Deters, the best known of four write-in candidates in the Nov. 2 election, faces a challenge to his candidacy at a Board of Elections meeting Thursday.

The meeting is necessary because Cincinnati activist Kabaka Oba filed a formal protest this week challenging Deters' residency in the county. Oba, known for frequent protests and anti-Semitic rants at City Hall, described Deters as a "carpetbagger."

"We want to make sure everything he did was legit," said Oba.

Deters, 47, along with two fellow Republicans and Democrat Fanon Rucker, filed to run after the prosecutor's race was thrown open by a sex scandal involving Prosecutor Mike Allen.

Allen, 48, who was unopposed, withdrew his name from the ballot last week, clearing the way for Deters and the others to file as write-in candidates.

Deters said he, his wife and their four children moved into a rented house in Blue Ash hours before he filed to run last week. Ohio law requires candidates for county office to live in that county.

"We sleep every night in Blue Ash," Deters said.

Although moving vans were seen outside Deters' new home on the day of the filing deadline, Oba said he doubts Deters really moved in.

Election officials say Oba will need more than his own skepticism to win a protest and force Deters out of the race.

Deters said he's confident the board will clear him to run.

GOP leaders already have pledged their support to Deters and expect the other two Republican candidates, Melissa Powers and James Rueger, to endorse him.

E-mail dhorn@enquirer.com