MORE COVERAGE State Treasurer Joe Deters. Enquirer/STEVEN M. HERPPICH

• Time in Columbus tarnished Deters • Advocate likes to bring the big guys down • Blackwell says election has all his attention • Democrat candidates harp on danger of 'one-party rule' • Attorney general looking into Allen affair • Prosecutor quitting as UC trustee • EDITORIAL: One-party system not healthy • Borgman editorial cartoon • Special section: Mike Allen coverage

"I've got so much on my plate right now," said Blackwell, a Republican, after speaking at a West Chester Chamber Alliance lunch Tuesday.

"There are 88 counties in Ohio, and 68 use punch cards - and I've got to make sure we don't suffer the embarrassment of Florida in 2000," Blackwell said, referring to the recount four years ago that delayed presidential election results.

Blackwell, 56, a former Cincinnati City Council member and mayor, said he was not surprised that Treasurer Joe Deters - a fellow former Hamilton County Republican - hastily moved from Butler to Hamilton County on Monday to run as a write-in candidate for prosecutor.

Allen had announced earlier Monday that he would not seek re-election. His decision came 21/2 weeks after revealing he had a relationship with an assistant prosecutor, who has sued him alleging sexual harassment.

"Since the (Republican Party) convention, I knew there were some folks interested in having that discussion with Joe. It didn't surprise me," Blackwell said.

Blackwell used his appearance at the Wingate Inn before Butler County's largest chamber of commerce to promote his campaign for governor. The Xavier University graduate announced he would run for the state's top office two years ago, after being elected to a second term as secretary of state.

Blackwell repeated his favorite themes - that Ohio legislators must cut spending and overhaul the state tax code. Ohio faces a $4 billion, two-year deficit in June, when a temporary penny-on-the-dollar sales tax expires. Blackwell led an unsuccessful effort to repeal the tax increase earlier this year.

"We have a spending problem in this state. We must 'right-size' government," he said. "This takes leadership, and I'm not just talking about in Columbus. It's a matter of having the political courage and will to do the right thing."

Two fellow Republicans, Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery and Attorney General Jim Petro, also are vying for the governor's office in 2006.

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E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com