By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Wearing shorts and T-shirts, 11 Butler County and Hamilton officials made a big splash Friday - right into a large tub of water.

The officials each spent part of the day in a dunking booth in front of the Government Services Center on High Street to raise money for Butler County United Way.

Each time someone paying $1 per throw hit the bull's-eye with a tennis ball, the board collapsed and the official fell into the water.

The chance to dunk the officials raised $1,000 for United Way. The Butler County Department of Job and Family Services coordinated the event.

One of the booth's most popular targets was controversial Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox.

As Fox climbed into the booth, Bruce Jewett, director of the Department of Job and Family Services, joked, "The United Way would do a lot better if there was acid in the tank."

Butler County Chief Deputy Richard K. Jones paid $20 to be the first person to knock Fox into the water.

"Mike said he wouldn't hold it against me at budget time," said Jones, who recently announced that he will run for county sheriff next year.

But before Jones could hit the bull's-eye, Fox leaned too far forward and fell into the tub.

"It's my political style," he yelled as he climbed back onto the board. "I dunked myself first."

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com