Former Cincinnati Councilman Tyrone Yates won the battle of the vice mayors by defeating Minette Cooper in a Democratic state house primary Tuesday.

        Mr. Yates defeated Ms. Cooper 2,659 to 1,825, or 51 percent to 35 percent. A third candidate, Leroy Hopkins Jr., received 732 votes, or 14 percent. The results were unofficial.

        Both Mr. Yates and Ms. Cooper are former Cincinnati vice mayors, and both stressed Ohio's school funding dilemma.

Tyrone Yates is congratulated by Catherine Barrett, new 32nd District State Rep. Tuesday evening, May 7, 2002. From left is Tim Burke, Democratic Party chairman, volunteer Ron Hooks, and Gwen Marshall with Southwest Ohio Green Party. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        “It was the cleanest, best, most wholesome race I've been in,” Mr. Yates told his former colleague on the phone after Ms. Cooper called to concede.

        The 33rd House District is predominately Democratic. Asked by a reporter how he would distinguish himself from his opponent, former Deer Park councilwoman Sandy Hall, Mr. Yates said simply, “I'm a Democrat.”

        Most of the newly redrawn district is now represented by state Rep. Sam Britton, D-Madisonville, who cannot run again because of term limits.

        In the 28th district, which represents northern Hamilton County suburbs, Jim Raussen defeated Doug Mink for the Republican nomination and the chance to face state Rep. Wayne Coates, D-Forest Park.

        Mr. Raussen had 4,859 votes (79 percent) to Mr. Mink's 1,277 (21 percent).

COMPLETE COVERAGE

• Parks, mental health levies just squeak by • Yates wins primary for seat in state House • Mariemont's school tax fails • Warren, Butler say no to taxes • Warren County voters back levy for seniors • Boyle wins primary for state treasurer • Maineville voters trounce levies • Norwood among those to OK levies • Turner leads in 3rd District Election Results: Butler    Clermont    Hamilton    Warren

        That race found itself immersed in controversy after Mr. Mink recorded a telephone call from an aide of House Speaker Larry Householder. The aide tried to persuade Mr. Mink to let Mr. Raussen, the party favorite, run unopposed for the nomination. He also told Mr. Mink that Republicans had moved thousands of African-American voters out of the district to help Mr. Raussen.

        In the only other contested Hamilton County race, former Cincinnati Councilman Phil Heimlich easily defeated perennial candidate Roy L. McGrath in the GOP primary for county commissioner.

        Mr. Heimlich had 87 percent of the vote with just one precinct uncounted.

        With the Republican nomination in hand, Mr. Heimlich will now face Jean Siebenaler, unopposed in the Democratic primary, and independent Marilyn Hyland, in the Nov. 5 election.

        In Clermont County, R. Scott Croswell, an attorney making his first run for public office, defeated David Caudill for the Republican nomination for Clermont County commissioner. The vote was 3,157 votes, or 53 percent, for Mr. Croswell to 2,785 votes, or 47 percent, for Mr. Caudill.

        Mr. Croswell, 55, will face Democrat Gregg Conrad in the November election.

        Reporter Lew Moores contributed.
       

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Yates wins primary for seat in state House
Mariemont's school tax fails
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Warren County voters back levy for seniors
Boyle wins primary for state treasurer
Maineville voters trounce levies
Norwood among those to OK levies
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