Part 2 of the Todd Portune Interview

For part 1 of the interview, please click here

Steve Fritsch: Many County Commissioners have gone on to state or national office. Do you have any goals to do that down the road?

I don't know. I mean, I'm not going to sit here and tell you absolutely not. I like where I am, I like what I'm doing. I have young children who I would hate to uproot again. We just uprooted recently and I would hate to do that again. I don't know. People have... it's no secret that people are talking to me and approaching me about 2006. As a Democrat, the key to winning Ohio is to do well in Southwest Ohio. And for a Democrat to win in Hamilton County is rather unheard of. But my margin of victory this past November was huge, 60,000 votes. It was a real win. And I think I've cemented a base countywide here. So from a statewide perspective, that's very attractive to the folks in Columbus when they look at the races that are up in 2006. But, I don't know. I'm not all that motivated for it. But, Lord knows we have got good issues here...

Daniel Brown: As a leading Democrat, how would you define the so-called moral issues and how do you think the Democrats have poorly defined them. Because that's a question that's national, state, local...

Well, I look at moral issues as how you want to be treated yourself and how you want to treat other people. I look at moral issues a little bit about, from a standpoint of faith, not so much doctrinal faith, but do you believe in a creator? And whether you're afraid to express the fact that you believe in a creator.

Where Democrats have really dropped the ball, is Democrats have not been willing to - this is a broad general stereotypical statement. I mean there exceptions to this obviously across the board - but as a party or platform, the Democrats appear to not have been willing to allow for any room of discussion of those themes.

Brown: Are you describing them as religious or spiritual?

Yes, yes. Or for there to be any variations in what some people say are the "nuts and bolts" issues of, let's say, women's rights and choice and abortion. See, I think you can support Roe vs. Wade, you can support the retention of Roe vs. Wade, and not support every form, every iteration of abortion at every time every step of the way. That is not what Roe vs. Wade...

Brown: So you question the use of the language of being "pro-choice" as opposed to "pro-abortion?"

Well, just being willing to have the debate. I think there are Democrats, and I'm not one of them, but there are Democrats that got caught up in this whole "pro-choice / pro-life" debate and think that, "Oh I'm pro-choice, so we have to say - we can't go down the slippery - I support everything; Partial-birth abortion, all that."

No! I mean, to me Roe vs. Wade... (thinks)

County Commissioners don't get involved in abortion, but as a question from a Democrat's perspective...

Roe vs. Wade to me was about as close as a human being could get to trying to figure out how to answer an issue - legally in the United States of America - that has no answer.

Fritsch: What's your advice to young people who are seeking to be involved in government?

Pursue it. I think there has been an effort, sort of the "dumbing down of America" and the degrading of public service, but it still is, and I believe this to my core, still is a very noble profession to pursue. And I believe that most people - virtually everybody I've met in public service, Democrat or Republican alike - is doing it for the right reasons. And at the end of the day, wants the best for their community and their country. We have different ways of trying to get there, but I think virtually everybody (has some sense of public good) and got in it for the right reasons and still wants to do the right thing.

I think it's very important to be involved in community. It's very easy to latch on to somebody's campaign. I mean the parties are always looking for volunteers...

Brown: If you could recommend three things for a young person...

I would recommend working on a campaign. I would recommend volunteering in the community in whatever pursuit that meets your passion, but volunteer. And stay in school. Get your degree. All those things lead to good things.

And if somebody works hard, and gets involved... If you're a volunteer and you're willing to work hard and you do what you say you will do, you will stand out above so many people and become widely known in the span of just one campaign season.

Brown: Strengths and/or weaknesses that you perceive in media we have in Cincinnati now, what would they be?

Not enough diversity...

Brown: Diversity in content?

Yeah... and not enough candor. And clearly not enough in-depth behind the scenes digging.

Brown: Investigative reporting?

Yeah... (thinking). I'll bite my tongue. (smiles)