Cincinnati's Population Total Plummets In 2010 Census: Meanwhile, City's Voter Registration Rolls Include Nearly Every Adult




  Census Finds 231,237 Adults 

  CINCINNATI (TDB) -- There is an interesting wrinkle in the 2010 Census data that sets Cincinnati's population at 296,943 residents.  Nearly all of them -- 231,237 -- are adults over age 18.  And if the federal Census is correct, that means other records show 91% of Cincinnati's adults are registered voters.  That is a huge bloc of citizens who have taken a step to become politically active -- perhaps a staggering or sobering number.  Some think the 91% number is a myth.  Or a fraud.  Others see it at as a signpost that Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory has a strong argument to make that Census officials dramatically under counted the city's residents.

A similar pattern holds true in Hamilton County, where the Census counted 612,734 adults.  Voting records show 567,629 are registered. Again, upwards of 90% of the county's adult population is politically active.  If the 90% number is anywhere close to being correct, then local officials and residents have been remarkably efficient in signing up voters.    

Mallory, a Democrat, has long argued that Cincinnati has been growing and adding new residents over the past decade.  He contends the city has at least 330,000 citizens, probably more.  The Census numbers released last week poured cold water on Mayor Mallory's math.  Cincinnati is supposed to have lost 10.4 % of its residents, among the nation's worst declines.  But The Daily Bellwether did some quick research and discovered today that almost all of the city's adults are registered voters at the Hamilton County Board of Elections.  According to the board, Hamilton County has 567,629 voters -- with 209,862 in Cincinnati.

U.S. Appeals Court In Cincinnati Greenlights Probe Into Hamilton County Voting: 849 Provisional Ballots Must Be Checked For Pollworker Error

Sec'y of State Brunner Also Weighs In 

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The ruling by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals was a legal victory for Tracie Hunter, a Democrat who contends procedures at the Hamilton County Board of Elections may have cost her hundreds of votes.  Hunter trails Republican John Williams by 23 votes in the race for Juvenile Court judge.  Williams sought a decision from the 6th Circuit that would have shelved an investigation into provision ballots that was ordered by U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott.  Williams got slam dunked by the federal appeals court panel -- two members of the three-judge panel were appointed by Democratic presidents.  But the ruling came without any dissent from a George W. Bush appointee.  That lessens crticism partisan antics was behind the decision.

Meanwhile, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat who is leaving office next month because she didn't seek reelection, issued a directive that governing procedures ove how provisional ballots must be examined for poll worker error.  Brunner's directive said the possibility numerous voters were sent to the wrong precinct in Hamilton County polling locations with multiple precincts should be examined .  There are about 290 of those provisional ballots at stake in the Hunter-Williams contest.  Brunner's order mandates:

" . . . if a board of elections finds multiple provisional ballots voted in the correct polling location but wrong precinct, it should, either in writing, with written responses from the poll workers, or at a public meeting of the board, question the poll workers in that polling location to determine whether they followed the board's instructions for ensuring that voters were directed to the correct precinct.  If the board finds that poll worker error of this nature existed, it shall not reject the provisional ballot, unless other valid reasons for rejection exist, and the board shall count the votes for all races and issues for which the elector was eligible to vote."

A three-judge appeals court panel said the 849 disputed provisional ballots can be segregated as a group for the investigation into poll worker error.  It said the board counted some provisional ballots cast at its downtown headquarters, but rejected others from other locations around the county.  That created possible disparities in how votes were counted:

". . .the Board decided not to count 849 provisional ballots that were cast in the wrong precinct at the regular polling stations on electiong day without investigating whether pollworker error was equally at fault in causing any of these ballots to be cast in the wrong precinct.  This disparate treatment -- county the 26 wrong-precinct ballots based on pollworker error during early voting without similarly investigating whether pollworker error led to any of the 849 ballots being case in the wrong precinct on election day -- forms the basis for the injunctive order in this case.  We cannot conclude that the district court abused its discretion in determining that this disparate treatment made it 'likely enough that the [likelihood-of-success] factor weights in favor of granting the preliminary injunction.'  This analysis weighs against Williams' motion to stay the district court's preliminary injunction."

