BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In the world of politics, a campaign's true friends are the people and organizations who kick in money for the cause.
In the campaigns surrounding the Issue 11 stadium measure, the Broadway Commons camp seems to have more such friends while the riverfront group's friends have more money.
Broadway's campaign finance report includes contributions from 202 individuals and organizations and a $10,000 loan from the partnership that owns the parking lots that make up the bulk of the site at Broadway and Reading Road. Broadway's report totaled about $78,000.
The pro-riverfront Move Greater Cincinnati Forward finance report includes contributions from 47 individuals and organizations. The riverfront group's report totaled $88,500.
The sums are through Oct. 14. The total spent by each campaign will undoubtedly be higher. In fact, the pro-riverfront group is expected to report at least $200,000 more. Neither side has to reveal the rest of their contributions until after the election.
Broadway is urging a "yes" vote on Issue 11, which asks Hamilton County voters to create a county charter requiring any new Reds ballpark be built at Broadway.
The county and Reds already have a deal to build a new riverfront ballpark next to the Crown, at the site known as Baseball on Main or the "Wedge." The pro-riverfront campaign is urging a "no" vote to endorse the deal between the county and team.
The Broadway group's single biggest contribution was a $10,000 check from the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, which has long supported the idea of building a new ballpark at Broadway.
There were smaller contributions from die-hard Broadway fans, too, including a $3,000 check from Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin and a $100 check from former Cincinnati City Council member Bobbie Sterne.
Then there were the $10 checks from people like Theodore Gardner of Hyde Park and $25 checks from others like Kathryn Powers of Oakley.
"I see this as an absolutely unbelievable potential for strengthening the economic and the financial position of that area of our city," said Mr. Gardner. "The trickle down of that goes all the way down to the river."
Mrs. Powers said she was displaying Broadway yard signs and bumper stickers long before the issue became a political campaign. "We have been excited about the possibility of something happening in that neighborhood. Two of our sons live in Over-the-Rhine, and one works there," she said.
The Broadway group also got money from people who stand to profit from building a new stadium at the site. The campaign got the $10,000 loan from the majority landowners, and Debra Chavez gave $5,000. Her husband, Robert Chavez, runs the company that owns most of the Broadway land. Peter Guggenheim, a Chavez associate, gave $5,000. Broadway Campaign Coordinator Melisa Rottinghaus said the Broadway group is proud of its finance report.
"It reflects a broad base of community support for a good idea," she said. "To suggest that a couple of nearby property owners put money into a community project is something we're proud of, not ashamed of."
The pro-riverfront group also had contributors with something to gain. The Reds' check for $50,000 marked the campaign's single largest contribution, unsurprising since the team arguably has the most at stake in the campaign.
The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce gave $25,000 to the riverfront cause. Michael Schuster Associates, the architectural firm that has been promoting the riverfront site for more than two years, gave $2,500.
Well-known Cincinnati people and businesses also contributed. John P. Williams, president of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber, gave a personal contribution of $250. Seasongood & Mayer, one of Cincinnati's oldest investment firms, kicked in $5,000, and Dudley S. Taft, president and CEO of Taft Broadcasting Co., gave $1,000. Riverfront Campaign Chairman John Schneider said 85 percent of the group's funds reported to date came from two sources -- the chamber and the Reds.
"The speculators around the Broadway Commons site are going to take their money and run. The Reds have to live with this decision for 30 years," he said.
The chamber, he said, represents thousands of diverse businesses. The riverfront campaign also had some $25 checks from people like A.H. Barrows of Indian Hill and $50 checks from others like Harris K. Weston of East Walnut Hills.
"These stadiums are not only a magnet for downtown Cincinnati, but they are something for the out-of-town visitor, and you've got to remember the out-of-town visitor's convenience," Mr. Barrows said, adding he also believes parking will be more plentiful and convenient at the riverfront site.
Mr. Weston said he thinks the football and baseball stadiums should be close enough to share parking, and the riverfront site also seems closer to downtown's existing hotels and parking.
"It seems to me it's more important to maintain those facilities than to start in a new place and create new ones," he said.
