All four candidates for Cincinnati mayor got together in the same radio studio Friday, just four days before a nonpartisan primary election will eliminate two of them.

        The hour-long debate on WDBZ-AM (1230) was the first opportunity that Democratic Mayor Charlie Luken has had to confront his main challenger, Charter Committee candidate Courtis Fuller, over the airwaves. Mr. Luken had accused Mr. Fuller of ducking him in an earlier debate on WLW-AM (700).

Mayor Charlie Luken (left) and candidate Courtis Fuller butted heads during a forum for all four candidates. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        That tension set up the most contentious moment of the Friday debate. It came after Mr. Fuller said the only thing preventing the expansion of the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center was the resolve to do so.

        “The first thing you do is make the commitment and just do it,” he said.

        That brought this response from Mr. Luken, who seemed to be waiting for almost any opportunity to criticize the cost of his opponent's proposals.

        “When you lay out issues before the public, it's one thing to say, "Just do it,'” Mr. Luken said. “Someone's got to pay for it. When you are talking about doubling people's taxes, doggone it, say so, because then we can talk about it.”

        “If I can respond, because that "someone' he's talking about is me,” Mr. Fuller said. “That's really pathetic. He uses this play out of his political playbook to talk about taxes.”

        By the end of the hour, however, Mr. Fuller seemed almost complimentary of Mr. Luken, who was his co-anchor for six years on WLWT-TV.

        “I've known Charlie Luken for 13 years, and I think everyone knows I respect him and I respect his time in public service,” Mr. Fuller said.

        “Sometimes a train can only get you so far. I think his service has been good up until now. But in order to get to our destination, we may have to change trains.”

        With the two independent candidates facing possible elimination on Tuesday, both tried making up ground against the two more moderate front-runners.

        Michael Riley accused Mr. Fuller of ducking him in debates. “Courtis isn't from here. I don't think he knows much about the city,” he said.

        Mr. Riley also said he would support a requirement that city employees live within the city limits — a position also taken by independent Bill Brodberger.

        But despite Mr. Brodberger's attempts to pin down the party-endorsed candidates on the issue, neither took a position Friday.

        The four candidates are expected to participate in one last radio debate Monday on WKRC-AM (550) at 5 p.m.

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