Hang onto your wallets — we've reached the high season for campaign fund raising.

        U.S. Rep. John Boehner of West Chester Township, a virtual shoo-in for re-election versus Democrat Jeff Hardenbrook of Dayton, is having an “after-hours party” Friday night in West Chester. Admission is $75 per couple for the Republican's campaign, plus one canned good for Reach Out Lakota.

        A flier notes that the 8th Congressional District will pick up 100,000 new constituents with the Nov. 5 election, but Mr. Boehner's obviously pretty comfortable about his job security: The evening will include no political speechifying.

        Other area fund-raisers in recent days have benefited Rick Carne, a Democrat who's running for Congress in the 3rd District, and Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor, a Republican who's running for the Ohio Supreme Court.

        Mr. Carne's event — held Saturday in Dayton — included some serious star power in the form of Martin Sheen. Mr. Sheen, a Dayton native, dabbles in real-life politics in addition to playing president on TV's The West Wing.

        Mr. Carne is seeking to replace Tony Hall, who is headed to the United Nations, in the newly redrawn 3rd. The Dayton district now includes part of Mason and northern Warren County as well as Clinton and Highland counties — all Republican-leaning areas. Former Dayton Mayor Mike Turner is the GOP nominee for the seat.

        Lastly (at least for now), Mason Councilman Tom Grossmann and wife, Kim, held a fund-raiser for Ms. O'Connor earlier this month. About 120 people attended the event at their Heritage Club home, Mr. Grossmann says. Warren County GOP Chairman Les Spaeth has called the judicial race the most important one this fall because the court is so evenly divided.

        Where are they now? Several top Lebanon officials who found themselves unemployed after City Council elections last November have landed on their feet:

        Former Planning Director Marty Kohler, whose job was eliminated by the new council (led by Mayor Amy Brewer), may have landed most lightly. He started work this month doing the same thing for Middletown — a city more than twice as big as Lebanon. Mr. Kohler has a staff of 20 now, compared with a staff of four in Lebanon.

        And it's familiar territory for the Turtlecreek Township resident: He was senior planner in Middletown for eight years before moving to Lebanon's planning department in 1997.

        Former Parks and Recreation Director Bob Harris, who was pressured into resigning, is recreation superintendent in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton.

        Former Auditor Greg Dixon, who resigned with six months' severance in December to avoid ouster by the new council, is tax auditor in Hamilton.

        Former City Manager James Patrick, who resigned at the same time for the same reason, also appears to have found a home — but further afield. He began Monday as city manager for Vermillion, S.D., a community just more than half the size of Lebanon. Mr. Patrick, fresh from a two-month stint as borough manager in Plum, Pa., also was a finalist in recent weeks for jobs from Alaska to Montgomery County, Ohio.

        Tips or comments may be relayed to reporter Cindi Andrews via e-mail: candrews@enquirer.com; fax, (513) 755-4150; or phone, (513) 755-4157.

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