Chris Monzel Wants To Sell Both Pro Sports Stadiums In Cincinnati: Oops! They're Already For Sale

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Hamilton County commissioners told The Daily Bellwether last winter they would sell Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, and Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, if anybody wanted to buy. No one was interested, then or now. Today, Chris Monzel, a Republican Cincinnati City Council member running for a seat on the Hamilton County Commission, has raised the issue again. Monzel met with Cincinnati Enquirer reporters and editors and announced he "wants to sell the stadiums." The Enquirer treated this as a major campaign development that would fire up the debate. In truth, it's neither a new nor an out of the box development. Democratic Commissioner Todd Portune said the stadiums were for sale last February. It was in the Bellwether, where Portune noted anybody was welcome to make a bid, even the Chinese or Saudis. Monzel's Democratic opponent Jim Tarbell didn't have much to say. He probably knows there doesn't seem to be any buyers out there.

UPDATE: 9/17 2:42 PM -- Cincinnati Blog is accusing Monzel of pandering to his conservative base in the commission race. The piece has a link to Bellwether item about
Monzel.

Rumors Fly That Jim Tarbell Will Fold Commissioner Bid: Dems Now Gearing For Two-Person Primary?

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Word has it that former Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell -- who failed to nail down a party endorsement last Thursday -- could be preparing to abandon his campaign for the Democratic nomination as Hamilton County Commissioner. Nothing official from Tarbell yet. Dem Chair Tim Burke is openly backing Cincinnati City Councilman Cecil Thomas, who pulled out the race but now is officially back in. A third Democrat, Whitewater Township Trustee Hubert Brown, has already filed nominating petitions and says he intends to be on the primary ballot no matter who else is running. Brown, 58, a former International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers organizer and business agent, tells The Daily Bellwether: "I'm in. I'm already on the ballot. I'm not going away."

All three Democrats want to succeed David Pepper as county commissioner. Pepper is running for state auditor. Brown, Tarbell and Thomas all sought the Hamilton County Democratic Party's endorsement last Thursday night. None got it. Tarbell seems to be the odd man out because Brown has labor support and Thomas has Burke. Thomas, an African American who is serving his third term on Cincinnati's City Council, appears to have the most inside support. Gov. Ted Strickland and Dem Chair Burke believe Thomas' presence on the fall ballot will help Democratic candidates by boosting the turnout of African American voters in Hamilton County. While Thomas is not Obama, he is seen by party elders as offering some ability to rekindle 2008's Obama effect at the local polls.

Brown, who has held elected office for 14 years, points out that he has been able to win in his township by attracting Republican and independent voters. "At one point, Whitewater Township was just 4% Democratic," Brown said. "I'm in this because I think I'm the better candidate." Brown adds" "We want to keep this a Democratic (commission) seat. If you don't get any votes in the county, how are you going to win?"

[Ed. Note: The Daily Bellwether hopes to hear first hand from Jim Tarbell about his plans. He's welcome to send a statement to Cincybwellether@yahoo.com. The Bellwether will be glad to publish it.]

Cecil Thomas Says He May Run For Hamilton County Commisser: A Dem Primary With Jim Tarbell?

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Cincinnati City Councilman Cecil Thomas tells The Daily Bellwether he's reconsidering his decision that took him out of the contest for a seat on the Hamilton County Commission. Last Friday, Thomas said he would not be a candidate. Now he says he's wavering: "I may do it. I'm hearing from a lot of people, the governor on down. I'll decide by the end of the week." Asked directly if he was leaning toward running, Thomas said "yes." Former vice mayor Jim Tarbell says he's coming out of political retirement and running as a Democrat for the open County Commission seat now held by David Pepper, the Democratic candidate for state auditor. Tarbell served four terms on city council as a member of the Charter Party.

So far, it's not clear if Tarbell would withdraw to clear the way for Thomas or if they would face each other in the May primary. Tarbell could not be reached for comment. (There may be more from him later today.)

Two Republican council members plan to run for Pepper's seat -- Leslie Ghiz and Chris Monzel. Thomas is in his third council term. He is a former police officer and former director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission. He is African American, and could make history if he becomes the first black elected to the commission. Thomas said he had been concerned that he would not be able to raise a large enough campaign warchest for the race. He now thinks he could be competitive: "People know me, they know what I stand for, what I'm about."

Cincinnati's Shuttered Emery Theater: Jim Tarbell Is Working On A Revival

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The 95-year-old Emery Theater that is said to have some of the best concert hall acoustics in North America could be in store for a revival. It once was a jewel in the Queen City's crown. It seats up to 2,200, but has been abandoned and mouldering like an Egyptian tomb since the late 1990s. Former Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell -- a one-time rock concert promoter -- was spotted inside the shambled Emery, inspecting the site near downtown, and said he is working on a plan to bring it back to life. Clearly, something is up.

Tarbell invited The Bellwether through the lobby and into the auditorium, which was drab and dusty and gloomy under the dim houselights. Still, Tarbell gushed enthusiasm -- fresh paint and restoration could give the marble-columned Emery the gilt-edged glow it had when Gershwin appeared in the Jazz Age, or Nijinsky danced with a Russian ballet troupe.

Tarbell left City Hall last fall. He said he's been thinking about the Emery for years. "Imagine Dylan here, or Led Zeppelin. It would be perfect. How about A Prairie Home Companion?" The Emery would seem to be a nice fit for a touring Garrison Keeler radio show. Tarbell is imagining events like that. He didn't offer any details about financial plans, or who would put up the money to restore the theater at Walnut and Central Parkway. Tarbell did say he thought the Cincinnati Ballet, the Chamber Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera would all use the site.

In Cinema Treasures, the Emery Theater is described as a prize awaiting rediscovery.

"Prior to its film years, the Emery was home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1912 until they moved to the Music Hall in 1936. On the Emery's stage over the years appeared Russian ballet dancer Nijinsky, actresses Bette Davis and Katherine Cornell and composer George Gershwin, who played his famous 'Rhapsody in Blue' with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra shortly after he had premiered it at Carnegie Hall in New York. The theater, which is now closed, is owned by the University of Cincinnati."