Lee Speidel's political strength might not have been enough to propel him onto the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees, but look out for his right hook.

        Mr. Speidel, a critic of the current board and chairman of the Zoning Commission, broke a podium while making a point at trustees' Sept. 10 meeting.

        “This township is going to economic ruin,” he said, striking the podium. Crack! “And you are taking us there.”

        Mr. Speidel has not received a bill for the damage, he said Tuesday, and township officials did not return calls inquiring whether a bill would be forthcoming.

        “A lot of good, outdoor farm work will do wonders, I guess,” said Mr. Speidel, who raises livestock and hay in Deerfield. He ran unsuccessfully for trustee in 2001.

        Lining up support: Another Deerfield resident, Carolyn Tepe, is attracting some heavy hitters to her campaign for Warren County commissioner — despite running as a Democrat in a strongly Republican area. Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes was to speak at her $75-a-plate campaign kickoff Tuesday night at the Manor House in Mason.

        More surprisingly, the fund-raiser was hosted by a dozen Tristate homebuilders, including Ralph Drees, Robert Rhein and Henry Fisher.“I was very concerned about taking money from a PAC in the beginning,” said Ms. Tepe, who also was endorsed by the Homebuilders Association of Greater Cincinnati. However, in talking to the builders, she said, she found they agreed on the importance of balancing Warren's affluent homes with more affordable housing.

        “That's important to them, and it's very important to me,” Ms. Tepe said.

        On the other hand, her opponent — 20-year incumbent Mike Kilburn — has angered the builders by advocating impact fees of $5,000 to $10,000 for every new house built in the county.

        Numbers change: The Butler County Republican Party's new headquarters keeps getting bigger all the time, and construction hasn't even started yet. Last week the building was said to be four times the size of the current 1,000-square-foot office, according to party official Scott Lepsky.

        Mr. Lepsky has since amended his numbers: The current office is 2,000 square feet, he says now, and the new building, at Ohio 4 and Milliken Road, will be 8,000 square feet.

        On Oct. 15, the Enquirer will publish its second “Great Neighborhoods” section, focusing this time on Mason and Deerfield Township.

        Readers in those areas of southern Warren County are encouraged to send the Enquirer any questions they would like their elected officials to address. These questions can be on virtually any topic: development, schools, crime trends or any other concern. A selection of questions and answers will be featured in the section.

        Questions can be mailed to: The Cincinnati Enquirer, Great Neighborhoods, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069. Or, fax questions to (513) 755-4150, or e-mail dsewell@enquirer.com. Include name, address, e-mail address and telephone number (that information won't be printed without your permission).

        In addition, the Mason/Deerfield “Great Neighborhoods” section will feature photos submitted by readers. If you have a favorite snapshot that depicts life in those communities, you may submit it to the address above, or e-mail an image to dhofmeister@enquirer.com.

        Photos must have been taken in Mason or Deerfield and should be no more than a year old. Please attach a note with the names of those in the picture, the photographer's name and your telephone number.

        Photographs mailed to the Enquirer will not be returned.

        The deadline for submission is Oct. 4.

        Tips and comments may be relayed to Cindi Andrews via e-mail: candrews@enquirer.com; fax, 755-4150; or phone, 755-4157.

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