Http://tinyurl.com/2f5l95x Republican Ticket-Split
Yost Attacks Pepper for Project Pushed by Portman, DeWine
Ad Blames Pepper for Project Planned, Funded While Pepper in Law School;
Groundbreaking Occurred While Pepper was a Law Clerk
Cincinnati, OH -- October 19, 2010)-- Yesterday, Republican candidate for Auditor Dave Yost topped even his prior strange and discredited claims. He launched an ad in Cincinnati that blamed Pepper for a transit center in downtown Cincinnati that was designed, approved, funded and largely completed beforePepper ever entered public office.
In fact, Pepper was still in law school when most of the planning work was done on the project. The formal groundbreaking occurred when he was still a law clerk (1999). And the project was near completion when he arrived at City Council in December 2001.
Ironically, while Pepper was not involved in the project’s planning or implementation, two prime supporters of the project are currently on the ticket with Dave Yost. Both Rob Portman, as Congressman, and Mike DeWine, as Senator, advocated for the project to receive federal funding, and spoke at the dedication of the project in 2002.(See below photos)
At the dedication ceremony, then-Senator DeWine said: "This is an integral part of making the new riverfront work." Enquirer, July 4, 2009.
“With a record of more than doubling spending in just seven years, it’s no wonder Yost is desperately attacking Pepper with strange, flatly false attacks,” said Anne Sesler of the Pepper campaign. "Yost should raise his concerns with candidates Portman and DeWine, rather than blaming Pepper for a project that took place before he entered public office.”
Timeline on Riverfront Transit Center
www.cincinnati-transit.net/transitcenter.html Transit Center becomes part of Fort Washington Way revitalization plan, 1998
Funding provided in 1998-1999 (City, state and federal)
Official groundbreaking, Nov. 5, 1999
Primary construction, outside structure, 1999-2000 (outside structure)
see photos on website showing major progress in 2000,
http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/fww-2000tou... Construction of interior takes place, 2001
Pepper takes office December 1, 2001
Transit center first opened for use September 1, 2002
Official dedication, May 19, 2003 (featuring Rob Portman and Mike DeWine)