Posted on 04/06/2005 12:12:26 PM PDT by Columbus Dawg
CINCINNATI -- Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis says Pat DeWine should resign as county commissioner now that he's running for Congress.
In a letter to DeWine, Leis criticized his fellow Republican for running for higher office just three months after winning a seat on the commission, News 5's Raegan Butler reported.
DeWine is running in an upcoming special election for Rob Portman's seat. Portman has been nominated to be U.S. trade representative in President George W. Bush's cabinet.
"I think your candidacy for Congressman of the 2nd Ohio Congressional District is an affront to the voters of Cincinnati and Hamilton County," Leis wrote.
He accused DeWine of being more focused on advancing his career than taking care of citizens, Butler reported.
"If you were truly concerned for the welfare of Hamilton County, you would submit your resignation ... and allow the Republican Party to nominate someone who is truly concerned with the welfare of our county," Leis wrote.
Leis also criticized DeWine and Commissioner Phil Heimlich, who recently announced he's running for lieutenant governor, for their handling of county government.
"During the past three months, you and Mr. Heimlich boldly announced you are changing county government to your liking. In this short period of time, you and Mr. Heimlich have wreaked havoc on our county government with your so-called reforms and now you both want out. Obviously you have no interest in county government and your so-called reforms were a charade," Leis wrote.
"You're talking about, in a short period of a little over one year, this man has run for three offices and I think it's an absolute outrage," Leis told News 5.
DeWine laughed when he spoke to News 5 about the letter, calling it a political tug of war.
Leis maintained it is a serious and pressing matter, Butler reported.
"Sincerity, integrity, honesty and character, all those things go hand in hand," he said.
DeWine made a promise to make Hamilton County the best in America. That promise might still hold water, but his influence may be as a congressman.
"It was a tough decision to get into this race," DeWine said. "Because I feel like we're doing some good things in the county."
It's a county that Leis said he wants to protect. Although the county has seen many politicians hop from one seat to the next, he said DeWine's case is more deplorable than most.
"This is the most unusual situation I've ever encountered in public office," Leis said. "I think he should resign. I'm urging him to resign so we can get someone into that position that has the interest of the county at heart."
DeWine said Leis is taking a personal stab at him. He believes the letter is part of Leis' political agenda.
"No, I'm not going to step down," DeWine said. "You can have more of an impact over people's lives that you can advance your principles and ideals more in Congress than you can any place else."
DeWine is a weasel, plain and simple. He would never have advanced anywhere if not for daddy.
Si Leis is a dog. He is full of himself and should not be sherrif. The sherrif office is a nasty place ever since he took office.
A "personal" stab at DeWine would be pointing out the fact that he shuffles his kids around with him for photo ops. When in fact, he left his wife and family for another woamn several years ago...
This is called washing your linens in public and reflects poorly on Lies. Still I am completely unexcited about both DeWine and Heimlich for this position. The Reps need to find a "Winner" for this seat in the stance that Portman was a very capable representative rather than an opportunist or a grandstander. I would be a whole lot happier with Doug White if he would get off of his tail and go for this post.
There was a whole website on that a few years ago. I also know that the Whistleblower email-fax thing was all over it as well. I haven't seen it since they pulled it offline but I think it still makes the email and fax rounds.
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