The 6th Circuit decision was issued by judges Gilbert S. Merritt, appointed by Democratic President Jimmy Carter; Ronald Lee Gilman, appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, and Deborah L. Cook, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush.

[UPDATE: 12/-3/10 9:30 a.m. -- Justin Jeffre at the Cincinnati Beach links to The Daily Bellwether and says action on the legal front is positive news for Tracie Hunter. Jeffre writes that "it looks like Tracie Hunter is likely to become the first African American Juvenile Court Judge in Hamilton County . . ." What is also an interesting sidelight about voting last month is that Democratic women did quite well in Hamilton County: Nadine Allen, another African American woman, won a contested Common Pleas Court judgeship; Jody Luebbers was unopposed by the Republicans and won a full six-year term in the judgeship that had been vacated by GOP Chairman Alex Trinatafilou; Hunter is closing in on the juvenile spot, and State Rep. Connie Pillich was reelected to the State House over the local Tea Party founder. In countywide contests, the Dem women did far better than males.]

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters Stages Coup: Republican Intervenes In Elections Case Without Authority



Deters Joins GOP Allies



CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The GOP prosecutor's aides officially intervened in the 6th Circut U.S. Court of Appeals.  The county lawyers are now allied with the Ohio Republican Party and John Williams, a GOP candidate for Juvenile Court Judge in Hamilton County. Joe Deters -- who by law represents the Hamilton County Board of Elections -- committed his office to support Williams' effort to thwart an investigation into 869 provisional ballots.   The provisionals were cast aside as legally defective.  Where it gets dicey: The board of elections never agreed to intervene in the federal appeals case on Williams side.  A 2-2 tie put it officially on the sidelines.  Deters move -- to assign staff lawyers to join the Republican side of a legal dispute -- has the look and feel of pure partisanship, a coup against the board of elections.

How did the board divide 2-2?  Democrats Tim Burke and Caleb Faux said no appeal; Republicans Alex Triantafilou and Chip Gerhardt said yes.  On a tie, the motion to appeal died.   

At the moment, the 6th Circuit is considering whether to set aside U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott's order that forces county elections officials to inspect the provisional ballot for signs of poll worker error.  Tracie Hunter, the Democratic candidate for juvenile judge, trails Williams by 23 votes.  A mandatory recount is coming.  Hunter wants more than a recount -- she believes the discarded provisional ballots will break her way and should be added to the mix.  Hunter and the Ohio Democratic Party launched the court fight last week to have them counted.

To counter the Dems, Deters' office filed what it calls a "response of the Hamilton County Board of Elections to Intervenor John Williams' emergency motion to stay."  That suggests false advertising, because the Hamilton County  Board of Election never authorized such a move.  Deters aide, Assistant Pros. James W. Harper acknowledged as much:  "The nature of the Board's further participation in this matter will be determined by the Ohio Secretary of State as the Board is divided."   Outgoing Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat who did not seek reelection, is seen as unlikely to authorize an appeal.  Which is why Deters staged what amounts to a coup.

Williams, whose legal team includes Stuart Dornette (an extremely talented attorney who represents the Cincinnati Bengals and handled negotiations that stuck the county with stadium expenses it cannot afford to pay), contends the 869 disputed provisional ballots are not valid.   Meanwhile, Hunter contends a subset of 289 provisional ballots were cast at the right polling location but in the wrong precinct.  Her lawyer, Jennifer Branch, said poll workers created a mess:

"A single polling location often is the site for voting in multiple precincts.  A citizen must not only locate the right polling place (church, fire hall, school) but also the right table inside the polling place.  Poll workers employed by the Hamilton County Board of Elections have a duty to direct the voter to the correct table so the voter can vote in the correct precinct.  On November 2, 2010, poll workers in Hamilton County did not direct 289 voters to the right precinct table,  This is obvious poll worker error . . . All 289 provisional  ballot cast at the right location but in the wrong precinct on Election Day were rejected by the Board of Elections despite the obvious poll worker errors.  It is likely that these 289 ballots may effect the results of this race since only 23 votes separate the two candidates."

