Mr. Hayes is president of the P. M. Group, the company that redeveloped the Huntington Meadows apartment complex in Bond Hill. And the first contribution came just two weeks before the Finance Committee — which Mr. Tillery chaired — approved a $3.5 million city subsidy.

        The project has come under increasing scrutiny lately as the complex is in bankruptcy and hundreds of tenants have been evicted.

        The contributions were completely legal, and there's no evidence that Mr. Hayes was attempting to buy influence at City Council.

        Matthew C. Wick, who worked for Mr. Hayes and put together the Huntington Meadows deal, explained the contributions:

        “I basically do what my political consultants tell me,” he said. “Political contributions are kind of like marketing, or advertising. If you don't advertise, and you don't succeed, you say, 'I should have spent the money.' If you spend the money and you do succeed, you say, 'I shouldn't have wasted my money.' ”

        Mr. Wick, who has since branched out on his own, has contributed $9,500 to candidates for statewide office since 1998, mostly to Republican causes. (At $4,250, Gov. Bob Taft's campaign has been the biggest recipient.)

        “I'm finding there's no relationship between the contributions and what you do. It's more like a good-luck charm around your neck. I've never asked any of these candidates to do anything for me, to be honest. I hope I never have to.”

        Candidate watch: Two-time candidate for City Council Sam Malone (he came in 12th in 2001, 3,280 votes out of the running) spoke of declaring war on the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County's plan to close the Bond Hill Branch and four others.

        In a symbolic and sure-to-be controversial press conference in October, he plans to burn books in front of the branch library.

        “I'm going to be honest with you. We're going to make this political, because that's what it is,” he said.

        So is he running for something?

        Maybe, Mr. Malone said. But he said he's busy working on the library issue and spoke more in terms of 2005 — or beyond.

        Schedule change: City Council's meeting this week will be at noon on Thursday. It was moved back a day because of the Labor Day holiday, and moved ahead from the usual 2 p.m. start time so council members can attend the 143rd annual Harvest Home Parade, which kicks off at 5 p.m.

        City Hall reporter Gregory Korte can be reached at 768-8391 or e-mail: gkorte@enquirer.com.

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