That's So Cincinnati

The "R" word has been mentioned a lot in Cincinnati politics the past week: Reform. 

Should Cincinnati voters implement a recall provision in the city charter?

Should City Council have a mandated attendance policy? 

Should each City Council members' $65,000-a-year salary be cut? 

Should city law be changed on how open council seats are filled? 

Few people know city law better than COAST attorney and Republican Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge candidate Curt Hartman, who joins That's So Cincinnati podcast this week to address all these questions and more in the wake of the Tamaya Dennard scandal.

Enquirer Opinion Editor Kevin Aldridge pinch hits as a co-host alongside political columnist Jason Williams, and they discuss the top contenders to replace Dennard on council.

Also, there was another special guest this week. You'll have to listen to find out who it was.

Democrats could have an open seat on Cincinnati City Council soon, with the possibility of Tamaya Dennard either resigning or being removed from office amid legal troubles.

Who could be in line to fill the seat? 

Cincinnati.com City Hall reporter Sharon Coolidge and political columnist Jason Williams broke down potential candidates on their That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. Here are some of the potential candidates they talked about:

Ryan DuPree: She's executive director of Walnut Hills-based Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship, where her parents – Bishop Michael Dantley and Pastor Carol Dantley – have led the congregation for decades. Bishop Dantley has been a supporter of Mayor John Cranley, who once attempted to hire Dupree to work on the mayor's staff. Dupree has never run for public office before, but she is widely liked by establishment and progressive Democrats. She sits on the board of the Community Action Agency, and her work and relationships have helped her gain a strong understanding of city issues. Dupree would bring a fresh perspective to City Hall, and there's a good chance she'd be the front-runner for the seat. 

Lesley Jones: The Mount Airy pastor is one of the city's leaders fighting for racial healing. Jones was an endorsed Democrat in the 2017 council race, her first attempt at political office. She finished 12th in a field race where the top nine win a seat. 

Alicia Reece: The one-time Cincinnati vice mayor and state lawmaker is currently running for Todd Portune's former seat on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. That blockbuster local primary between the Roselanwn resident and former state lawmaker Connie Pillich is a toss-up, and Reece's strong base of city Democratic support could lift her to victory. But if she loses, Reece will likely have party leaders pushing for her to get the seat. 

Sedrick Denson: The former City Hall aide to Councilman Wendell Young, Denson is in his first term as a state representative. He lives in Springfield Township, so he would have to move back into the city. 

Ozie Davis: The popular Avondale resident is well known in city politics. He recently sat on the Cincinnati Public Schools board, but lost his bid to keep the seat as a write-in candidate last fall. Davis was an endorsed Democrat for council in 2017, when he finished 11th in his first political race.

Also on this week's episode: SORTA board member and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber executive Brendon Cull talks in-depth about the Issue 7 transportation levy that'll be on the March ballot in Hamilton County.

No one knows Cincinnati politics better than Pete Witte, who some jokingly call the "Mayor of the West Side."

The West Price Hill resident and small business owner is plugged in with both Republicans and Democrats and he offers his insight and analysis on That's So Cincinnati about:

Plus, co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge offer their take on Murray's seat and Cranley's chances of winning statewide. 

David Mann sure sounds like he's going to run for Cincinnati mayor. 

But the city councilman isn't quite ready to go all in just yet.

"My wife and I are having a lot of conversations, and I'm talking to other people," Mann said on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast this week. "There seems to be some interest (from the community), and I'm continuing to look at it very actively."

Asked about a timetable for when he'll decided, the Clifton Democrat said: "If I'm going to think about it, I've got to start raising money. That's something I'm going to initiate soon. That's not an announcement. That kind of is a step in the process."

Mann, 80, talked more in-depth about why he wants to make another run at the mayor's seat, which he's held twice in his long career in public service.  He also talked about: 

Some say long-time Hamilton County trial Judge Robert Ruehlman is controversial.

There's no doubt he's tough – and can be tough-talking from the bench.

Ruehlman has been in the news a lot in the past year, notably for his public lambasting of Cincinnati City Council's so-called "Gang of Five" Democrats and for not hesitating to call ICE on suspected illegal immigrants. 

But there's also a human side to the West Side Republican. He showed that in an in-depth interview this week on The Enquirer's That's So Cincinnati podcast.

Specifically, Ruehlman went into details about how the case of early 1980s serial killer Michael Beuke has affected him. Ruehlman was the prosecutor on the case of the so-called "Mad Hitchhiker." Beuke, who was from West Price Hill, had gone on a nearly monthlong shooting spree across Greater Cincinnati in 1983. He committed his crimes after being picked up as a hitchhiker. 

Beuke was convicted that year for murdering one man and also found guilty for the attempted slayings of two other men. He was sentenced to the death penalty by then-Judge Norbert Nadel. The state executed Beuke in 2010. 

Here are some samples of Ruehlman's podcast interview reflecting on Beuke: 

• Ruehlman said Bueke's life is example of the dangers of bullying. The case made Ruehlman impress upon his seven children to never bully. "Everybody made fun of him because he was kind of funny looking. He was kind of frail. They called him 'Pukey Beuke'. And then one day he just decided he was gonna start killing people. ... You feel sorry for him, but he has a brutal killer." 

• Ruehlman called the Lucasville prison several times on the day Beuke was executed by lethal injection. Ruehlman, who became a judge in the late 1980s, said he kept getting reports that Beuke was still talking even after receiving the injection. "I was kind of nervous because, believe it or not, just from a religious point of view, I'd never been in favor of the death penalty. But I believe in following the law as a judge. Killing somebody? Yeah. I was involved in his execution. It was that the first person that I was (involved with in a death penalty case). It was hard, although he deserved it.

