Mayor's race evolves into real contest
9/11 shadowed first strong-mayor primary
By Gregory Korte
Enquirer staff writer
After failing to field a candidate in 2001, the Hamilton County Republican Party has endorsed former Councilman Charlie Winburn to run against three established Democrats.
Boy-band singer Justin P. Jeffre has brought international attention to the race - if only on the celebrity pages. Hundreds of newspapers picked up an Enquirer story - via the Associated Press - on bandmate Nick Lachey's appearance at a Jeffre rally on Fountain Square last weekend.
Two incumbent council members - Pepper and vice mayor Alicia Reece - are running for mayor, guaranteeing at least two seats on City Council will turn over. That has contributed to a record field of 31 council candidates - nine Democrats, four Republicans, four Charterites and 15 independents.
But the biggest difference is probably the size of the field. Seven people - at least four of whom are well-known figures - are competing to become one of two mayoral candidates to appear on the November ballot,
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