Republican Pat DeWine and Democrat David Crowley are the ideological bookends on Cincinnati City Council. In some ways, they're also very much alike. Neither one can stand the idea of losing an argument.

After DeWine said last week that it was "thoughtless" for Crowley not to support U.S. troops, the two councilmen exchanged pointed - and personal - letters.

Crowley, a Navy veteran, said for DeWine to question his patriotism was a "low blow."

"I oppose this impending war because many of these brave men and women will fight and some will die in a needless, reckless war. I see my stance, in fact, as the ultimate expression of concern and support for their lives and safety," Crowley wrote DeWine.

"I am very much aware that my stance is not politically popular in Cincinnati. However I have to look myself in the mirror everyday and I want to be able to respect the man I see looking back.

"War on Iraq is wrong, Pat! This is a problem I have with our national leaders not the brave men and women who will have to fight and die there. The fact that you would construe my concern into the notion that I am disrespectful of our troops is cheap and insulting."

DeWine responded: "Quite frankly, it seems a little silly that we are corresponding by letter - we work in the same building, you have my phone numbers and I am always available to discuss any concern you have.

"First, I have never questioned your patriotism.... I certainly respect your right as a citizen to oppose the war in Iraq. What I don't agree with is your decision to have a press conference in front of City Hall on the issue, to spend city tax dollars to publicize your efforts and your continued focus on the issue.

"Those men and women are in my thoughts and prayers. ... and I hope that in the future you will refrain from invoking their names as part of your rhetoric."

Charter member: Christopher Smitherman, a 35-year-old financial planner from North Avondale, became the first candidate for City Council to file petitions Tuesday.

As a Charterite.

All three parties had courted Smitherman. So the story of how he ended up with the Charter Committee is a real soap opera.

His father, Herbert Smitherman, retired from research and development at Procter & Gamble Co. and is now the principal of Western Hills Design Technology High School. As a business-oriented Democrat, Herb Smitherman was pictured prominently in a 2001 ad for Democrat David Pepper, the son of retired P&G chairman John F. Pepper.

But it was Jack Martindell, another retired Procterite and active Charterite, who convinced Smitherman to accept an endorsement from Cincinnati's third party. Martindell, a friend of the elder Smitherman, was the campaign manager for Arn Bortz, the city's last Charterite mayor.

Pepper called the decision "bewildering." He couldn't contain his disappointment that Smitherman didn't sign with the Democrats, who are looking for three or four more candidates - especially African-Americans - to fill out the party's ticket in their quest to retain seats now held by Minette Cooper and Paul Booth.

For his part, Smitherman said he admires the spirit and values behind the Charter Committee.

"I love the Charter Committee, because when I pick up the phone and call them, they answer, `Charter - the good government people," he said. "That's what I'm about."

Ready or not: It isn't often that the mayor of Cincinnati sends out a news release to the national media. But when he does, it's a beauty.

Last week's media alert, sent out by fax just four hours after Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge left town, was titled, "Duct Tape, a Can of Tuna & a Website: Mayor Charlie Luken Says Cities Need More Than A Public Relations Campaign To Prepare For Terrorism."

It inspired a USA Today story headlined, "Cincinnati mayor blasts readiness plan." MSNBC put him on national television, where he told Lester Holt that "duct tape and cellophane is not a rational homeland security policy."

Luken's remarks also got the attention of the nation's big city mayors, who have been politely complaining for months that federal money hasn't reached the first responders.

When the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, told his colleagues of Luken's remarks during a meeting in Key West last week, the mayors broke into a round of applause.

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