Dem Judge Candidate Tracie Hunter Sues Board of Elections: Civil-Rights Lawsuit Cites Hamilton County Pollworker Error

Voters Sent To Wrong Precincts?

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Tracie Hunter is seeking a federal injunction that would stop the Hamilton County Board of Elections from certifying results that would award a juvenile court judgeship to Republican John Williams.  Hunter is down 23 votes out of more than 280,000 cast.  She contends some voters -- who got in the wrong line at voting stations that house multiple precincts -- were improperly given provisional ballots on Nov. 2.  Hunter contends poll workers should have directed voters to the proper line.  The result of the poll worker instructions: The provisional ballots were disqualified because voter voted in the wrong precinct.  Hunter's lawsuit says voters should not be punished -- lose their right to vote -- because of flawed instructions from a county employee.  Election officials contend orders issued in 2004 by former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell forbid poll workers from directing voters to their proper precinct.  Blackwell's directive was issued in the run-up to the Bush v. Kerry presidential contest, and was seen by critics as an effort to sow confusion in urban counties which often have multiple precincts under one roof.   

Hunter's legal challenge has a broader motive, of course.  If she prevails, and the disqualified provisionals are added to the pool of ballots, she likely would defeat Williams for the Juvenile Court judgeship.  It would be a major pick up for the local Hamilton County Democratic Party.  Hunter holds a lead in the provisionals that have been tossed aside.  The case focuses on the issue of voters who went to the right place but got into the wrong line on Election Day -- what's been described as right church, wrong pew.  Here's some of Hunter's lawsuit, which was filed today by lawyer Jennifer Branch, whose Cincinnati law firm specializes in civil rights cases:

"A single polling place is often the site for voting for numerous precincts.  A citizen must not only locate the right polling place but also the right table within the polling place in order to vote in the correct precinct.  Poll workers employed by the Defendant Board of Elections have a duty to direct the voter to the correct table so the voter can vote in the correct precinct.  On November 2, 2010 some poll workers in Hamilton County did not direct the voter to the correct precinct table and instead simply handed the voter a provisional ballot.  A provisional ballot cast in the wrong precinct due to such poll worker error will not be counted by the Defendant board even though the voter did everything the Defendant's employees asked of the voter.  Plaintiff Hunter challenges this decision as a denial of due process and equal protection.

"This action seeks to maintain the status quo and enjoin the certification of the vote for Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge until the Court can determine the rights of provisional voters whose ballots have been rejected by Defendants even though the reason for the rejection may be due solely to poll worker error.  Principles of due process and Equal Protection require that demonstrated poll worker error should not deny to citizens their right to have their vote counted.

"The 23-vote gap in this case makes the Plaintiff eligible for an automatic recount.  But a recount reviews only the votes determined eligible before the official count is certified.  Thus a recount will not address the problem in this case:  The failure to count the ballots of voters who voted in the wrong precinct due solely to poll worker error."

This dispute raises another interesting issue.  The site where The Daily Bellwether votes contains two precincts, A & B, in the same room.  Some people accidentally went to the wrong table to sign in on Election Day, or weren't sure which table they should go to in order to pick up a ballot.  Frankly, you had to be really focused to realize Precinct A was on the right side of the room's entrance and Precinct B was on the left.  Some people just got into the shortest line.  The Bellwether saw workers tell people to go across the room to get to the correct precinct.  It was very informal -- like, you go to that line not this one.  Or, vote over there.  Sometimes voters who were standing in line and poll workers together gave directions to help end the confusion.  In other words, citizens were sent to the proper place to vote.  That seems to indicate that different standards were in force across the county -- in some precincts people got provisionals; in some they were directed to the correct voting locations.

