What's with the TV ads for "Ohio's Tax Team" that are being shown around here?

The ads criticize state Sen. Mike Shoemaker and gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan, both Democrats, for supporting tax increases. Mr. Hagan, of course, is on the state ballot. But who's Mike Shoemaker?

He's a veteran state legislator; currently, a state senator who represents eastern Pickaway, Ross, Scioto, Jackson, Vinton, Lawrence, Meigs and Gallia counties. Some of that area gets Cincinnati TV.

The Republican State Senate Campaign Committee thinks Mr. Shoemaker's beatable.

Gov. Gilligan II?: You can't vote in this race, but it sure is interesting that the next governor of Kansas may well be Kathleen Sebelius, the 54-year-old daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan.

Mrs. Sebelius, a Democrat like her dad, is the former insurance commissioner of Kansas. She was born in Cincinnati and got married in the governor's mansion in 1974. Mr. Gilligan is now a Cincinnati school board member.

Raussen TV: Remember the flap over House Speaker Larry Householder trying his best to engineer an easy primary win for Republican Jim Raussen in the new 28th Ohio House District?

Well, Mr. Householder is now doing his best to get Mr. Raussen elected in the general election. His committee is paying for TV ads touting Mr. Raussen, who's trying to unseat Democrat Wayne Coates.

Caught in the web: In an effort to publicize "the truth about Joe Deters," his election opponent has bought up his name on the Web.

Democrat Mary Boyle, hoping to oust the incumbent state treasurer, unveiled www.joedeters.com, a web site attacking his record and practices as a statewide elected official.

The Deters campaign website is www.deters2002.com. Ms. Boyle's main site is www.maryboyle2002.com.

Hey, it's news: Treasurer Joe Deters, featured in a Dateline NBC special daling with the Maryland sniper shootings, criticized his election opponent for calling the news report free advertising for his campaign.

The news report focused on the case of Joseph Paul Franklin, who fatally shot two Cincinnati teenagers in 1980. The crime was one of the last Mr. Deters tried in 1998 as Hamilton County prosecutor.

Mr. Deters' campaign officials said Democrat Mary Boyle contacted NBC stations across Ohio, urging them to either not run the piece or grant her equal time under the Federal Communications Act.

Sierra billboards: The environmental group the Sierra Club has put its money where its mouth is when it comes to Issue 7, the mass transit initiative that would raise Hamilton County's sales tax by a half-cent to help pay for a $2.6 billion light rail system.

The group has not only endorsed the plan, but is buying several radio spots in favor of the issue. In addition, the Sierra Club has spent $3,500 for a billboard along Interstate 75. The sign, in a particularly congested section of the freeway, says, "Wouldn't You Rather Be Riding On A Train Right Now?"

Enquirer news services