One week before a nonpartisan primary in which he hopes to be the top vote-getter, Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken is going back to television with a campaign ad that focuses on crime.

        The 30-second commercial, which starts appearing today, takes an indirect jab at Courtis Fuller, the Charterite candidate.

        In it, Mr. Luken says some “want large tax increases, and some just want to place blame.”

        Mr. Luken continues: “Instead we should be working together to reduce the rash of crime by hiring more police in your neighborhood and supporting the Violent Crimes Task Force.”

        Finally, Mr. Luken says, “Reducing crime does increase healing.”

        The ad is, in part, a response to Mr. Fuller's continuing criticism of the incumbent for not doing more to prevent racial unrest since April.

        It also hints at what is likely to be Mr. Luken's strongest counterattack. Some of Mr. Fuller's more expensive proposals — such as the one to give college tuition to city children — can be done only with a tax increase, Mr. Luken suggests.

        The ad's format is identical to Mr. Luken's first campaign ad, in which he talked straight into the camera from the mayor's office.

        With a 10-1 fund-raising edge over Mr. Fuller, Mr. Luken is the only candidate to use television advertising so far. The current ad costs almost $40,000.

        The Sept. 11 mayoral primary — Cincinnati's first under a new system in which voters will elect a mayor directly rather than as one of nine council members — will reduce the field of candidates from four to two.

        In addition to the party-endorsed candidates, independents Bill Brodberger and Michael Riley are running.

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