THE CANDIDATES

Todd Portune Hometown: Green Township Age: 46 Occupation: Commissioner since 2000; attorney Experience: Former Cincinnati councilman Education: Bachelor of arts from Oberlin College; law degree from University of Cincinnati Personal: Wife, Angie; children, Ellyse, Ethan and Emma Quote: "The fact is that in 2004, taxes are down, spending is down and the size of county government is down. ... Let's continue the progress." David Grossmann Hometown: Springfield Township Age: 75 Occupation: CEO, Greg G. Wright & Sons Co. Experience: Retired juvenile court judge; former Greenhills-Forest Park school board president; board member of Pregnancy Care Center and Citizens for Community Values; veteran of Air Force JAG Corps Education: bachelor's and law degrees from University of Cincinnati Personal: Married 53 years, two grown sons and 11 grandchildren Quote: "Obviously our taxes are too high. My entire campaign is devoted to taking less of your money and spending less of your money."

ELECTION SECTION

• Election 2004 page

Republicans were determined to prove incumbent Todd Portune's 2000 election was a fluke; Democrats were determined to keep the seat - one of just two nonjudicial county seats they hold.

And that's all still true, both sides say, despite an unexpected write-in race to replace Prosecutor Mike Allen that has sucked away most of the public's attention.

"You always try to hold onto what you have before you go out and try to get new things," said state Sen. Mark Mallory, a West End Democrat.

He's likes Portune's chances despite the Republican leanings of county voters. Portune has formed an unlikely alliance with conservative Republican Commissioner Phil Heimlich on several issues, including ordering an outside review of county departments that tallied an estimated $17 million-plus in annual savings.

But Bruce Taylor, vice chairman of the county GOP, is encouraged about retired Judge David Grossmann's chances of regaining the seat for the party.

Even as unpopular as Republican Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus was, Taylor noted, he didn't lose by a lot in 2000. Of the 363,948 votes cast, 48 percent went to Portune, 43 percent to Bedinghaus and 9 percent to libertarian Paul Naberhaus.

Portune drew first blood in the 2004 race Tuesday, when state election officials found probable cause that Grossmann committed a campaign violation in a recent ad.

The newspaper ad, run in the Enquirer and Community Press newspapers, said Democratic incumbent "Todd Portune broke his pledge to limit taxes. Now you can pledge to limit Todd Portune."

Portune filed a complaint against Grossmann with the Ohio Elections Commission in Columbus. A panel voted 3-1 Tuesday to forward the complaint for a full hearing in October.

"By any calculation out there, we have adhered to the pledge," Portune said. "Taxes and spending actually went down in 2004 from 2003."

Replied Grossmann: "Taxes and spending are out of control in this county, and now he's engaged in Clinton-esque word-parsing."

Grossmann, 75, won a five-way primary in March to get this shot at Portune. He touts his experience winning and holding countywide office, although his name hasn't been on the ballot since 1992. As juvenile court judge, he oversaw an office of 600 employees.

At recent candidate forums, Grossmann said his No. 1 priority is cutting taxes and spending. Another goal is to make it easier for businesses to operate in Hamilton County.

"As a developer myself, I think I know the way," Grossmann said, noting that he has developed rental properties in addition to being the CEO of family owned manufacturer Greg G. Wright & Sons Co.

Portune, 46, beat Bedinghaus largely by capitalizing on voter anger over cost overruns at $450 million Paul Brown Stadium. He has continued to demand that the Bengals kick in more toward the stadium's cost and operations. In March, he and Heimlich voted to take over a federal antitrust lawsuit against the team.

The goal, they say, is to force the team to renegotiate a stadium lease that they claim is unfair to taxpayers.

But Portune has tackled many other issues, as well, and his re-election pitch to voters is "Continue the progress."

In his 31/2 years as a commissioner, Portune has led the creation of a low-interest loan Home Improvement Program for county residents and championed a policy that for the first time makes the Metropolitan Sewer District responsible for cleaning up sewage overflows in people's basements.

Portune is now proposing a 10-year plan to double home construction in Hamilton County, which would mean 2,000 new homes a year.

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com