By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GREEN TWP. - More than 200 Republicans got an earful on what's going right or, more often, wrong in Hamilton County from the seven GOP candidates for county commissioner at a west side forum Wednesday night.

INFOGRAPHIC

•How the candidates stand on the issues

Former Cincinnati Councilman Chris Monzel led the way in pledging not to raise taxes if elected, saying that's the key to reversing the loss of residents and businesses.

Monzel said he has the name recognition and city support to beat Democratic commissioner Todd Portune, and took a veiled jab at fellow candidate David Grossmann, a 76-year-old retired judge who's running a high-visibility TV ad campaign.

"You need somebody who is going to be there for more than one term," Monzel said, to fend off Cincinnati Democrats and Charterites eyeing higher office.

Grossmann retorted that his four countywide wins are proof of his electability. He said he thinks the redevelopment of downtown buildings into condos and townhouses is key to revitalizing downtown Cincinnati.

"Once you've got the people living downtown, business will come," Grossmann said. "And I don't mean big business, I mean the small businesses."

The other three candidates seeking the GOP nomination to take on Portune in November - Blue Ash Councilman Jim Sumner, Anderson Township Trustee Russ Jackson and financial planner Sandra Hall - all took part in Wednesday's forum.

Several Republicans who attended said afterward that they came into the evening uncertain who they'd vote for in that race. In contrast, most already had made up their mind in the primary between Commissioner John Dowlin and his challenger, fellow Republican Pat DeWine.

The forum helped Mary Ellen Horn, a Green Township resident, narrow her choices for Portune's seat down to Sumner or Jackson.

"I think they're bringing an outside view," she said -- instead of the city perspective of candidates like Monzel.

Jackson touted his plan to reduce county taxes by 0.859 mills within a year of entering office, as well as Anderson Township's conservation of 20 percent of its land as greenspace.

Sumner said the county could take some lessons from Blue Ash's success in attracting business.

Hall offered few specifics but promised to bring a fresh eye to county government: "I'll tell you what I think and believe and not necessarily what you want to hear."

The other candidates running for Dowlin's seat, both Democrats, are Erich Streckfuss and Kabaka Oba.

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com