Mr. Bedinghaus, who has shown signs of wanting to climb to a higher rung on the political ladder some day, has his future hanging on the lease agreement he and fellow commissioner Tom Neyer Jr. signed with the Bengals. In Cincinnati, Mike Brown won the title because he didn't leave town. But there is not much Hamilton County voters can do about Mr. Brown, aside from calling radio talk shows and making rude remarks. Mr. Bedinghaus, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. He has to put his name on the ballot and run for re-election to keep his job.
Voters sometimes have selective memories.
For example, they could forget entirely that it was they who passed a county sales tax increase to fund the new Bengals stadium and a ballpark for the Reds, opening the gate to the rather generous lease agreement the commissioners negotiated with the Bengals. They can't vote to disenfranchise themselves for being asleep at the wheel, so they have to look elsewhere to place the blame. Running countywide is usually murder for Democrats, but there are potential candidates this time around. Marilyn Hyland, who ran and lost in her first race last year against Mr. Neyer, already has announced she is a candidate for Mr. Bedinghaus' seat. But there are Democratic Party leaders who would like a better-known name on the ballot, someone who could raise more money.