By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - With Election Day looming, candidates usually hit the stump extra hard - not meet an opponent for lunch and then endorse him.

But that was the offbeat development Friday when trustee candidate Dan Wagner announced his backing for opponent George Lang in a high-profile, heated race in this booming Butler County township.

Wagner says he is endorsing Lang because the two men have almost identical stances on the issues and could split the vote, giving incumbent Dave Tacosik a better chance at winning.

"I couldn't live with the results of George and I splitting the vote and Dave winning the difference," Wagner said Friday as he and Lang ate identical no-carbohydrate lunches - sausage and cheese omelets and diet Cokes - at Bob Evans in Sharonville.

Tacosik scoffed Friday at the development, saying: "That's so silly, I don't think I have any comment."

Wagner isn't dropping out of the race, saying it's not worth the hassle and time he'd have to spend in paperwork and other red tape. But he is taking down his campaign signs and plans to campaign for Lang this weekend and on Election Day.

"I am sure my mom will still want to vote for me, but I'll vote for George," Wagner said.

Even if Wagner were to drop out of the race, his name still would appear on the ballot, which was printed three to four weeks ago.

Lang applauded Wagner for stepping aside so close to the election for their common cause of unseating Tacosik. "It's a big risk," Lang acknowledged. "Dan has some supporters who could look at him negatively for a while for this."

Wagner's endorsement adds to a long list of those backing Lang: Trustees Jose Alvarez and Catherine Stoker, U.S. Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester), state Rep. Gary Cates (R-West Chester), Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper - and even former Cincinnati Bengal kicker Jim Breech, who also is a West Chester resident.

Tacosik said he wasn't surprised fellow trustees Alvarez and Stoker also support Lang. "I think they are a little bit frightened of me."

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E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com