Portune a Regular Wheeler-Dealer

Last week's backroom deal between Democrat Todd Portune and Republican Greg Hartmann irritated both liberals and conservatives alike, but sources in both parties say it’s just the latest version of a proposal Portune had been developing for weeks.

Reliable sources in the local Democratic and Republican parties tell CityBeat that Portune floated a different proposal when it appeared that Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine, an incumbent Republican, was going to seek re-election. DeWine publicly and aggressively opposed Portune’s plan to raise the county's sales tax last fall, which upset the Republican Party’s leadership and the GOP’s most popular elected official, Sheriff Simon Leis Jr.

As a result, Portune tried to convince GOP leaders through others to back former Cincinnati City Councilman Charlie Winburn to run in the Republican primary against DeWine, sources said. If Winburn emerged victorious, Portune would promise the Republicans that Winburn wouldn’t face an endorsed Democratic candidate in the November election. In return, the GOP wouldn’t endorse a candidate against Portune.

Some Republican leaders, though, were uncomfortable about Winburn’s running in a countywide race. When DeWine decided not to seek reelection and instead run for a judgeship, the details of the deal began changing. Portune would pressure Democrat Greg Harris to drop out of the race and not challenge Republican Greg Hartmann for DeWine’s seat, and the GOP wouldn’t run Green Township Trustee Tracy Winkler as planned against Portune.

Portune and Hartmann were excited about the prospect of not facing competition from the other major party but had plenty of convincing to do. They had several people make telephone calls lobbying party leaders and wannabe candidates into supporting the deal. They included attorney and frequent campaign contributor Stan Chesley, Hamilton County Chief Deputy Sean Donovan and Ronald Joseph, CEO of the Joseph Auto Group.

Although the high-powered pleas proved successful, many people in both parties are angered by the current deal.

Some Democrats say the deal wasn’t vetted by other party officers, and the Democrats forfeited a chance at possibly winning a third seat on the county commission; some Republicans, meanwhile, note the deal means their party is shut out of having a commission majority again until 2012 at the earliest.

There is one small glimmer of hope for those distressed by the deal.

At least two well-known Democrats had been mulling a possible run for DeWine’s county commission seat. If either had decided on a late entry into the race, they had hoped they would’ve been able to convince Harris step aside for the party’s greater interests. (It’s unclear, however, if Harris would’ve complied.)

Although the deadline has passed for Republicans and Democrats to file for the commission race, independent candidates have until March 3. A high-profile Democrat with broad name recognition still could throw a monkey wrench into the Portune/Hartmann deal if that person were to decide to run without party backing.

There are rumblings on the political horizon that just such an occurrence might happen. The next two months will be an interesting time in local political circles.

— Kevin Osborne

Comments

[The Democratic Wuss Factor]

"At least two well-known Democrats had been mulling a possible run for DeWine’s county commission seat."

Well if that's true, then these two well-known Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for not having the courage to get into the race on the front end. What a couple cowards. I bet my life savings that one of them was Cranley.

[No Jail Tax]

Cranley, right. A coward? I don't think so. If he's brave enough to take on Chabot twice, the kid is not afraid of a Hartman or a DeWine.

The cowards here are Todd Portune, Tim Burke, Greg Hartman and George Vincent.

These cowards were afraid of Hamilton County voters in 2007 with the jail tax when they tried to sneak on the people. Now they are afraid of another rebuke from us like they took last November.

VOTE ED ROTHENBERG FOR COMMISSIONER!

VOTE DOWN WUSS FACTOR GEORGE'S DECISION!

[Anonymous]

Looks like Portune has gotten so close to Leis that he thinks he's king too. Disgusting.

[anon]

personally for me and I think for the community - it actually serves the community better to have the mix of commissioners - allows a little debate of issues. imagine if Hartmann ran and loss and it was all dems - i think the public would be damned to in-party bickering on the board . it would have been good for the dem party - but not for the public. i'm glad we preserved a little diversity

[Political Junkie]

Portune, Pepper and Hartmann are hardly diversity. All of them are very close ideologically and too beholden to corporate interests.

[Anonymous]

so just like that, Commissioners Portune, Pepper, & Hartmann

decided by Chesley, Donovan, and Ron Joseph in behind-scenes threats and promises

BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anonymous]

I'm not sure I agree with all of the details stated here. However, I'm sure the candidates did lobby their own party to do this deal. I think this deal may back fire on Hartmann. He is not as well known as Portune or other candidates.
Find a strong candidate to run as an Independent against Hartmann and the GOP may regret making this deal.
Hopefully in 2010 (when Pepper is up for re-election) this won't happen again!