By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin, defending his seat in a rare GOP primary race, launched a new TV commercial Monday that criticizes challenger Pat DeWine's personal life as well as his votes on Cincinnati City Council.

"DeWine left his wife and children for the Convergys lobbyist whose company received the tax breaks DeWine supported," a female announcer says in the commercial, which is airing on all four local network TV stations.

DeWine immediately denounced the commercial: "We have been trying to talk about the issues in this race for six months, and now to hold onto his job (Dowlin) has launched this sleazy ad full of falsehoods."

The 30-second spot is debuting just two weeks before a March 2 primary that's pitting Dowlin's stay-the-course message against DeWine's assertion that county taxes are too high. DeWine's polls show the four-year city councilman with a 30-point lead over the 13-year commissioner.

Dowlin's commercial accuses DeWine of flopping his vote on city tax breaks for Convergys Corp. He opposed a $63.4 million package of incentives when it was first proposed in July, but voted for a $52.2 million package two weeks later.

"The package that I ended up voting for was substantially different than the first one - that's why eight council members ended up voting for it," DeWine responded.

He said he wasn't influenced by the fact that Convergys hired his former political adviser. He did, however, publicly admit for the first time that he is involved with the woman, who is not named in the commercial.

"I am having a relationship with her," DeWine said.

DeWine said he has been separated from his wife, Karen, since June 2002. He filed for divorce in April 2003. They have three children, 7, 5 and 11/2 years old.

"We had ongoing problems in our marriage, and certainly I made mistakes in my marriage, but the things in the ad are simply untrue," DeWine said.

He will have to supply evidence to get it off the air, however. "Unless there is anything unfactual, the commercial will run," said Bill Fee, vice president and general manager of WCPO-TV (Channel 9).

Dowlin's commercial comes after six weeks of attacks from DeWine on his high absentee rate and refusal to engage in public debates, among other issues.

"We were trying to run positive ads," said former Ohio Sen. Richard Finan, Dowlin's campaign co-chairman. "But he went negative, and this is our response."

DeWine has falsely portrayed himself as an advocate of family values, Finan said. "He just does not walk the walk or talk the talk. His actions do not add up."

Dowlin did not return calls seeking comment Monday.

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