The GOP last week unanimously endorsed an openly gay candidate for Cincinnati City Council, believed to be the first time the local Republican Party has done that.

Whoop-dee-friggin'-doo, Seth Maney says. About his sexual orientation, that is.

A council member's sexual orientation is irrelevant to doing the job, the first-time candidate says, and Maney is taking clear aim in his campaign at a City Hall incumbent who he believes makes a big deal out of being gay – Democrat Chris Seelbach.

"Identity politics is a joke," Maney said. "As a gay man, I don’t believe that I owe him my vote because he happens to be gay. Does anyone?”

Maney added: "Why does that guy deserve a seat on council when he is talking about things that are irrelevant to the quality of life of people living, working and paying taxes in our city. He doesn’t, but he has name ID, so congrats."

The council race is not a head-to-head election, and Maney and Seelbach have worked together on Over-the-Rhine projects in the past. In fact, Maney donated to Seelbach's campaign in 2015, according to public records, a decision the Clifton resident says he now regrets.

But why is Maney on the offensive specifically about Seelbach? With a potential of 40 candidates vying for nine council seats in November, perhaps Maney is trying to draw a clear distinction between the two openly gay men in the race in an effort to build name recognition.

SEELBACH RESPONDS: “We’re surprised at Seth’s comments, given that he donated $250 to our re-election campaign this cycle, but wish him well," said Ariel Barat, Seelbach's campaign manager. "Chris's track record, having passed the most legislation of any member of council, and having been named by President Barack Obama as a White House 'Champion of Change' is something we're very proud of."

Seelbach became the city's first openly gay elected official in 2011, and he has pushed an LGBT-friendly agenda during his two terms. His efforts have helped him gain national attention, including being recognized by the White House in 2013. Also, Seelbach has indeed passed more legislation than anyone else on the current council, and he has a reputation of following through on his promises.

Seelbach is seeking a final term, and is in position to be named vice mayor if Yvette Simpson is elected mayor (and Seelbach wins re-election, of course).

CONFIDENT NEWCOMER: Maney is a brash 31-year-old real estate agent and developer who doesn't care about the historical significance of potentially becoming the first openly gay Republican elected to office in Hamilton County.

"I don't lead with it," Maney said. "I’ve been in my relationship for 2½ years, and if it comes up, it comes up. I tell people when it’s relevant. Let’s face it: It’s not the 1970s and I’m not Harvey Milk and neither is Chris. It’s 2017, right?”

By the way, Milk in 1977 became the first openly gay candidate elected in California. He was later assassinated.

GOP VIEW: Maney grew up in suburban Dayton, the son of "old-school, common-sense, business-minded Republicans." While studying political science at the University of Dayton, he did a project on Cincinnati's form of government. He moved here in 2013, but had not been active in the party.

That didn't matter to the Hamilton County GOP, which endorsed just three candidates after struggling to find folks to run for council beyond incumbent Amy Murray, Jeff Pastor and Maney.

He impressed GOP leaders during the endorsement process by touting the Republican ideals of individual rights, limited government, pro-public safety and pro-development. Maney was upfront with the endorsement committee about being gay.

"This is a matter that's personal to him and is of no concern politically," Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou said. He added he believes Maney has a "bright future" in politics.

CAN MANEY WIN? Maney is getting his campaign going later than most candidates, but the filing deadline isn't until Aug. 24. It's tough for a Republican to win in dark blue Cincinnati, let alone one with no name recognition.

Those challenges might have Maney on the offensive about Seelbach, perhaps part of a strategy that's purely political. As for the $250 campaign donation Maney gave Seelbach in September 2015, Maney said it was a decision he made along with the Over-the-Rhine-based development firm he worked for at the time. It turned out to be a "poor" decision, Maney said.

"Instead of donating to candidates and hoping for the best, I decided to run for City Council because the city needs leaders with real development experience," Maney said.

Nonetheless, Maney's unique story could help him catch voters' attention. And if the GOP money machine and developers get behind him, it could position Maney to contend in a field race where a candidate only needs to garner about 6 percent of the vote to win a seat.

'FOCUS ON ROLE OF GOV'T': Maney spent four years as vice president of the Over-the-Rhine Community Council before moving up the hill last year.

On the issues, Maney did not give a definitive answer on where he stands on the streetcar. His priorities would be on public safety; cleaning up blighted properties to build new homes; and redeveloping neighborhood business districts to create jobs.

"I care more about people who wake up and work for a living than what sort of sign needs to go on a bathroom," Maney said. "That doesn’t mean I don’t care about people who might identify differently than they were born. I’m human. I’m decent. But let’s focus on the role of government in our lives."

Politics Extra is a weekly column looking inside Greater Cincinnati and Ohio politics. It occasionally appears at other times throughout the week. Follow Enquirer political reporter Jason Williams on Twitter @jwilliamscincy.