But the knock against him has been that he's too earnest — perhaps even naive — and doesn't have the stomach for the hardball political skills it takes to survive at City Hall.

        The politicos who say that aren't so sure now after his behind-the-scenes gambit this week.

        The issue: the West End Community Council, the scandal-plagued neighborhood organization that provided grist for some of the most bitter partisan battles at City Council last year.

        The WECC had its city funding pulled in 2000 after an audit found more than $80,000 in city money ended up in the hands of West End board members, their families, or other organizations controlled by the community council.

        But Democrats, including Mr. Pepper, say the group has cleaned up its act, under the leadership of President Dale Mallory. He is the son of former Democratic state Rep. William Mallory, who is so worked up about returning the West End's money that he threatened Council's Finance Committee with a federal lawsuit Monday.

        Councilman David Crowley called the decision to pull funds from the organization “vindictive.”

        So in a 5-to-1 decision, the committee essentially voted to again funnel $267,800 through the West End Community Council.

        Republican Councilman Pat DeWine's press release attacking his colleagues was drafted before the committee meeting was over. “At the very least, Council ought to learn from its mistake and not keep doing the same dumb things it has done in the past,” he said.

        Mr. Pepper was livid. He called the press release — a common DeWine tactic — “disingenuous, destructive and damaging.”

        “When I see this City Council acting like the old City Council, it just makes me crazy,” Mr. Pepper said. “The image people have of City Council as a joke is destructive to City Council, and it's destructive to our city.”

        So Mr. Pepper called Mayor Charlie Luken, imploring the strong mayor to have a chat with Mr. DeWine and encourage him to be a “team player.” And then he suggested, in an oh-so-delicate way, that Mr. Luken could threaten to relieve Mr. DeWine of his duties as Law Committee chairman as a last resort.

        Mr. Luken said Tuesday he has no plans to do so. And Mr. DeWine, for his part, made no apologies for his press release.

        City Hall reporter Gregory Korte can be reached at 768-8391 or gkorte@enquirer.com.

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