[BREAKING] Automatic Recount Coming In Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Contest: Dem Connie Pillich Keeps District 28 State House Seat

Dem Tracie Hunter Near Upset

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Provisional ballots have been counted.  They went big for Democrat Tracie Hunter, who now trails Republican John Williams by just 23 votes in the contest for Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge.  There is going to be an automatic recount triggered under state election law because the results are razor thin.  Hunter could be on the verge of pulling off a major upset.  There were more than 280,000 votes cast in the contest.   State Rep. Connie Pillich has defeated Mike Wilson by 602 votes in the race for House District 28, which covers a swath of northern Cincinnati suburbs.  Wilson was a founder of the Cincinnati Tea Party and ran as the GOP nominee.  Pillich was up by five votes before the provisionals were tallied today.  The final results are Pillich 21,195, Wilson 20,593.  Pillich won a second term and the margin is beyond the requirement for an automatic recount.

But the big surprise is in the judicial contest.  Hunter ran in the primary and defeated the Democratic party's endorsed candidate.  She was largely an unknown.  In the general election, she was up against Williams, a former assistant prosecutor who went on to serve as director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections.  He currently is the No. 2 administrator in the Clerk of Court's office.  Williams was thought to have an edge, in part because he was running in a year when Republicans were riding high; in part because few knew much about Tracie Hunter.  Hunter was down by about 2,800 votes before the provisionals were counted.  Now -- with a 23-vote gap between her and Williams -- there is a strong possibility she could capture a judgeship for the Democrats.

Elections officials said more than 300 provisional ballots were ttossed out over issues involving questions about written signatures versus hand-printed names, voters who got in the wrong lines at polls with more than one voting precinct, and failures to sign on exactly on signature block.  The voters who got in the wrong lines at precincts with multiple polling stations are described as victims of being in the right church but the wrong pew.  Their votes have not been counted.  There is a split in the top ranks of the Hamilton County Dems about those votes -- on the board of elections, Dem Chairman Tim Burke agreed with GOP Chair Alex Triantafilou and GOP board member Chip Gearhardt that they votes were bad under prior court rulings.  Hamilton County Dem Executive Director Caleb Faux wanted the votes counted.  Faux was outvoted 3-1 on the board of elections.    

Those discarded provisional ballots could loom large in the days ahead.  Hunter has retained a lawyer, Jennifer Branch, for the mandatory recount.  Don't be surprised if her campaign pushes to have some of the disqualified provisional ballots put back into the mix.  Williams is certain to make his own legal case that they are junk.

Cincinnati Tea Party Founder Mike Wilson Sues Over Election Results: Aims To Block Vote Counting In African American Precincts

  [UPDATE: Pillich calls the lawsuit an attempt to subvert the voting and elections process.  See below.  Judge Winkler won't intervene.  Provisional ballots have not yet been counted.  Wilson still trails by five votes.]

Vote Fraud In Lincoln Heights?

 CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Mike Wilson's lawsuit contends there is evidence of possible vote fraud in three precincts in Lincoln Heights, a predominantly African American city in Cincinnati's northern suburbs.  At the moment, Wilson trails State Rep. Connie Pillich, a Democrat, by five votes in the contest for a seat in the Ohio House (District 28).  Wilson ran as a Republican.  There are 1,456 provisional ballots yet to be counted, and Wilson wants a restraining order that would stop them from being tallied.   The Hamilton County Board of Elections was scheduled to count the provisionals this week, an action that would determine whether Pillich or Wilson wins the House seat in Ohio's state legislature.  Court records show Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Bob Winkler scheduled an emergency hearing --- it will be held Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. in the courthouse.  The lawsuit is Case No. A-1010404.  Wilson's lawyers said in the complaint that 9% of all provisional ballots cast in the House race were in Lincoln Heights.

