Posted January 4, 200817 yr Party deal limits voter choices BY HOWARD WILKINSON & SHARON COOLIDGE | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER January 4, 2008 CINCINNATI - In an unprecedented last-minute deal, the Republican and Democratic parties have decided not to compete against each for the two Hamillton County commission seats up for election this year. Republican sources say that Democrat county commissioner Todd Portune will have no Republican-endorsed opponent this fall; and that the Republicans’ choice to replace Pat DeWine as county commissioner, current clerk of courts Greg Hartmann, will be given a free pass by the Democrats. More below: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/NEWS01/301040036
January 5, 200817 yr I do find it odd that the Republicans are willing to concede a Democratic majority for County Commissioners. I guess they find the other positions particularly important to hold on to for them to be willing to concede that race.
January 6, 200817 yr This is outrageous. You were going to vote for someone other than Portune? I do find it odd that the Republicans are willing to concede a Democratic majority for County Commissioners. I guess they find the other positions particularly important to hold on to for them to be willing to concede that race. I'm surprised at this as well. It doesn't speak well for the health of the Hamilton County Republican Party, that's for sure. Way to go Hamilton County! Also, is Pat DeWine's political career dead? We can only hope. If so, the Hamilton County Commission will have been the graveyard for a surprisingly large amount of Republicans over the past few years (Bedinghaus, Neyer, Dowlin, Heimlich and DeWine). Sweet Lord, it is terrible to think when reading those names that the one I honestly have to respect the most is Bedinghaus.
January 7, 200817 yr Don't forgot Taft used his time as a Commissioner to run for governor and we all saw how well that went. It is weird and it does seem that it doesn't bode well for the Hamilton Cty GOP. I have to imagine they also figure that lots of money will have to be put into the Schmidt or ? race and the Pres. election so basically local politics gets pushed down the road and the fight can be taken up in 2 years when a better sense of the political trends can be ascertained.
