Mental Health Recovery Services of Warren and Clinton Counties could soon lose its executive director. Bill Harper, who has led the agency for 8 1/2 years, is a finalist for the same job in Lorain County, near Cleveland, he confirmed Tuesday.

Lorain has an estimated population of more than 286,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, compared with a combined total of 210,000 in Clinton and Warren. Also, Mr. Harper noted that he grew up in the Cleveland area, “so it'd be sort of like going home for me.”

He doesn't expect any decisions to be made before the Nov. 5 election, in which the Warren/Clinton agency is seeking a 1-mill replacement levy.

If it doesn't pass, Mental Health officials say, an additional 1,000 people will have to wait for help and 28 jobs could be eliminated at the private agencies that Mental Health hires to provide services.

Us vs. them: The fallout continues over the feud between Cincinnati Councilman John Cranley and Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox over the proposed Liberty interchange, east off the Fox Highway at Interstate 75.

Last week, upon hearing of Mr. Cranley's plan to kill the interchange project, West Chester Administrator Dave Gully cracked: “In order to get a new interchange built in the state of Ohio, you have to literally kiss everybody's butt to get it approved. Apparently Cranley's is so small we missed it.”

So what does Mr. Cranley have to say to that?

“I would never betray the region with a kiss, no matter what cheek Mr. Gully plants it on.”

Jennifer Edwards

To be a fly on the wall: Mr. Cranley and Mr. Fox confirmed Tuesday that they plan to privately meet Friday at a Kenwood restaurant to try to hash out their differences.

A mutual friend of the two helped to broker the sit-down.

But don't start singing “Kumbaya” just yet.

“I don't have illusions that somehow we can sprinkle fairy dust on it and it all goes away,” Mr. Fox said. “It's just not an option to sit here and let Cincinnati launch grenades from the safety of the riverbank.”

Jennifer Edwards

The vacation must go on: A very green candidate for state senator is realistic about his chances Nov. 5.

Democrat Tony Fischer, 24, of Mount Lookout is vying against Robert Schuler, 59, a Sycamore Township Republican who previously served as a state representative.

They're competing to replace Ohio Senate President Richard Finan of Evendale, who has been forced out of his 7th District seat by term limits. The district includes eastern Hamilton County and all of Warren County.

“Schuler will win,” Mr. Fischer says bluntly. “The people in Warren County tend to vote Republican. They don't have a connection with the city of Cincinnati. This is nothing against them, but there's more of a feeling that they're separate.”

Win or lose, Mr. Fischer arrives in the United Kingdom for vacation on Nov. 6. He wants to tour Edinburgh and London, and then perhaps consider another run for public office.

Susan Vela

One and all are invited to a candidates forum 6-9 tonight at the Kings Island Resort and Conference Center in Mason.

Organized by the Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce, it will feature the candidates for Warren County commissioner and the 7th District of the Ohio Senate.

Three issues also are on the evening's agenda:

The Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities levy.

The Mental Health Recovery Services levy.

The initiative to increase the Deerfield Township Board of Trustees to five members.

Ask away: Lebanon will be the subject of the Cincinnati Enquirer's third Great Neighborhoods section, scheduled to arrive with your paper Nov. 19. Among the features planned is one answering readers' questions about politics, services and other issues in Lebanon.

Please send any burning questions, along with your name, address and daytime phone number, to the e-mail address or fax number listed below.

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

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