Steven Chabot, his wife Donna; Rep. Jean Schmidt and her husband Peter; and a couple more civic and business people. He also met Sharon Nolan separately and spoke with her for several minutes.

According to the White House, her daughter, Shannon, and unborn granddaughter were murdered on Sept. 7, 2001 by Shannon's husband.

Ms. Nolan has since become an advocate for preventing domestic violence and helping abused women and children. She handed the president what appeared to be a laminated card or note, the contents of which were not clear.

A friendly crowd of several dozen onlookers met the motorcade as it left the airport, waving and smiling. A few flags were visible.

The motorcade drove to the Hyde Park neighborhood, where the president attended a fundraiser in the home of Bob and Susie Castellini. He is the principle partner and chief executive officer of the Cincinnati Reds. The fundraiser is for Mr. Chabot and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Also in attendance beyond those lawmakers at the airport, according to the White House, is Rep. John Boehner, House Republican leader. Mr. Chabot's campaign manager, Jamie Schwartz, can be reached at (513) xxx-xxxx. (Redacted by blog editor)

The pool is nearby at the Summit Country Day School.

NOTE: The wife of Jack Templeton, as reported in Pool Report No. 1, is Pina, not Nina.

Steven Lee Myers
New York Times

Republican "revolt"

Republicans are "revolting" against the County party's stance in support of the sales tax issue to fund a new jail and public safety programs.

Read their press release here.

"Republicans are not united on this plan," said Jason Gloyd, a Republican and head of the anti-sales tax campaign at a press conference Monday, explaining the revolt. They said Republicans want fiscal responsibility, and they thik the tax is too expensive.

The County GOP endorsed the sales tax--also known as Issue 27. But several elected Republicans including Commissioner Pat DeWine, Treasurer Rob Goering, councilman Chris Monzel, and State Rep. Tom Brinkman have all come out against the plan, as has Herman Tegenkamp, a Deer Park councilman and Heather Harlow, Colerain Township fiscal officer.

Representatives from Republican clubs in Anderson Township, Sycamore Township, Cheviot, and Springfield Township were at the press conference. Several of those clubs are printing alternate sample ballots for members to hand out at the polls if they choose.

The group said the issue goes deeper than just the tax. Many Republicans are revolting against what they call the "tax-and-spend" mentality of the local and state Republican leaders.

Said Chris Finney, who is a member of the Policy Committee for the county GOP: "We stand for a new direction of the Republican Party. We represent the future of the Republican Party. those advocating for the tax represent the failed past of the Republican Party."
Here's who was there:

Chris Finney (Hamilton County GOP policy committee, COAST), Jason Gloyd (spokesman for WeDemandABetterPlan.com), Pat DeWine (Hamilton County Commissioner), Jeff Capell (Filed a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Leis and the county to get them to allow anti-tax literature to be sent to sheriff's office workers), Mike Jordan (head of the Anderson Township Republican Club), Charlie Norman (DeWine's staffer and member of the Cheviot Republican Club), Herman Tegenkamp (Deer Park city councilman), Lou and Pat Williams (members of Springfield Township Republican Club), and Justin Jeffre and Michael Earl Patton (City Council Candidates).

Jeffre and Patton aren't Republicans though they do oppose the tax. They were there for a separate press conference.

Driehaus targets Chabot and Bush

From the Ohio Democratic Party:

On Day of Big Bush/Chabot Fundraiser,
Rep. Driehaus Joins Families at Rally to Protect Ohio Kids

Driehaus, Health Care Advocates, Families Urge President Bush and Congressman Chabot to Stop Blocking Health Care for 10 Million American Children

Cincinnati, OH - On Monday, State Representative Steve Driehaus, candidate for the 1st Congressional district in Ohio, joined kids and parents at a "Rally to Protect Ohio Kids."

At the event, health care advocates, families and Congressional candidate Driehaus urged President Bush and Congressman Chabot to stop blocking health care for 10 million American children.

"Under Governor Strickland's leadership we have worked hard to invest in our families and have proven we can get things done by reaching across the aisle," said Driehaus. “I am running for Congress to get things done for our citizens. The stalling of the SCHIP bill is an example of how Washington has misguided priorities and where political paybacks rule the day. I believe we can and must do better.”

Later today, President Bush will be raising money for Chabot to aid his reelection. The announcement for this event ironically came on the same day that Chabot cast a deciding vote to uphold President Bush's veto on the extension of the SCHIP Bill. Congressman Chabot was only one of four members of the Ohio delegation to oppose the bipartisan compromise.

No Jail Tax says treatment group is against Issue 27

No Jail Tax Political Action Committee says a group of treatment professionals, among others, have come out against the sales tax increase to build a new jail. Read the release here.

