By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Warren County Commissioner Mike Kilburn trumpeted his record of fiscal conservatism, but challenger Carolyn Tepe charged Thursday it has led to poor planning and congested roads in a spirited joint interview with Enquirer reporters.

"God only asked for 10 percent of our paycheck, and the government now demands about 40 percent," Mr. Kilburn said. "Who the heck do they think they are? Carolyn's view of government is that we should have a program for every problem and hangnail out there."

Mr. Kilburn and his fellow commissioners have rolled back the county's share of the property tax - almost $10 million a year - for three straight years, saving the owner of a $100,000 home $78 annually.

But Ms. Tepe said infrastructure, such as roads and the water system, has suffered because the county is not planning for growth. Bethany Road is one example of a congested two-lane road that needs work, she said.

"I think that most of our residents are very aware that investing in your community, like investing in your home, is an important thing," she said.

Ms. Tepe, 33, is a Deerfield Township Democrat with a bachelor's degree in social work and a master's in public administration. She has never run for public office before. Mr. Kilburn, 48, is a Republican from Salem Township. He operates a funeral home and has been a commissioner for two decades. The position they're vying for is a four-year term paying $56,000 a year.

Growth issues have dominated the race.

Ms. Tepe wants the county to actively recruit desirable companies instead of waiting for businesses to approach the county. Mason has used this strategy to offset the costs of residential growth, particularly costs to the schools, she said. "We have to be proactive about growth; I don't think we can stop it."

Mr. Kilburn, on the other hand, advocates charging a $5,000 to $10,000 impact fee on every new home built.

"You can only get 5 pounds in a 5-pound bag," he said. "In Little Miami School District, there are 8,000 (home) lots that are ready to be built on now. What in the world are we going to do?"

The candidates discussed several other issues Thursday, including Middletown Regional Hospital's new plan to move to Interstate 75 and Ohio 122 in the Warren County portion of Middletown.

Ms. Tepe: "It needs to be more of a partnership where everybody is at the table all the time having ongoing discussions. (The relocation) needed community input. It's going to impact us whether it's in Middletown, whether it's at 122, whether it's at Greentree."

Mr. Kilburn: "The hospital's now telling residents up there, `We're going to take your house to build this hospital.' Well, I'm sorry, I don't think they need a thousand acres to build a hospital. To the extent that they're not going to take people's homes, I'm going to support this. ... It'll all work out."

On the openness of county commissioners meetings:

Ms. Tepe: "They're all of one party and one thought, and there isn't diversity. I think that's a lot of what leads to violations of the Sunshine laws. ... I think when you have a tendency to use poor language and profanity during your meetings and you have a tendency to monopolize the conversation as Mike is known to do - sorry, Mike - I don't think that is an open-door policy. As an elected official, you're in office to listen, and to bring collaboration and consensus together. That's my view of how government should work."

Mr. Kilburn: "We meet on Thursday (evenings). That's one of the things that I did when I came into office. I felt that we needed to have an opportunity for folks to come to our meetings. ... I wouldn't be opposed to (televising meetings).

"I wish I could have the opportunity to have everyone in the county know what Mike Kilburn's all about because I trust my judgment better than anybody's. I've got a lot of good common sense."

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com