Warren County Republican Chairman Les Spaeth provided insight into the GOP's analysis of state races in his letter to GOP committee members last week.

        “Remember, the most important race in Ohio is the Ohio Supreme Court justice,” Mr. Spaeth wrote.

        “Our candidate, Maureen O'Conner, must win that seat and help bring the court into our conservative corner.”

        The letter — mainly about Mr. Spaeth's credentials — followed one written by Tom Grossmann, who is challenging Mr. Spaeth for the county chairmanship.

        But it also shed light on the state candidates the GOP considers weakest.

        “In a recent statewide name recognition poll, Mary Boyles, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, has greater name recognition statewide than our Republican state treasurer, Joe Deters,” Mr. Spaeth wrote.

        The comments were by way of showing the importance of supporting Gov. Bob Taft's re-election campaign despite some conservatives' dismay over his running mate's support of abortion rights.

Mr. Taft's coattails are critical, Mr. Spaeth said.

        No. 2 aims higher: Warren County Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel is interested in succeeding boss Tim Oliver if he's appointed to a judgeship next year, she says.

        “What's needed in this position is a lot of experience in all aspects of the law,” Ms. Hutzel says. “You don't learn a government practice in law school, and frankly, you don't learn it in private practice.”

        That in reference to David Fornshell, a 29-year-old Lebanon resident who also has his eye on the seat.

        Out of law school just three years, Mr. Fornshell is an attorney with Dinsmore & Shohl in Cincinnati and a part-time prosecutor for Blue Ash.

        Ms. Hutzel, 46, the top assistant prosecutor, has been with the office for a decade. She mainly represents local bodies such as the county commissioners in civil actions, but has worked on at least two murder cases. She also prosecutes many of the office's pornography cases, she's quick to point out.

        Quotables corner: Two Fairfield Township trustees almost came to blows after the issue of whether to build restrooms at Millikin Road Park was tabled at last week's meeting. Steve Morgan yelled at Joe McAbee when he kept urging a reporter to ask Mr. Morgan why he didn't vote for the measure. “You got a problem with it, well, come over here and we'll solve it!” Mr. Morgan hollered across the parking lot.
— Jennifer Edwards

        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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