Comics for Pavelish

From the Pavelish campaign:

STEVE PAVELISH comedy show fund raiser

FRIGHTFULLY FUNNY COMEDY SHOW

TUESDAY OCTOBER 30th

NATIONAL TOURING COMICS
MIKE BERLON
MIKE CRONIN
MIKE GUNS
DAVE WEBSTER
MIKE MALONE
East End Cafe'
4003 Eastern Ave
Cincinnati 45226 Columbia - Tusculum area
TICKETS ONLY $10 that's right.... only $10
DOORS OPEN 8PM
SHOW BEGINS 9PM
presale available at mike@mikeberloncomedy.com..
PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND THIS LAST MINUTE EVENT. BRING A FRIEND (or two)

Jeffre, Patton unite

Justin Jeffre and Michael Earl Patton Present "The Comprehensive Neighborhood Rescue Plan"

When: Monday, October 29th, 3:45pm

Where: County Administration Building

What: City Council candidates Justin Jeffre and Michael Earl Patton will formally release their "Comprehensive Neighborhood Rescue Plan" (CNRP) as part of a press conference in the County building against the jail tax. Jeffre and Patton will travel in Justin Jeffre's MCU (Mobile Communications Unit). They will make copies of the CNRP available, as well as tours of the MCU.

Details: Among several points included in Justin Jeffre and Michael Earl Patton's Comrpehensive Neighborhood Rescue Plan, the two council candidates are calling for 90% of City jobs to go to City employees -- including the police department. The plan states that Jeffre and Patton support "[h]iring only Cincinnati residents for all future openings in every department, with a goal of city residents representing at least 90% of the work force. This policy will help keep as many Cincinnatians employed as possible and will keep more tax money in the city's economy. Although exceptions can be made for specialized positions requiring a broader search for qualified candidates, people who work for the city should live in the city. Like the trainees in the neighborhood projects, resident city employees will also have a sense of ownership that will motivate them to do their best.

Garry endorsement

From the Garry campaign:


Today, Brian Garry, Progressive Democratic Candidate for Cincinnati City Council was endorsed by the Friends of the Sentinels. The Sentinels are Cincinnati’s African American Police Association. This endorsement comes on the heels of the Friends of the Cincinnati African American Fire Fighters endorsement of Garry which makes Garry the only white non-incumbent candidate to have received the endorsement of both of the publics safety organizations. Garry believes in the Safety First approach to our citizens concerns. "All of our citizens must feel and also truly be safe in their communities", said Garry. Both organizations agree with Garry’s position of addressing public safety from a root causes perspective. "Unless we address poverty now, we will never be able to build a jail big enough because so many people are now just struggling to survive. We need to focus on real, permanent solutions for our communities. We must bring to the table, solutions of economic equality such as good jobs with benefits, higher education, affordable housing and affordable health care", Garry explains. Garry, goes on to say that he believes that "if we were doing the right things for our community, like investing in children and supporting the hiring of felons, then there would be far less people in jail. Our job is to change people’s lives, to help people not hurt people, to improve people’s lives so that crime is no longer an option for them. Very few people who have good jobs and own a home are engaged in street crime, because they feel stable and secure and are in the mainstream. We must bring the opportunity of good jobs and home ownership within the reach of our 100,000 residents living at or below the poverty level, 70% of whom are African American. "

Group of Republicans to speak against Issue 27

Republicans United in Opposition to Issue 27

Who: Republican elected officials, Republican candidates, Republican club presidents
What: Republican elected officials, candidates, and club presidents will hold a press conference to discuss their opposition to Issue 27. This opposition is in spite of the County Republican Party’s endorsement of the super-sized tax increase.
When: Monday, October 29, 2007, 3:30 PM
Where: County Administration Building, 138 E. Court Street, Sixth Floor Cincinnati, OH 45202

A debate so exciting it must be seen twice

From The Greenwich:

(Talk about burying the lead - they don't mention the free buffet until the end.)

Friday, November 2 “ Candidate Forum Rewind”

Due to numerous requests, The Greenwich will utilize its 10-foot video screening system to re-broadcast the City Council candidate forum originally held on October 6th. The live event was professionally recorded by F.D.S Video Productions and will be shown on Friday, November 2nd beginning at 7 PM. The forum was hosted by actress/radio personality Taylore Mahogany Scott and focused on the topic of strategies for neighborhood revitalization. The candidates (23 in all) fielded questions from CityBeat writer Kevin Osborne and WCPO TV news producer Kitalena Mason.

For those who were unable to attend the live event, this is an excellent opportunity to hear the candidates discuss a topic that is of vital interest to the future of Walnut Hills.

Viewing of the re-broadcast is open to the public…light buffet included.