Sunday, February 13, 2000Holcomb in his own words
John F. Holcomb — father of four, lifelong Butler Countian and Ohio Prosecuting Attorney of the Year in 1998 — has held his office longer than any other prosecutor in the state. He's a Democrat who has enjoyed unusual success at the polls in a predominantly Republican county. In recent interviews and public appearances, he talked about his career, politics and his personal interests:
• On his reputation as a skilled politician: “Anybody who knows politics knows that I'm not. I just want to be left alone. But they keep drawing me into it. Why? Because the Republicans are really gutting themselves, fighting over the spoils among themselves. And when they mess up, they blame me.”
• On his opponent, former assistant prosecutor Robin Piper: “He's a g------ opportunist. He's treacherous. He was a hard worker, but he was working for himself. He wasn't working for the team.”
• On his eventual successor: “If you think you're going to be the kind of prosecutor that goes into court all the time and prosecutes cases personally, forget it. This office is so big and there are so many and diverse responsibilities ... that is a critical and full-time job in and of itself.”
• On his biggest accomplishment: “My biggest accomplishment in life, with the help of God, is still being alive” after a near-fatal health problem four years ago.
• On relaxation: “I don't want you to think I'm a (horse) racetrack bum, but I love it. That's my hobby, and that's my pastime.”
• On his philosophy of life: “I agree with the philosophy which holds that yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a dream and today — right now — is the very essence of life itself.”
• On one of his biggest regrets: “I've never really had a vacation with my family because I never really felt I could take a week off. I've cheated them royally.”
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