Compiled by Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Warren County GOP compromise: Warren County GOP Chairman Leslie Spaeth and Mason City Councilman Tom Grossman have agreed to share the top post of the county's Republican Executive Committee.

The compromise, brokered during a recent private sitdown, ends an eight-month-long rift preventing the county's Republicans from completing selection of party leaders.

"Tom and I have agreed we would serve together and will ask the party to appoint co-chairs at our next meeting, Jan. 28," Mr. Spaeth said Monday. "We are both after the same thing - to elect Republicans - and we decided after spending some time together that the two of us joined together in a co-chairmanship could better serve the Republican Party in our county rather than if we went in our individual race."

The Jan. 28 meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. in the county court building on Justice Drive in Lebanon.

Another key issue expected to be discussed at that meeting: who will replace Domestic Relations Judge James Flannery. He takes over for Judge P. Daniel Fedders when he leaves the Warren County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 8.

County Prosecutor Tim Oliver wants the opening, Mr. Spaeth said. A Waynesville attorney, Jeff Richards, also is interested.

Mr. Oliver confirmed his intention to go after the post Monday but declined to comment further.

Mr. Oliver, Mr. Richards and anyone else interested in the judgeship will make brief presentations to the executive committee.

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft usually replaces retiring judges from lists of candidates submitted by county GOP leaders. Mr. Oliver is expected to receive the GOP nod for the post.

It's all elementary, my dear: Fairfield City Council got a crash course in Government 101 last week when about 50 fifth-graders from Fairfield Middle School dropped by to deliver their solutions for hot issues facing the city.

Topping the list was what to do with the overcrowded justice center, the city-owned former Kroger shopping plaza and the coming community center.

Some of the suggestions that were well-meaning but highly unlikely drew titters and teasing - such as turning the empty Kroger building into a homeless shelter and raising the city's sales tax 2 percentage points to help pay for the community center.

After the latter suggestion, City Councilman Mark Scharringhausen, chairman of the city's Finance Committee, couldn't resist telling the young girl who made it: "You are very brave to propose a 2 percent tax raise."

"Will you run the campaign?" Mayor Erick Cook jokingly added.

Musical chairs: Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, who was elected in 2001, will serve as the board president for the first time this year.

David Kern, last year's president, is the new vice president

Meanwhile, over at the Butler County Commission, Mike Fox will serve as president and Chuck Furmon will be vice president.

In Warren County, Commissioner Larry Crisenbery was elected chairman and Commissioner Pat South will serve as vice chairwoman.

It's about time: After a decade in office, West Chester Trustee Catherine Stoker finally was elected an officer of the board last week.

Last year's trustee president, Jose Alvarez, made the surprise nomination to elect Ms. Stoker vice chairman of the trustees after Dave Tacosik was selected president.

Mr. Alvarez later explained he did so to show partisan politics don't belong in township government.

Ms. Stoker is one of the few Democrats elected in Butler County.

Wonder if Mr. Alvarez's apparent sudden appreciation for nonpartisan politics has anything to do with him contemplating a run for the Butler County Commission in 2004?

Send political news and notes to reporter Jennifer Edwards. E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com or fax 755-4150.