In the wake of Democrat Charlie Luken's 10 percentage-point win over Charterite Courtis Fuller on Tuesday, the Wednesday morning political analysts ask: What would have happened if the Republican Party had fielded a candidate?

        Mr. Luken asked himself the same question Wednesday. His answer: He probably would have watched the November election from the sidelines.

        “If the Republicans had run a candidate, I might never have made it past the primary,” Mr. Luken said. “Where would my votes have come from to get past the runoff?”

        With Mr. Fuller attracting the black vote and a Republican — say, Ken Blackwell — getting the white vote, Mr. Luken would have had little room to maneuver in the early race, the thinking goes.

        There is one problem with that theory, however. If the Republican Party had fielded a candidate, Mr. Fuller probably would not have entered the race.

        — Gregory Korte

        Rumor patrol: Lebanon has been rife with rumors since voters threw out three incumbents Tuesday, putting council members Amy Brewer and James Reinhard in power:

        • The new council, to be seated the first week in December, will name Mrs. Brewer mayor.

        True? Probably. Mrs. Brewer, a 12-year veteran, was vice mayor last term and will be the only member with more than two years on council.

        • Mr. Reinhard will re sign from council to take the job of soon-to-be-fired City Manager James Patrick. Brother-in-law John McComb will be appointed to Mr. Reinhard's seat.

        True? Highly unlikely. The city charter says a council member may not be appointed manager for two years after serving on council. Such a move also might run afoul of the Ohio Revised Code, City Attorney Mark Yurick said Friday.

        — Cindi Andrews

        Widespread appeal: Democratic incumbent Alicia Reece may have come in third in Tuesday's council election, behind Democrat David Pepper and Republican Pat DeWine, but she won first place in more city wards than those two candidates combined.

        Ms. Reece, in her bid for a second term, finished first in the voting in 16 of Cincinnati's 26 wards, including all of the predominantly African-American wards.

        The only other candidates to come in first in ward voting were Mr. Pepper and Mr. DeWine, each with five.

        Mr. Pepper's first-place finishes came in predominantly white and mixed-race neighborhoods on the east side of town, while Mr. DeWine's best showing was in west-side wards.

        — Howard Wilkinson

Drop in gas prices should hold for holidays
Driving drunk, again and again
Laws get tougher on drunken drivers
Record crowd enjoys prep games, bands
Shaken-baby trial verdict solves little
First race conversations this week
CAN Cincinnati?
New memorials pay tribute to veterans
Veterans Day closings
Events honoring veterans
PULFER: Separating the wheat from the stuff
BRONSON: Stop whining
Byrd lawyer's removal good, experts say
Congrats
Good News: Pastor pushes organ giving
Local Digest
Luken says Republicans helped him
Norwood gives project the go-ahead
Raking way to give back, help others
Adult escorts required at Levee
CROWLEY: Fund-raisers highlight of a quiet year
Kentucky Education Notes
Cities donate toward annexation law repeal
Loaded guns found in car
Ohio fights matchbook ads
Ohio River back open after spill
Plan for wetlands angers critics
Spirits high as Britney appears
Teacher may sue in hemp dispute
Two accused of using fake licenses in thefts
Wilkinson bankruptcy will stay in Ch. 11