"Upon information and belief, most of the provisional ballots cast in the Lincoln Heights Precincts are invalid and should not be counted, which may change the results of the election for the 28th Ohio House District in light of the narrow 5-vote margin which currently exists.  Upon information and belief, the Lincoln Heights Precincts have suffered a significant population decrease during the last several years.  As reflected by the photographs attached as Exhibit A, hundreds of residential units in the Lincoln Heights Precincts were abandoned, condemned, or leveled."

Wilson contends that Lincoln Heights  traditionally votes Democratic.  He said his campaign has obtained the names of "at least 34 voters who moved, many of whom cast clearly ineligible votes."  Of the vote total on Election Day Nov. 2, Wilson received just 22 votes of the 984 cast in Lincoln Heights.  It was not Tea Party or GOP territory.  Said Wilson's lawsuit:  "Without intervention by this Court, relators will be irreparably harmed by being prevented from challenging and ascertaining the validity of the provisional ballots, because those ballots will be intermingled in the regular ballots and the 'envelope' information necessary to verify those ballots eligibility will be lost."

Lawyers at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, a downtown Cincinnati law firm, are representing Wilson and his campaign manager, Maggi Cook, who joined him in the lawsuit.  There is a twist in the case because Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex M. Triantafilou -- who turns out to be a member of the law firm's litigation department -- is also the chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Elections.  That means Triantafilou's law firm is suing the panel he heads.  And that poses a potential conflict of interest.  It will be interesting to see how Triantafilou handles the issue -- perhaps he will have to sit things out.

[UPDATE: 4:12 pm -- Word has just reached The Daily Bellwether that Republican Chairman Triantafilou has recused himself.  He will not participate in board of elections discussions or decisions about vote counting in the Ohio House contest between Wilson and Pillich.  His departure is a blow to Wilson because that means the Democrats have a 2-1 edge on the board, and their majority can control how all decisions are made.  Some Republicans are openly wondering why lawyers associated with Triantafilou are representing Wilson in a case involving the board of elections.  They said it looked like a tactical error because it has the effect of knocking an important Republican figure out of action.]

[UPDATE: 11/16/10, 8:07 am -- Pillich tells The Daily  Bellwether she has hired counsel and will fight to make sure "all the votes are counted."  She also openly wonders if Wilson has ever been to Lincoln Heights.  Here's the latest from Pillich:

 "The support for their motion is rather thin:  a lot of people had moved.  (Um … that is probably why they cast provisional votes.)  It is truly disappointing that such specious arguments are being used to subvert the voting and elections process.  I do have to wonder:  has Mike Wilson ever been to Lincoln Heights?  Has he seen all of the homes that are boarded up and foreclosed upon?  Did he not notice that Valley Homes has been condemned and the Health Department has ordered residents to vacate?  Did he miss the new construction and upgrades going on?  Is he unaware of the number of people who live in poverty?  Is he aware of the low employment rate among African Americans in our community?

"The initial hearing on the lawsuit is Tuesday morning at 9 am, in Judge Robert Winkler’s court room at the Hamilton County Court House.  I will attend, and I have hired legal counsel to represent me.  Uriah is going to stay on as my campaign manager through this entire process, until all of the votes are counted."]

Democratic Early Voters Surging On Cincinnati's West Side: Oh-01 Lifeline For Steve Driehaus vs. GOP's Chabot



Data Shows Dem Oh-01 Voting Surge

 CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The so-called "enthusiasm gap" that had Republicans fired up and voting in droves while Democrats sat on their keisters has vanished in the heaviest populated portion of Ohio's 1st Congressional District.  Early voting data shows 15,604 Democrats have voted in Oh-01, a number that has blown past  Republican turnout.  The surge took place late last week and over the weekend.  The GOP now trails with 14,424 early voters.  Republicans had been ahead in the Oh-01 matchup for more than a month.  Nearly 60% of the early votes cast in Hamilton County -- which includes Cincinnati -- are in Oh-01, which indicates massive public interest in the mid-term House contest.  Steve Driehaus, a freshman Democrat, faces Republican Steve Chabot, who held the seat for 14 years.  Both are from Cincinnati's West Side, and their rematch is clearly SW Ohio's most closely watched.  If Dems show up for Driehaus, their votes in statewide races will help the statewide ticket from Gov. Ted Strickland on down.  Nearly 12,000 independent votes have been cast in Oh-01 ahead of Election Day -- if they break nearly even Driehaus has a chance.  Driehaus has been written off by many political experts and commentators.  But the numbers suggest that Democratic voters are hanging with him.  Of the 26,000 Democratic early ballots issued in Hamilton County through Oct. 30, 18,566 were in Oh-01 and 84% have been returned.

