By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LOVELAND - A light turnout and a last-minute "smear campaign" involving the city's actions to thwart a zoning referendum led to the ouster of three incumbent council members. At least that's the view of the mayor, who finished last.

But newcomers said the outcome just proved that residents wanted a change.

"I think the lack of respect toward the voters by the incumbents proved to be their downfall," said Todd Osborne, one of three neighborhood activists who won council seats.

Local business owner Paul Elliott and Katie Showler joined Osborne in the victory that pushed Mayor Donna Lajcak, Vice Mayor Dave Bednar and Councilwoman Peggy Goodwin out by Dec. 2.

The two groups continued to trade barbs Wednesday about the election and what's ahead.

Lajcak, who placed last with an unofficial tally of 824 votes, criticized her opponents for putting out fliers last weekend raising questions about incumbents' integrity.

"The incumbents ran a clean campaign, and the opponents did not. This election was based on last-minute inflammatory misinformation which was funded by outside-the-city influence," said Lajcak.

Lajcak predicted a stormy time ahead because the three new council members will be a minority on the seven-member council.