Jean Siebenaler stood in front of 30 students in a St. Ursula Academy history class hoping to make a little history of her own.

        If elected Hamilton County commissioner, the Green Township physician would be just the second woman to win a seat on the county commission. That's why one question in particular, from a senior in the all-girls school, hit close to home.

Jean Siebenaler greets passersby at the Harvest Home Fair Sept. 7. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

        Is it harder for women in politics?

        “There are barriers,” said Ms. Siebenaler, a 48-year-old daughter of a union painter who is running as a Democrat. “It's less than it used to be, but money in politics is important. And women have less access to capital.”

        Her campaign against former Cincinnati City Councilman Phil Heimlich illustrates that. Mr. Heimlich's campaign took in more than $344,000 last year, and had a balance of more than $94,000 left in the account as of June. Ms. Siebenaler raised a mere $31,000 during the same period, and had a balance of less than $10,000 in her account in June.

        Money to run a campaign will play a big role in the Heimlich-Siebenaler race. That's because the race pits one of the city's best-known and controversial politicians, the Republican Mr. Heimlich, against a political novice whose one run for office, state representative in 2000, led to a trouncing by State Rep. Bill Seitz.

        Gene Beaupre, a political science professor at Xavier University, said Ms. Siebenaler will have an uphill climb in a county that historically favors a Republican candidate. He said there isn't a single, galvanizing issue, such as the football stadium costs overruns, which in 2000 helped Todd Portune become the first Democrat on the commission in a generation.

        “Everyone doesn't have to know her name because everyone isn't going to vote,” Mr. Beaupre said. “So I don't think she needs $750,000, like a lot of people are saying. But she will be required to somehow amass enough money to overcome Phil's name recognition.”

Tax watchdog

Phil Heimlich (left) talks with Bob Schloss during a youth soccer game Sept. 14 in Western Hills (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        Mr. Heimlich is making fiscal conservatism the centerpiece of his campaign.

        The man who once brought a pig to the steps of City Hall to protest “pork-barrel spending,” and was given a hatchet by his fellow council members on his last day in office, has set his sights on controlling countywide property tax levies. The levies are used to pay for things such as health care for the poor, services for the young, the old and the mentally handicapped.

        Mr. Heimlich, 49, said levy proceeds over the past decade have increased 80 percent, or three times the rate of inflation. He believes that, at a minimum, each levy should be reviewed for at least a year before being placed on a ballot, to make sure the organization is spending its money wisely and that there is no duplication of services. That would be a review above and beyond what the independent Tax Levy Review Committee already performs, he said.

        “That type of review would be an absolute condition before I vote to place it on a ballot,” Mr. Heimlich said. “I applaud the Tax Levy Review Committee and support them. But they do not have the resources to analyze these levies. I'm talking about using outside resources to go through the levies, top to bottom.”

        Much as he advocated at City Hall, Mr. Heimlich also wants to open government services to private companies who may be able to do the same job better and for less money.

        “Those are the kind of issues that involve saving money and weeding out waste,” Mr. Heimlich said. “My pledge is that taxes and spending will not be allowed to rise any higher than the rate of inflation.”

        Term limits forced Mr. Heimlich off council after eight years. While he cemented his reputation as a fiscal tightwad and champion of the police department, he also developed an aggressive style that some saw as polarizing.

        Some predominantly African-American groups felt Mr. Heimlich picked on organizations that provided inner-city services. A group once asked city council to, in effect, censure him. He was often jeered by citizens when he spoke during council meetings.

        Mr. Heimlich says he's not singling out African-Americans, once saying he is an “across-the-board cheapskate.”

        His conservative approach won him votes in the city — in 1995 he was a few hundred votes shy of becoming mayor — and admirers in the county. During a recent campaign stop in Greenhills, Mike Hoffmann sought out Mr. Heimlich.

        “It's refreshing in this day and age to hear a politician that stands for what he believes in despite loud criticism,” Mr. Hoffmann, 35, said.

        Mr. Heimlich said he expects to work with Republican commissioner John Dowlin to promote a conservative agenda.

        “We need to do more with what we have, not take more of what (taxpayers) have,” Mr. Heimlich said

Running on empty

        These days, Ms. Siebenaler, a Navy veteran who was the first member of her family to attend college, starts her mornings at 5 a.m., usually spends a few hours on street corners waving at passers-by and then spends 10 to 12 hours a day on the campaign.

        “I've always thought Heimlich was beatable or I wouldn't be running,” Ms. Siebenaler said. “Yes, he has name recognition. But he's also carrying a lot of baggage into this race. Some of his stances are just mind-blowing.”

        Ms. Siebenaler said environmental issues initially drew her into the race — she's concerned about expanding sewer lines into undeveloped areas of western Hamilton County rather than redeveloping the urban core, and believes the county should have a “fix it first” policy.

        But the biggest issue in Ms. Siebenaler's mind is the county's loss of population, particularly young people between the ages of 22 and 35 — a population she says has declined by 20 percent over the past decade.

        “We are just not doing well right now,” Ms. Siebenaler said. “When you don't concentrate efforts on technological, high-paying jobs that attract young people, you don't get young people. We've got to stop the brain drain.”

        And the county can't afford to ignore the city's problems, she said.

        “It's Cincinnati that attracts, and it's Cincinnati that will repel,” Ms. Siebenaler said.

        “One issue Phil won't touch that is like ignoring the elephant in your living room is racial relations. You can't get things done unless you get along with people and figure out a way to make it work.”

        Jene Galvin, who is working as “field coordinator” for Ms. Siebenaler's campaign, said they are taking a unique approach to get the candidate's name out. They are on street corners waving at people. That is followed up in the evening with phone calls.

        “We're moving it neighborhood to neighborhood in scientifically recognized swing areas,” Mr. Galvin said, who added the campaign now has more than 200 volunteers and a phone bank in campaign headquarters.

        “We'll have less funding but a better army. But we'll have enough for a $100,000 or $200,000 television buy.”

        The only other woman elected to the commission, now-U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith, said she had a sense of history during her time on the board. Ms. Beckwith, a Republican, said that she did not tailor her message specifically to women during her campaign.

        “I had some special expertise in regard to things such as child support collection and the manner in which the courts were handling domestic violence cases, so those were topics I found interesting and important and I would discuss those on the campaign trail,” Ms. Beckwith said. “But I do think it's a bit of a mistake for any candidate to cater to that group, to the extent that other groups are alienated.”

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