By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PRIMARY RACE

Greg Harris Web site: www.electgregharris.org Age: 32 Hometown: Cincinnati Party: Democrat Education: Ph.D. and master's degree in English and mass communications, Miami University Experience: Smart Growth Coalition Board, Charter Committee; Jewish Early Learning Cooperative Board (JELC) Employer: Former executive director of Ohio Country Community Foundation, Inc. Family: Wife, Monica; one child Richard Lerner Web site: www.lernerforcongress.com Hometown: Amberley Village Age: 62 Party: Democrat Employer: Retired journalist who worked as a White House and congressional correspondent for United Press International; former press secretary for Sen. Bill Bradley Education: Bachelor's in political science, Miami University; master's degree in journalism, Columbia University; master's in international relations, Johns Hopkins University Family: Wife, Jan Fritz; two children

ELECTION SECTION

• Cincinnati.com Special Election Coverage

The two Democratic primary candidates in the 1st Congressional District say Republican incumbent Steve Chabot isn't working for the people.

Greg Harris of Clifton ran against Chabot in 2002. Richard Lerner of Amberley Village is a first-time candidate.

The district covers western Hamilton County and a part of southern Butler County.

Both say that tax cuts supported by Chabot have benefited those who need it the least and hurt those who need it the most. They also call for more money and attention to the district, particularly to address race relations.

Harris complains that tax cuts are really just tax deferments.

"It's tax cuts for today my 1-year-old son will have to pay for," he said. "It's passing the buck onto tomorrow's generation and that is kind of an epidemic in Washington right now. I am genuinely committed to make everyday government work for people."

Harris promises to be a strong advocate for affordable health care for every American, a pro-conservation energy policy built on clean, renewable energy sources and increasing education funding from early childhood through college.

He wants to bolster homeland security "without compromising civil liberties" and "globalize worker protections in a global economy."

Harris contends Lerner is just running so he can document the experience in a book.

A retired journalist, Lerner worked five years as press secretary for Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey. He denies the book allegation but doesn't rule out writing one in the future.

If elected, Lerner pledges to push for a "national action agenda. Priorities include addressing the loss of millions of jobs in America, an 'inept tax cut policy' and federal deficits.

The way health care is administered and funded, he said, must be reformed."You have a lot of people who aren't getting the health care they need or deserve. I don't want to pretend to have all of the answers, but if I win I will find out what people want and I will do it."

Chabot is unopposed in the Republican primary.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.