Cincinnati mayoral primary pits Pureval against two first-time candidates
Just about everyone recognizes Cincinnati's current mayor.
Aftab Pureval has built the kind of strong name recognition in a heavily Democratic city that should make him a virtual shoo-in for reelection in November.
But that doesn't dissuade two challengers from trying to upset the political applecart in the May primary two weeks from today.
Brian Frank and Cory Bowman understand the uphill nature of their campaign battle.
They are first-time candidates who are making the rounds 바카라 게임 웹사이트 community council meetings, various events, retail politics at ground level 바카라 게임 웹사이트 to try to get some name recognition juice of their own.
Sixty-six-year-old retired P&G executive Brian Frank combines a serious, issues-oriented manner with a dash of surprise humor.
When we mentioned Aftab, he did not miss a beat.
"Who?" he said, deadpanning.
On Easter Monday, just as on most days, he attached a "Honk If You Love The USA" sign on the bridge over Columbia Parkway and waved with the enthusiasm of a long-lost friend.
His "Make Cincinnati Great Again" campaign theme might suggest a Trump-like orientation to his candidacy.
But he waves off any MAGA versus Aftab thinking.
"That would be a mischaracterization," he said. "I'm a conservative Republican, but I'm not a MAGA Republican."
Frank said he supported Pureval initially but lost faith in his leadership along the way.
He is particularly animated about pursuing a tram development that would link his Mount Adams neighborhood with Hard Rock Casino on the edge of downtown.
The city has been down the tram road before without success, due in part to the problem of crossing over Interstate 71.
Frank has a three-word answer to that barrier: "Sen. Bernie Moreno."
Frank believes Moreno would be open to the kind of tram development that exists in his home country of Colombia.
He normally wears Republican red while campaigning, but draped a rosary over a white shirt because of the death of Pope Francis, who once famously said, "Who am I to judge?"
"I am openly gay," Frank told us. "I don't naturally go out and share that with public. But I have widely been known to support Equality Cincinnati."
The city's stance in support of LGBTQ+ issues remains a contentious issue during a time when the new Federal administration adopted a policy to recognize only two genders, male and female.
"My heart goes out to all of those who feel an oppression based on their gender," Frank said.
Cory Bowman, 36, reflected a heart-on-sleeve approach as well, walking into his Kings Arms Coffeehouse in the West End where he is a minister.
Bowman is also the half-brother of the nation's vice president, who he considers a role model.
We asked if he might pull JD Vance in for a rally this summer or fall if he makes the cut.
"I'd rather pull him in just to have lunch with him cause he's my older brother," Bowman said. "But at the same time, what I tell people is that we're running for the city of Cincinnati."
Like Frank, Bowman has centered himself on local issues such as reducing gun violence and bringing greater attention to struggling neighborhoods like the West End.
"We believe in this community," he said with an earnest tone.
Bowman described a front-row seat to certain policies that he maintained were failing the city, saying that while downtown is amazing, the other sections of the city are not getting the attention they deserve.
Both challengers talk a lot about improving basic public services.
"I take them as good faith people who actually believe the things that they're saying," Pureval said. "I profoundly disagree with many of them."
Bowman and Frank are hoping snow removal frustrations will melt some of the mayor's support in the primary voting.
"There was a whole week where customers couldn't come to my shop because of snow and there was no removal that was happening in our area," Bowman said.
"I feel embarrassed that we can't do basic things like keep our streets clean of snow in the wintertime," Frank said.
Both say they're running to give city voters a choice.
In two weeks, we'll know which two of the three will run in November. Given how very blue the city is politically, the May 6 drama will be whether it's Brian Frank or Cory Bowman.