Democrats have also been showing up in greater numbers at the Hamilton County Board of Elections to cast ballots ahead of the polls opening on Nov. 2.  Through Oct. 30, there were 3,674 Dem votes vs. 1,024 Republican.  [UPDATE: 1:24pm -- At noon today, the board of elections reported the latest count at that downtown polling site, 3,828 D, 1,059 R.  These are walk-in voters.  The tide is still surging Dem on election eve.]  Some suggest this is an indication that the Democrats' ground game has traction, and that the party's get-out-the-vote efforts are delivering results.

Still, polls (the few that have been disclosed) have shown Chabot leading, but the Republican has cautioned his supporters not to grow overconfident.  Last week on his campaign blog, Chabot said "there is nothing certain in life" but sounded like he was pretty sure he was going to flush Driehaus.  At the time, nobody was sure if the voting surge by Democrats would arrive.  Everyone was talking about the enthusiasm gap.  Here's Chabot:

"We're less than a week away from what could be one of the most momentous midterm elections in history.  All indications are that the American people are chomping at the bit to change the direction the Obama Administration and the Pelosi/Reid Congress have been taking this nation.  I believe we will win our race, and we'll once again be represented by someone who truly believes in less government, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility.  However, there's nothing certain in life, and ultimately the voters of the First Congressional District have the final say, and they will deliver their verdict . . ."

Scandal Rumors Percolate At Hamilton County Courthouse: Feds Said To Be Probing $4 Million In Uncollected Bail Bonds

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The wraps seems to be coming off a closely guarded secret: Feds are reportedly poking around the courthouse to learn if up to $4 million was scammed from the public coffers.  Allegedly, the missing money involves forfeited bail bonds that haven't been collected through the court clerk's office in Hamilton County.  If true, this is huge.  The rumor mill cranked up after U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett yesterday placed on hold a civil lawsuit that accused county and state officials of  blocking bail bondsmen from soliciting business on the courthouse grounds.  While that lawsuit, Case No. 1:10cv285, has nothing to do with the rumored FBI investigation, it indirectly may have played a role by stirring interest in Cincinnati's bail bonding operations.

WKRC-TV, Channel 12 has reportedly been working on an investigative news story about a massive breakdown in procedures to collect forfeited bond money.  In Cincinnati, judges set bonds.  But if  accused criminals skip town or dodge their court dates, bond money is forfeited.  The paperwork processing the forfeitures is done in the Hamilton County Clerk of Court's office.  At this point, it is not clear if there was an administrative breakdown or corruption.  Another possibility:  Nothing is amiss, the rumor mill has just gone wild.  But the opinion here is that there is more to this than smoke.  Reportedly, Democratic officials in Hamilton County are getting ready to file public records requests with Court Clerk Patricia M. Clancy that would seek open documents about bond forfeitures and sums owed to the county.  In addition, the Democrats are said to plan on seeking all records showing payments made by bonding companies on forfeitures since Jan. 1, 2009.  Interestingly, the Democrats could turn up public records requests made by Channel 12 -- Cincinnati's ABC affiliate -- during the course of any digging done by the TV station.  They also might find out what the FBI is up to, if anything.

