Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox is outspoken. Brash. And no-holds-barred, particularly for a cause he passionately believes in.
But his latest attack - on the way two Butler County judges run their courts - could end his political career.
He's released a 400-page assault on the courts. Judge Leslie Spillane launched a preemptive strike with a guest newspaper column criticizing Fox for his travel expenses on the county's dime.
Fox says county Republican party leaders gave him an ultimatum during a recent dinner: Shut up or we won't endorse you in the 2004 election.
Bring it on, Fox says.
"I thought the dinner was to work out differences and to discuss ways we could reach some agreements on many of the reforms that I had proposed for domestic and juvenile court," he said. "But it turned out to be ... them basically telling me to stop talking about the courts and reform proposal."
Political heavyweights at the dinner included party chairman Joe Schwarz, former chairman Carlos Todd and Hamilton City Councilman Ed Shelton and his wife, Judy, a central committee chairwoman.
"I have never in 30 years of public service had anyone connected with party leadership threaten to withhold an endorsement over a position I had taken on a public policy question," Fox said.
Joe Statzer, executive director of the Butler County Republican party, denied leaders are trying to muzzle Fox.
At the dinner, Statzer said, they tried to bring "civility to a very angry debate."
The only comment made that is anywhere close to what Fox is alleging, Statzer said, was when Todd told Fox he had trouble supporting Fox until he "used rational discussion instead of threats and name-calling."
No threats were made to end Fox's political career, Statzer stressed.
"Unfortunately Mike Fox took a well-intentioned meeting and turned a public relations stunt out of it," Statzer said.
"Carlos Todd gave good advice I would hope Mike would take to heart."
Jennifer Edwards
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GOP musical chairs: If Fox does lose party support, the Butler County GOP won't have any trouble lining up someone else.
State Rep. Greg Jolivette, R-Hamilton, has been approached to challenge Fox. Another name mentioned is state Sen. Scott Nein, R-Middletown.
Nein is term-limited out of office at the end of 2004; Jolivette, however, would have to vacate his seat should he choose to run against Fox.
West Chester Township Trustee Jose Alvarez also has made it no secret he would like to be a county commissioner.
Earlier this year, county Republicans rejected a party-initiated proposal for Jolivette and Butler County Commissioner Courtney Combs to switch seats.
Combs has since announced he is running for Nein's seat. So has state Rep. Gary Cates, R-West Chester.
Jennifer Edwards
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Bowing out: After more than a decade as a Warren County commissioner, Larry Crisenbery has decided not to run for re-election.
The 65-year-old father of seven and grandfather of six says personal - not political - reasons are motivating him to step down after this term. He and Pat South are up for re-election in November 2004.
"Do I think I could win? You bet ya. Am I going to miss it? You bet ya. But my wife and I have sat down and talked about it, and there's stuff we want to do and this takes a lot of time if you're committed and do the job right."
Fellow commissioners Mike Kilburn and South expressed their regrets that Crisenbery was not running again. But, as South put it, they've still got well over a year to serve together.
"I'm going to miss everybody," Crisenbery told them. "But I'll come back and aggravate you two."
Two people already have pulled petitions to run: Deerfield Township resident David Young and John Lazares, superintendent of the Warren County Educational Service Center and the county's Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities.
Erica Solvig
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Small town, big slate: The mayor's race has grown crowded in the Butler County village of New Miami.
Four candidates are vying for the seat that will be vacated by Mayor Katherine Rumph-Butler: Board of Public Affairs President Don Fox, Village Council members Krystal Murray and Bill Flynn, and Kenny Cheek.
Why would so many want a job that pays $250 a month?
"I think all four of us have different reasons for running," Murray says.
Janice Morse
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