Ruehlman also addresses why he calls ICE. And he talks about life away from the bench, including his decadeslong passion for scuba diving and spearfishing. He regularly dives off Key West and in the Ohio River. Yes, the Ohio River. And you won't believe some of the things he's found at the bottom of the big muddy. 

Click the Audioboom link above to listen for free. Or subscribe and listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and most other listening platforms. 

It's a double-feature of guests this week on That's So Cincinnati.

Jean-François Flechet, owner of Taste of Belgium: He tells the unique story of how he went from crunching data at Nielsen to building a Cincinnati waffle-making empire. He offers a candid assessment of The Banks, where Flechet has one of his four restaurants. Flechet also discusses his efforts to help the restaurant industry overcome the stigma of substance abuse.

Gabe Davis, Hamilton County prosecutor candidate: The Democrat discusses why he's running for office; his background growing up as the son of a police officer; and what he would do if elected to the top office in local politics. He also has a message for those who are doubting whether he can win the primary.

Also this week, That's So Cincinnati co-hosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge address the issue of "waterless" fire hydrants, a public safety issue that has come to light in the wake of last fall's massive house blaze in North Avondale.

What other hydrants around town have low water pressure? The city has no idea, and fire officials are pushing City Hall to address the issue. 

It's hard to believe Bill Cunningham was once a Democrat who aspired to be elected judge in Hamilton County. 

He's long since become one of the Midwest's top conservative voices, closing in on 40 years of calling 'em like he sees 'em weekdays on 700 WLW. Cunningham's powerful mic has helped to thrust him into a new role in recent years – unofficial adviser to President Donald Trump. 

"He'll call me now and then and ask questions about what's happening," Cunningham told The Enquirer's weekly That's So Cincinnati podcast. "I give him my perspective on the Midwest. I tell him what I think he's doing right, what I think he's doing wrong. He wants to know how what he's doing is playing in Ohio. I give him my opinion and he likes it because I'm critical at times."

Also on That's So Cincinnati, Cunningham addressed his future; reflected on the day he was pressed into a career he never planned to have; and discussed his biggest regret in 38 years on the air. Here's more a sampling of the in-depth interview with Cunningham: 

Is 2022 it for Willie? 
Cunningham's contract is up in two years. 2022 will mark his 40th year on WLW. He said he's talked to recently retired Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Marty Brennaman about the process of retirement, but Cunningham hasn't decided yet whether he'll call it a career in 2022.

Cunningham's wife, Penny, retired from Ohio's First District Court of Appeals last year.

"We're both in good health, thank God," said Cunningham, 72, who can be heard 9 a.m. to noon weekdays and 9 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. "Penny wants to travel. We have a nice place in Florida at a club. My friends are there. Penny's reforming the bylaws of the club. We want to spend time together." 

Cunningham added: "But right now, (radio) is what I want to do. Penny knows when I get up in the morning, I'm motivated to do it."

'I was unnecessarily cruel'
Asked who his favorite all-time local has been, Cunningham said former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken. The question prompted Cunningham to reflect on the biggest regret of his radio career. 

It was in November 1993, after city of Cincinnati voters passed a charter amendment restricting certain legal rights for LGBT citizens. Roxanne Qualls was elected mayor that same election, and there were a lot of questions around town about her sexual preference.

Cunningham invited reporters to WLW's studios to talk about Qualls and the charter amendment. 

"With the media present, I asked if she is gay," Cunningham said on the podcast. "I shouldn't have done it. It was the biggest mistake and blunder that I made. It was a big news story at the time. But man, I thought about it. On a human level, I was unnecessarily cruel." 

Cunningham said he's seen Qualls one time since, sometime in the late 1990s. If he had the opportunity, Cunningham said, "I would apologize to her." 

Crossroads' Chuck Mingo is on the frontline of working to bring racial reconciliation to Greater Cincinnati. 

Thousands have gone through the megachurch's six-week "Undivided" program, which emphasizes people of different races and backgrounds to build long-term relationships.

Mingo joins That's So Cincinnati podcast to chat about the successful program he started; race relations in the city; Crossroads' growth; and making the leap of faith from a successful business career to ministry.

Also this week, TSC cohosts Jason Williams and Sharon Coolidge discuss the role "The Farm" banquet center played in local politics and the upcoming Hamilton County Democratic Party endorsement process.

The joys of winter camping, and Jason has goetta for the first time. 

Happy New Year, That's So Cincinnati listeners. 

Your favorite local podcast is out of the gate in 2020 with an insightful interview with attorney Brian Shrive, who's become a major player on the local political scene for his work on exposing the text-message scandal Cincinnati City Hall.

Shrive talks about overcoming personal tragedy and struggles with addiction to go onto a successful law career fighting for open government. 

That work began a decade ago, when Shrive became one of the biggest thorns in the side of then-Congresswoman Jean Schmidt. His behind-the-scenes work for Brad Wenstrup's 2012 Congressional campaign helped the Cincinnati physician pull off the primary upset.

Shrive also addresses why remains heavily critical of Cincinnati's streetcar. You won't want to miss this lively chat with one of the city's most influential rabble rousers.

What do Greater Cincinnati's political, business, media, entertainment and other top leaders want for the region in 2020? 

Nearly 20 regional leaders, including Joe Deters, Bill Cunningham, Alicia Reece and John Morris Russell, share what their New Year's resolutions are for Greater Cincinnati.

You won't want to miss this special short but engaging New Year's episode of That's So Cincinnati.