BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Bob Taft
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Poor Bob Taft.
Not only does the Ohio secretary of state have to rule on whether the Reds ballpark issue goes on Hamilton County's November ballot, now voters seem to think he can pick the stadium's location.
Since it became apparent the ballot issue would land in Mr. Taft's lap earlier this week, his office has been "flooded with calls from people wanting to explain the pluses and minuses of proposed sites," Mr. Taft said Friday in a statement.
"While I appreciate the passion surrounding this issue and always encourage people to be active in government by contacting their elected officials, people should also realize that my job now is to resolve the issue according to the law and not pick one stadium location over the other," his statement concluded.
The ballot measure would create a county charter to require Hamilton County commissioners to build a new ballpark at Broadway Commons, at Broadway and Reading Road.
The county already has a tentative deal with the team to build a new ballpark adjacent to Cinergy Field at a site known as Baseball on Main or the "Wedge." It's unclear whether passage of the ballot question would nullify that deal, as Broadway backers insist. Despite the plea from Mr. Taft, the Republican candidate for governor, the calls aren't likely to let up.
On Friday, the Broadway group sent faxes to 150 die-hard supporters, urging them to call or e-mail Mr. Taft.
"We've been kind of beating the bushes to let people know their voices need to be heard," said Charlie DeSando, who sent the fax. Opponents of the measure haven't been shy about making their case, either. The Hamilton County Township Association voted Thursday night to oppose the ballot effort, saying the creation of a charter could dramatically change county government.
"We aren't fooled by the empty promises of charter proponents that this won't change county government," said association President Joe Sykes, a Miami Township trustee."After all, the federal income tax was supposed to be a temporary wartime measure -- and look what happened."
All or a majority of the trustees from 11 of Hamilton County's 12 townships signed petitions to Mr. Taft urging him to reject "this dangerous initiative," Mr. Sykes said. Only Whitewater Township trustees did not.
At 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Lobby Hearing Room of the Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, Mr. Taft's top elections lawyer will hear arguments from lawyers on both sides.
The issue went to Mr. Taft after the Hamilton County Board of Elections deadlocked 2-2 on the matter, and both sides protested. Mr. Taft could issue his ruling next week. Observers expect the ruling -- whatever it is -- will be challenged in court.
Hamilton County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus, the politician most closely connected with the stadium project, chalked up the tough call Mr. Taft must make as part of the job of ecretary of state.
"It's sort of like being vice president," he said. "You don't have a lot to do, but when you're asked to do something, it's pretty important."
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