By Cindi Andrews
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - The candidates for Ohio's third congressional district bickered over whose experience is more relevant in a joint interview Thursday at The Cincinnati Enquirer's North Newsroom.

Former Dayton Mayor Mike Turner, a Republican, and Rick Carne, chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Tony Hall, are competing to take the place of Mr. Hall, a Dayton Democrat who resigned to be a U.N. ambassador. Mr. Turner was defeated last year in his run for a third term as mayor, Mr. Carne noted, and Mr. Turner noted that Mr. Carne quit as Montgomery County treasurer just 10 months after being elected to the job.

"I have eight years of being the elected official who was directly responsible to the community," Mr. Turner said. "I was not staff."

Mr. Carne responded: "I would argue that being a chief of staff is pretty darn important and gives you much more experience than being mayor of 160,000 people. ... I know my way around Washington."

The two have not taken vastly different positions on most issues. For instance, both say they would have voted for the recent resolution authorizing President Bush to use force against Iraq, although Mr. Carne said he was concerned about earlier drafts that would have allowed the use of force elsewhere in the region as well.

Both candidates live in Montgomery County, but as a result of redistricting, the third district has shifted so that a quarter of its population is in Warren, Clinton and Highland counties.

The new, more GOP-friendly lines and Mr. Hall's retirement had Washington pundits calling the race a potentially close one early this year. However, it has slid into the "likely Republican" category since Mr. Turner handily thrashed wealthy publisher Roy Brown in the GOP primary.

Now the race isn't even getting much attention in Warren County, although the winner will represent residents north of Lebanon and in part of Mason. The Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce did not invite Mr. Turner and Mr. Carne to a candidate forum Wednesday.

Warren County is getting the candidates' attention, however. It holds 13 percent of the third district's votes, and Clinton and Highland counties combine to contribute another 13 percent, Mr. Carne said. All three are key areas for Mr. Turner because they tilt Republican, unlike Dayton.

Both candidates said partisan politics are not a primary concern when it comes to meeting local needs, touting their ability to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

"One of the biggest problems we have in transportation in this state ... is the county and rural roads," Mr. Carne said.

Mr. Turner noted that Ohio does not get back as much federal transportation money as it sends to Washington and promised to work with other southwest Ohio Republicans to change that.

A Turner win would give the GOP a lock on southwest Ohio, with West Chester Township's John Boehner, Terrace Park's Rob Portman and Cincinnati's Steve Chabot all expected to coast to re-election.

Mr. Carne said having at least one Democratic representative could be helpful if the Democrats win back the U.S. House.

E-mail candrews@enquirer.com