Jason Williams

jwilliams@enquirer.com

Politics Extra is a weekly column looking inside local politics

Greg Hartmann has completed his month-long conversion from Donald Trump critic to full-fledged supporter of the Republican presidential nominee.

The former Hamilton County commissioner on Thursday night met Trump, spoke briefly with him and wrote him a check during a private Republican National Committee fundraiser in Cleveland.

So what was The Donald like?

"He was relaxed, not the guy you see portrayed in the media," Hartmann told Politics Extra a few hours after the event. "He talked about how he's not a politician and how his (deceased) father wouldn't believe he's running for president. I found out his family travels with him on the campaign. It was a good look in the personal window for people like me who were not for him in the beginning."

It's been quite a Trump transformation for Hartmann, who had been the most outspoken local Republican leader about rejecting a Trump presidency ahead of the March primary. "He stands for a lot of things I don't stand for, including alienating every minority group," Hartmann told The Enquirer in December. "He's the most offensive public figure I've seen, and people need to start saying that."

But Hartmann, who supported Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the presidential primary, has backed off his criticism of Trump. It started last month, when Hartmann was part of the Hamilton County Republican Party executive committee's unanimous vote to endorse The Donald. Hartmann still doesn't agree with everything Trump says, but "the alternative is worse," referring to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Hartmann then helped organize the trip to Cleveland with about 15 others from Cincinnati, including Western & Southern CEO John Barrett, JTM Food Group CEO Tony Maas, former Watson's owner Don Oeters and county commissioner candidate Andrew Pappas.

During his few minutes speaking with Trump, Hartmann said: “I told him that his message of bringing change to Washington is one that resonates in Ohio, and the more he sticks to being the change candidate, then he can win this thing."

Hartmann added: "He realizes Cincinnati is important, and he appreciated us being there."

The Hyde Park resident said he was impressed by the statewide coordination of the event, which was in a private home. Leaders from Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati worked together on organizing the event. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Ohio GOP boss Matt Borges were among the 300 people who attended. Hartmann, who chaired George W. Bush's 2004 presidential campaign in Hamilton County, said he'd never seen GOP leaders and donors from across the state come together for a fundraiser like they did Thursday.

"Ohio is a parochial state," Hartmann said. "I thought it was important that we showed unity."

Hartmann has no regrets about changing his mind on Trump.

"I recognized tonight why I’m for him now: He represents people like me who want a change in Washington and don't believe regular Republican candidates can bring that change. He certainly can," Hartmann said.

Tweet crosses line

OK, Dusty Rhodes, we get it. You don't like the streetcar. Fine. But for an elected official to praise and promote what many view as a racist song about the streetcar is way overstepping it.

In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Hamilton County's Democratic auditor gave a "hats off" to 700 WLW's Bill Cunningham "for playing Art Lund's 1952 recording of 'Cincinnati Ding Dong' in honor of the grand and glorious streetcar." Rhodes also re-tweeted anti-streetcar group COASTs link to an audio clip of the song. (Politics Extra is intentionally not linking to it.)

The chorus: "Choo-chow, ching-chong, Cincinnati, ding-dong. It's just a trolley streetcar folk ride in Hong Kong China, hey-hey, hey-hey." Lund sings in a stereotypical Asian accent.

Only ding-dongs like this song.

Chabot calls QB 'punk'

In his weekly blog/newsletter, Congressman Steve Chabot slammed President Barack Obama for being silent on the rash of homicides in his hometown of Chicago but having something to say about Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has been sitting during the national anthem before games in protest because he says police mistreat African-Americans.

Obama said he doesn't doubt Kaepernick's sincerity and the quarterback "cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about."

"Give me a break, Mr. President," Chabot, a Westwood Republican, wrote. "I noticed that you failed to comment on this highly-paid punk's socks which portrayed cops as pigs. Not very respectful towards a group of people who put their lives on the line for us when they put on that uniform every day. Mr. President, you can have Kaepernick – I’ll take the cops any day."

Kaepernick has opened himself to criticism, and the socks he wore during a recent practice were in very poor taste. Politics Extra commends Chabot for backing the blue. But is it necessary for a United States Congressman to publicly call anyone – no less, an athlete who plays in a city 2,400 miles away from Chabot's district – a "punk" for peacefully exercising his First Amendment right?

Micro scoops & more

• Godspeed, Kevin Flynn. Your genuine commitment to good government and transparency on City Council will be missed.

• Congratulations to Kellie Wise, who got engaged last month. Kellie is chief of staff for Hamilton County Commissioner Dennis Deters.

• Sam Malone will run for City Council next year, the Republican told The Enquirer's Dan Horn. The former councilman has been at the center of questions surrounding $331,000 he was paid for consulting for the Metropolitan Sewer District. "Sam Malone works for the people," Malone said. "I've never wavered from that. I don't believe in squandering taxpayer resources."

• In this day of nasty partisan politics, kudos to GOP mover-and-shaker Chip Gerhardt for bringing local Republican and Democratic politicians and candidates together for a happy-hour event Tuesday in Over-the-Rhine. Both parties were well-represented at The Transept event center.

• Norwood City Councilman James Bonsall has worked tirelessly to solicit donations to help families displaced by last month's flooding. His generosity has gone beyond that. In an Aug. 29 Facebook post, Bonsall offered to open his home to anyone who needed a place to stay for the night. "Hot shower and cereal for breakfast included," he wrote, also posting his cell number. Bonsall told Politics Extra no one took him up on it, but he did tell us TriHealth has donated supplies and a $5,000 check to help with clean-up efforts. #norwoodstrong

• It's official: Everyone in Cincinnati has now weighed in on Big 12 Conference expansion. The Hamilton County Transportation Improvement District board sent a letter to Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby last week touting construction on the two main highway interchanges that lead to the University of Cincinnati's campus. In the four-paragraph letter, Hamilton County Commissioner and TID Chairman Todd Portune and county Engineer Ted Hubbard say the new I-71/Martin Luther King Drive and I-75/Hopple Street interchanges "will vastly improve travel to and from UC's main campus, Nippert Stadium and Fifth Third Arena."

Follow Enquirer local politics reporter Jason Williams on Twitter @jwilliamscincy. Send tips, questions and comments to jwilliams@enquirer.com.