Compiled by Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The results are in: Carolyn Tepe, $32,648.09, and Mike Kilburn, $30,403.28.

That's what they spent in their campaigns for Warren County commissioner, according to their finance reports.

That makes it probably the most expensive commissioners race in county history, according to Enquirer database research and the recollection of Board of Elections Director Bev Moore.

Nonetheless, Mr. Kilburn, who also had primary opposition in the form of real estate agent Daryl Dunn, easily held onto his seat for a sixth term. Ms. Tepe, who ran as a Democrat in the heavily Republican county, ended up with precisely a third of the vote Nov. 5 despite strong financial support from area home builders.

Several supporters have asked Ms. Tepe about running again, she says, but she has made no decision.

No pushing Piper: Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper is facing a little criticism because of remarks in the Enquirer Sunday that his job wasn't to "prosecute the law in order to get Christian values in the community." He suggested that his published comments didn't fully reflect his viewpoint.

"My father is a retired minister, my mother taught at parochial school. Christian-related values are basic to my life. I prosecute criminals because they violate the law, and not because of pressure to fulfill the objectives of just one group," he said.

Mr. Piper reacted to a recent public tongue-lashing by CCV president Phil Burress, who complained Mr. Piper and his staff weren't working fast enough to prosecute obscenity cases in that area. He gave Mr. Piper a year-end deadline to crack down on porn, or promised that Mr. Piper would hear from thousands of CCV members.

Mr. Piper said he's proud of his record in prosecuting obscenity. The special Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, created in July 2001, is responsible for the indictments of more than 20 people on 136 charges involving computer and kiddie porn, sex acts with minors, and similar crimes.

He vowed to continue as a soldier in the "front line of the fight" against obscenity, and pledged to continue working to protect "American values in our community."Sheila McLaughlin

Only in Mason: Most communities have a sewer plant, or a wastewater treatment plant. Mason, however, has a water reclamation plant. "It's more than a sewer plant," spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal insists. But she couldn't explain just what makes it more special.

Councilman Jim Fox, chairman of the utilities committee and superintendent of Indian Hill Water Works, laughed when asked to explain the difference. "It's one and the same," he says. "`Water reclamation' sounds better."

On a more personal note: The Suburban Insider will be taking a brief hiatus after today.

I'm sure the Warren County Republican Party will be disappointed at the respite from having its fissures aired on an almost weekly basis, but it can't be helped: After three years of covering Warren and several of its communities, I'm headed downtown to cover Hamilton County government.

Suburban Editor Dan Sewell promises that another reporter will indeed resurrect the column early in the new year.

In the meantime, tips and comments on suburban politics may be e-mailed to him at dsewell@enquirer.com.

Cindi Andrews can be reached at candrews@enquirer.com or, until Friday, at 755-4157.