By Dan Klepal
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jean Siebenaler and Phil Heimlich are each trying to accomplish something unique on the Hamilton County Commission.

Ms. Siebenaler, 48, is vying to become just the second woman ever elected to the commission; Mr. Heimlich, 49, wants to reduce spending and taxes by running the county like a business.

Ms. Siebenaler, a Democrat, and Mr. Heimlich, a Republican, are running against one another for the commission seat being vacated by Tom Neyer.

Mr. Heimlich, a four-term veteran on Cincinnati City Council, said he wants all county departments to be reviewed by an outside auditor so that they run more efficiently.

He wants the same treatment for every special levy placed on ballots. Special levies are property taxes used to fund such programs as those for the mentally ill, mentally handicapped and the elderly.

"I want to run the county like a business," Mr. Heimlich said.

Ms. Siebenaler is most concerned about the county's loss of population, particularly young people.

She said county officials need to be more willing to work with the city to solve racial problems and make the county a tolerant, accepting place for people of all races and sexual orientations.

Mr. Heimlich, who has been repeatedly called "divisive" during the campaign, said he accomplished much during his tenure on city council: a teen curfew, hiring 200 additional police officers, citizens on patrol programs and ordinances to keep strip clubs off the riverfront.

He was known as a budget hawk who was often critical of city spending and investigated a variety of programs receiving tax dollars.

Ms. Siebenaler is a Navy veteran who served as a Naval medical officer and family practitioner. She said those diverse life experiences - she was chief medical officer on a submarine - have given her the experience and leadership skills to navigate the county's tricky political landscape.

"I don't have a political record to run on. I have life experience to run on," Ms. Siebenaler said, adding that Mr. Heimlich's record on city council also includes no votes for things such as a citizen police oversight panel, an anti-racial profiling law and a youth summer jobs program.

Mr. Heimlich believes property taxes must come down to keep people in the county.

"Our property tax rate is higher than any of the surrounding counties," Mr. Heimlich said. "It's four times as high as Warren County. Are we getting four times the service? I don't think so."

E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com