This is not your grandfather's Grand Old Party. The five Republican candidates for Cincinnati City Council are young, moderate and predominantly black.

        “We're trying to demonstrate to the area at large that we're not just some old, stuffy social club. We've got young, bright, progressive minds,” said Hamilton County GOP Chairman Michael Barrett.

        In interviews, the five candidates talk about the same issues, almost as if reciting talking points. Crime and financial responsibility are at the top of the list.

        The Republicans also support a plan to roll back the city's 5.4-mill property tax over five years as a way of promoting home ownership.

        The GOP's 2001 ticket includes incumbents Pat DeWine and Chris Monzel, and challengers Tom Jones, Sam Malone and Todd Ward.

        • Mr. DeWine, 33, is a lawyer from Mount Lookout.

        He first won a seat on City Council two years ago, helped in part by his name recognition (he is the son of U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio) and a $350,000 campaign warchest.

        This year, he continues to be the best-financed candidate. And with Phil Heimlich's departure and the GOP's failure to run a candidate for mayor, he's vying to become the top Republican in the city.

        “Pat's kind of the senior statesman of the crew. He's the quarterback of the team,” Mr. Barrett said.

        He has campaigned almost exclusively on the crime issue, although he failed to get the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police. The police union is upset with Mr. DeWine over his support of a racial profiling ordinance and for Issue 5, a civil service reform measure.

        • Mr. Jones, 57, owns a printing shop and lives in Avondale.

        He is best known as the outspoken president of the Avondale Community Council — a job he lost Saturday when the council's board ousted him.

        “Fighting crime and safety in a predominately black neighborhood is not a particularly popular position to be in,” he said. “When I declared my candidacy and they found out I was a Republican, it only increased their hatred for me.”

        He said fighting crime will continue to be his top issue.

        • Mr. Malone, 30, is a banker from Bond Hill.

        At a diminutive 5-foot-4, the Navy veteran boasts that he is the shortest candidate in the field.

        He's been a vocal opponent of Issue 5, the civil service reform plan that he says will politicize the police division.

        He's even called for a grand jury investigation into unnamed council members who, according to Police Chief Tom Streicher, came close to interfering with the probe into the police shooting of Timothy Thomas. Chief Streicher has said some council members pressured him to release information that could have jeopardized the investigation.

        • Mr. Monzel, 33, is an aeronautical engineer at General Electric Aircraft Engines.

        He lives in Winton Place — not exactly a Republican stronghold.

        “I hate to use George W. Bush's term of compassionate conservatism, but that's what I've always believed,” he said. “I want to live it. That's why we chose to live in Winton Place. For me, that's part of walking the walk.”

        Appointed to council this year to replace the departing Charlie Winburn, Mr. Monzel is one of the more vulnerable incumbents is many people's eyes.

        “People say with a white male Republican, it's an uphill battle — especially without name recognition. Unless your dad is a U.S. senator or developed a medical maneuver, it's tough,” he said. “But I think we're going to win in November.”

        • Mr. Ward, 35, is an accountant from Pleasant Ridge.

        As a former chief legislative aide for Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Mr. Ward said he has the clout to lobby for Cincinnati's interests in Columbus.

        “I have a direct connection to the secretary of state, the Department of Development and the Senate president,” he said. “At this point, I don't think any other candidate can say that.”

        Mr. Ward is also a leading spokesman for the non-incumbent candidates. He said the challengers have “bonded” on the campaign trail in such a way that “the non-incumbents who actually get elected will jell and actually get something done.”

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