BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mary Anne Christie, who is challenging Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes in the Nov. 3 election, accused him Wednesday of displaying bad judgment by accepting $8,600 in campaign contributions from a contractor.
Melvin Trumble, a former senior vice president for Sabre Systems, was Mr. Rhodes' largest outside donor in 1994.
Sabre Systems, of Dayton, Ohio, has won successive real estate reappraisal contracts from the auditor worth $5.8 million and $5.7 million.
When campaign finance reports are due later this month, Mr. Rhodes said, they may show more recent contributions by Sabre Systems employees.
"This has all the appearance of impropriety," Ms. Christie said. "Common sense dictates that Mr. Rhodes return the campaign cash and apologize to the voters."
Mr. Rhodes replied, "I have no apology to make. The contributions were legal and properly disclosed. He's got a right" to contribute. "It's America."
He called Ms. Christie's actions "cheap politicking by a frustrated and desperate opponent."
Mr. Trumble died in May. Elections board records also show smaller contributions by other Sabre Systems executives: Daniel Muthard, Jill Gunlock and Cyril Shininger.
Sabre Systems was one of two companies that bid for the contract to reappraise county properties in 1999. The previous contract was awarded in 1993. Reappraisals are done every six years.
Mr. Rhodes pointed out he had no obligation to put the contract out for bid. By state law, he can choose the most qualified applicant for such professional services.
Ms. Christie also questioned why the new contract is so large. When Mr. Rhodes awarded the first contract, he justified the expense saying he was purchasing a new computer system and the auditor's system was a mess that needed top-to-bottom revision. He had just been elected to the office for the first time.
There are more properties now in Hamilton County, Mr. Rhodes explained, there are 60 fewer employees in that part of the auditor's office, and inflation is a factor.
Finally, he added, "they were the low bidder."
