There's already a race developing for Warren County prosecutor, even though longtime tenant Tim Oliver won't be vacating until February — if then.

        Judge James Flannery is unopposed this fall for retiring Judge P. Daniel Fedders' Common Pleas Court seat, leaving his Domestic Relations division seat open.

        The governor will appoint Judge Flannery's replacement, probably from a list of up to three candidates submitted by the county executive committee.

        GOP chairman Les Spaeth and others say Mr. Oliver has told them he wants Domestic Relations, although the prosecutor of 15 years told the Enquirer,“It's not appropriate at this point in time to make a public announcement.”

        Speculation has been rampant in Republican and legal circles about who would replace Mr. Oliver.

        Rachel Hutzel, his top assistant prosecutor, is the logical candidate, Mr. Spaeth says, but a young lawyer from Lebanon also seems intent on making a bid.

        Ms. Hutzel did not return call seeking comment.

        “If Tim Oliver did vacate his seat and become the Domestic Relations judge, it'd be an honor to be nominated, and I know I could do the job,” lawyer David Fornshell says.

        The 29-year-old cut his teeth on GOP politics as a teenager, volunteering on several campaigns. He graduated from law school (Pepperdine University) just three years ago and moved back to his native Lebanon. He's a member of the Cincinnati law firm Dinsmore & Shohl and part-time prosecutor for Blue Ash.

        Lori Viars, secretary of the central committee and president of the county Right to Life organization, likes him for prosecutor — an appointment that would be made by the committee.

        “David Fornshell is a true conservative who has proved himself for the past decade, and he is well-qualified for the job,” Ms. Viars says.

        Doing the limbo: Meanwhile, letters sent to Warren County GOP committee members the past several days give the distinct impression that the party's factions aren't close to kissing and making up.

        State Rep. Tom Raga of Deerfield Township had set the end of June as a target for resolving a standoff over the executive committee's leadership, and he contends progress is being made behind the scenes.

        Why, then, the need for committee chairman Mr. Spaeth and likely challenger Tom Grossmann to send out dueling letters pitching their positions?

        Mr. Grossmann's letter sticks to the same mantra he's been chanting since the executive committee adjourned without electing officers a month ago: The party needs new blood, and it needs to raise big bucks to have a bigger say statewide.

        Mr. Spaeth also revisits his themes of the past month: The uprising isn't about new blood but about how conservative the party should be — an issue prompted by Gov. Bob Taft's choice earlier this year of a running mate who backs abortion rights.

        Mr. Spaeth supports the governor, he writes, because “if Gov. Taft loses, history tells us, we also lose many other Republican offices.”

        No word yet on when the central and executive committees will meet again so at-large members and a chairman can be selected for the executive committee.

        Tips and comments on suburban politics may be relayed to reporter Cindi Andrews via phone, 755-4157, or e-mail:candrews@enquirer.com.

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