BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT WRIGHT -- One of the most hotly contested city races in recent memory will be the focus of a candidates forum next month.
The Fort Wright Business Association is sponsoring its "Meet the Candidates Night" at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in city council chambers. Nine candidates are seeking six city council seats, and two former police chiefs are running for mayor in the November election.
"I don't ever remember the mayor's race being contested," said Joe Nienaber, president of the business association and a former Fort Wright mayor and city administrator. "In the past, there have been maybe as many as eight candidates running for six seats."
The mayor's post is being sought by Mark Brown, who was fired as police chief last month after a three-day administrative hearing, and City Council Member Gene Weaver, himself a former Fort Wright police chief.
Mr. Brown, who opted not to appeal his firing in the courts, said at the time of his filing that he was running for mayor to give voters a choice.
In the city council race, five incumbents -- Tom Franxman, Paul Hiltz, Jim Robke, Stephen Schewe and Jeffrey Wolnitzek -- face challenges from Paul Allen, David Hatter, former Mayor Donald Martin and Luis Pinto, the husband of former Mayor Cindy Pinto.
Since last month's filing deadline, Bert Wall and Todd Nienaber, son of Joe Nienaber, have dropped out of the council race.
"When you get a lot of people running that nobody really knows, this is a great chance to meet the candidates," said Bernie Wessels, president of Wessels Properties and a Fort Wright resident.
Organizers of the forum will solicit questions for candidates in the Fort Wright newsletter that goes out next week. Candidates will see a list of questions, but won't know which ones they'll be asked.
InterMedia News Director Wes Wright will serve as moderator, and the business association hopes to broadcast the event live on public access television.
The 3-year-old business association has 68 member businesses, and its members are constantly looking for ways to work with the city on issues of common concern, Joe Nienaber said.
In addition to the candidates forum, Joe Nienaber said the business association has offered to help with the development of the Fort Wright Nature Center.
The business association also hopes to form partnerships with similar groups in neighboring cities, he said.
"The board is a very positive, open-minded group, looking to better the business community and the city," Joe Nienaber said. "We have no agenda. We just want to get the information out (on city races), so that the voters can make an informed choice."
The business association is not endorsing candidates.
Fort Wright voters and business people can submit written questions for city candidates to the attention of the Fort Wright Business Association, Fort Wright City Building, 409 Kyles Lane, Fort Wright 41011.
