By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - One trustee candidate is spending thousands of dollars and airing four different commercials in his effort to unseat the incumbent in Tuesday's election.

Through the first campaign contribution reporting date on Oct. 23, George Lang had poured $17,995 into the race - for a job that pays $18,234 a year.

He has spent nearly three times that of incumbent Dave Tacosik ($6,238).

The money Lang reported spending Oct. 23 doesn't include about $4,000 for 480 airings of four commercials that began showing up this week on the top 10 cable-TV stations in Butler County.

Lang says he spent the money out of his passion for the job - and in an effort to buck what he calls a negative campaign from Tacosik.

"Mr. Tacosik is really distorting my record and my endorsement," he said.

"We are just trying to get a positive message out there," said Lang, who was endorsed by the West Chester region of the Butler County Republican Party.

Tacosik said Thursday he is just getting the facts out about his opponent. Each man accuses the other of being backed at least in part by developers and/or people or their relatives who do business with the township.

But don't expect to see Tacosik on your TV screen.

"I don't have that kind of money," he said.

"Don't be surprised if you see the Goodyear Blimp fly over."

TV commercials are nothing new to West Chester politics. Both Trustees Jose Alvarez and Catherine Stoker used them in their 2001 elections bids.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.