All this rumor and etc. comes at a time when John Williams, a top aid to Clancy, is running for a seat on the Hamilton County Juvenile Court.  Williams is a Republican who has a Democratic opponent.  Nobody suggests that Williams has done anything improper.  The Daily Bellwether has known Williams for years: His reputation is impeccable, he's always been ethical, he is a square shooter.  Williams, a former prosecutor, was the Hamilton County Board of Elections director during some very partisan contests, especially the 2004 Bush v. Kerry contest.  He emerged with his reputation intact.  But if there really is a scandal about millions of dollars in uncollected bail bond money, the juvenile court judge campaign would be impacted.  Political opponents would move quickly to depict Williams and Clancy as asleep at the wheel, or inept.  The Daily Bellwether is of the opinion that the efforts to seek records about bail bonds dating back to Jan. 1, 2009 are aimed at Williams and Clancy -- she took over the clerk's office after winning the job in the November 2008 general election.

The flap seems to have its roots in an Ohio Department of Insurance proceeding against A-1 Bail Bonds owner Debra Henneke, who is challenging her bail bondsmen license revocation. Competitors and clerk's officials said she was soliciting business on the courthouse grounds.  Henneke fought back.  She hired lawyer Robert Newman, and apparently private investigators who reportedly uncovered the irregularities.  At least, that's what is being spun around the courthouse and political circles.  In his ruling yesterday, U.S. District Judge Barrett said he was temporarily staying out of the litigation to allow bail bondsmen to solicit business from bail bondsmen in the courthouse:  "This matter shall be stayed pending the conclusion of state administrative proceedings brought against Debra Henneke."

UPDATE: 10/7 4:22 pm -- CityBeat has heard the rumors, too. Kevin Osborne is reporting that Hamilton County Democratic Chairman Tim Burke has filed a formal public records request seeking  fnancial records about bond foreitures at the GOP controlled courthouse.  The Bellwether has heard from two sources today who said there is a federal probe.  They also said Channel 12's Jeff Hirsh has been working on the story.  I tried to call Hirsh for comment.  No luck.

OH-01 Early Voting: Current Stats Show GOP's Chabot Likely Gains From Absentee Surge

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The rematch between Democrat Steve Driehaus and Republican Steve Chabot for the OH-01 House seat on Cincinnati's west side appears to be drawing massive voter interest. Hamilton County Board of Elections data [see computer printout] through last weekend shows Republican voters have requested 3, 973 absentee ballots. That is nearly 25% more than Democrats. In the entire county, 18,544 absentee ballots have been pulled, with 12,293 in OH-01 and 6,251 in OH-02, where Republican Jean Schmidt is seeking re-election. Clearly, the Driehaus v. Chabot showdown in this year's heavyweight contest. A total 5,230 ballots in OH-01 have gone to voters identified as independents.

Early voting starts Sept. 28 in Ohio, and Chabot may turn out to be the beneficiary. Things look especially good for him in traditional Republican suburbs. Nearly 1,000 ballots have been requested Colerain Township -- 114 Dem; 382 GOP; 467 Indy. In Green Township, 1,980 ballots have been pulled -- 226 Dem; 888 GOP; 869 Indy. In the City of Cincinnati proper, which votes Democratic, more Dems have requested ballots than Republicans. But the city is geographically divided between OH-01 and OH-02, and there is no data showing who is the likely beneficiary. Driehaus probably.

Weed 'Em And Weep: Marijuana Seasons Hamilton County's Ballots

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Board of Elections offices are in the same building as the Cincinnati police department's evidence room. Sometimes the odor of confiscated marijuana drifts through the elevator shafts and permeates the atmosphere. Talk about your high and mighty.

Elections Director John Williams told the Cincinnati Enquirer's Peter Bronson that folks visiting his office are frequently surprised when they are greeted by the aroma of pot hanging in the air:

"It's pungent. It makes people do some double takes."

No word that anyone has been rolling and lighting the paper ballots, though. Bronson, a rightwing conservative who seldom veers from the GOP line, writes less about the pot than Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. He denounces the Democrat for pressing counties to switch to paper ballots, and joins the crowd who contend she is undercutting confidence in elections. Others might suspect Bronson inhaled too deeply in the pot-flavored atmosphere.