BY GREGORY A. HALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- Kenton County Commissioner Bernie Moorman is calling for a former Corporex Cos. spokesman to recant a conflicting version of events in the courthouse bidding controversy or be faced with a slander lawsuit.
Mr. Moorman and the ex-spokesman, Joe Wind, have told differing stories about an April 1996 meeting where Corporex Chairman Bill Butler lobbied for his plan to build a courthouse and parking garage. Previously, Mr. Wind has denied meeting with Mr. Moorman about the projects.
Mr. Wind would not comment Thursday on the 1996 meeting after he met with the Kenton County Grand Jury about the bidding process. The jurors are now examining whether Mr. Butler broke any laws in winning the construction contracts for the $36 million county projects.
The conflict between the commissioner and spokesman centers on that 1996 meeting, which Mr. Moorman says Mr. Wind attended. During the meeting, Corporex Chairman Bill Butler gave the county official an analysis of competitors' bids for a courthouse and parking garage.
Mr. Wind, who now works at Northern Kentucky University, testified before the jurors for almost an hour.
Mr. Wind wouldn't say afterward if he is cooperating with the state's investigation, nor would he comment whether he stands by his statements about the Moorman-Butler meeting.
Mr. Moorman said he understands Mr. Wind is sticking by the story. Later Thursday afternoon, Mr. Moorman sent a letter to Mr. Wind calling for the ex-spokesman to retract the denial of meeting about the bids.
Mr. Wind made the denial in March after Mr. Moorman testified in a separate civil lawsuit about the bidding. In that case, the county is trying to recoup an $850,000 settlement paid to the two losing bidders.
In response to that testimony, Mr. Wind denied meeting with Mr. Moorman about the construction projects, saying he only discussed other matters with the commissioner.
Speaking for Mr. Butler, Mr. Wind also said then that the county commissioner "fabricated an incredible lie" about what happened during the meeting.
Additionally, Mr. Wind testified in his own deposition that he had "no recollection" of meeting with county commissioners about the Corporex proposal during the bidding process.
Mr. Wind's version of events were reprinted in The Enquirer Wednesday in an article revealing his subpoena to testify before the criminal grand jury.
That caught the attention of Mr. Moorman, a Democrat, who faces Republican Dan Humpert in next week's election.
"This letter is to demand that you (Mr. Wind) immediately and in writing advise The Cincinnati Enquirer -->that the above quotations are untrue," Mr. Moorman wrote in his letter. "Unless you do so, I will initiate litigation against you for slander."
The request for Mr. Wind to change his story had nothing to do with Thursday's grand jury testimony, Mr. Moorman said.
"This was based on the fact that I could not let that comment stand," Mr. Moorman said.
Thursday's grand jury testimony ended with several witnesses yet to testify. The grand jury will pick up where it left off on Nov. 9. Former judge-executive Clyde Middleton spent nearly two hours testifying about his dealings with Mr. Butler.
Mr. Middleton's attorney Phil Taliaferro said his client will resume his testimony as the first witness when the grand jury resumes deliberations on the case next month.
Mr. Middleton pleaded guilty to official misconduct on Monday for showing competitors' bids to Mr. Butler. His plea agreement states that Mr. Butler used confidential information in the proposals to win the contracts.
Corporex attorneys William T. Robinson III and Joseph Trauth could not be reached.
