Sunday, October 16, 2005

Enquirer Poised to Follow SWNID in Mayoral Endorsement

Today's Cincinnati Enquirer includes an excellent two-page spread on mayoral finalists Mark Mallory and David Pepper. Despite the fact that the stories run in "Forum," the Sunday opinion section, they are presented as straightforward reporting rather than opinion.

However, it won't take readers long to see where the paper's sentiments lie. Pepper is treated respectfully but with due note that many City Council members and local activists don't believe that he's been particularly effective. Mallory, on the other hand, is presented with nary a negative comment, except for the predicatably negative Tom Brinkman.

The candidates' lists of endorsements is notable as well. Pepper boasts the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police, who, in light of their announcement of the endorsement, have apparently extracted a promise from Pepper to hire more policemen. FOP President Keith Fangman whined that the number of Cincinnati police has declined since the 1970s, ignoring that the city's population has declined even more sharply.

Meanwhile, Mallory boasts the endorsement of Hamilton County's delegation to the Ohio Statehouse, including such Republican luminaries as Bill Seitz.

SWNID notes that these stories clearly are a prelude to an endorsement, and we are glad that the Enquirer is going to endorse the right candidate.

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