Marilyn Hyland claims that Hamilton County Commissioners practice an oppressive form of "Bigfoot government." As a result, she'd like to make Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus as scarce as the mythological beast.

The only Democrat who has qualified so far to face either Bedinghaus or fellow incumbent John Dowlin in the November 2000 county elections -- she's running against Bedinghaus -- Hyland has begun staking out her positions on what she calls key county issues. And her platform goes beyond what most people see as the No. 1 issue this fall: the county's stadium wheeling and dealing.

"The role of the county shouldn't be as Bigfoot: "We have the power and the money and we'll do whatever we want,'" Hyland said at her downtown campaign office. "Our job is to listen to citizens who choose to live and work in every part of the county. We have to define our future together."

Hyland said that Bedinghaus has backed a number of controversial projects -- pro-Bengals contracts for Paul Brown Stadium, high-growth plans for western Hamilton County and a tax levy for the countywide emergency communications system, among others -- despite obvious public resistance. His approach to governing, she said, is "contemptuous and disinvesting."

"Commissioners should help partner the county's power and money with citizens' wishes to build the best possible downtown and neighborhoods," Hyland said. "The current county government is not listening to the people."

The main evidence of the county being out of touch with citizens, Hyland said, is the tremendous clout commissioners gave to Bengals' President Mike Brown as part of the deal to build a new football stadium on the riverfront. County taxpayers passed the half-cent sales tax hike in 1996 to save professional football in Cincinnati, she said, but not to give Brown complete control over any and all future development near the new stadium.

"Bedinghaus negotiated the Bengals stadium lease on behalf of all of us in the county," Hyland said. "But he put all the power in Mike Brown's hands -- future riverfront development, three practice fields on prime riverfront property, all concession income, payments if construction is delayed, payments to buy tickets if the team can't sell them, whether local kids can play on the Bengals' new grass field. Bedinghaus gave the land and the deal to the Bengals. They didn't steal it."

Portraying Brown's deal with the county as a modern-day version of buying Manhattan island from the natives with shiny beads, Hyland suggested that parts of the lease agreement be renegotiated to tilt the balance back a little in county taxpayers' favor. She's particularly incensed about the county's guarantee to pay the Bengals for every game not played at Paul Brown Stadium if construction isn't finished by August 2000 and the guarantee to purchase a number of unsold seats for the first two seasons in the new stadium.

Even though he signed an incredibly advantageous lease, Brown should step forward and renegotiate with the county in the spirit of civic leadership, Hyland said.

"Cincinnati and Hamilton County have a long history of civic leadership from local businessmen," she said. "Mike Brown could be the latest in that distinguished line if he would voluntarily help us work to eliminate the obscene use of taxpayer money in his lease."

Other specific issues Hyland sees as part of a more holistic approach to county government include:

• Listening to residents of western Hamilton County when they say they want low growth instead of pushing the commissioners prefered position of high growth.
• Getting involved with commuter rail proposals that would connect downtown Cincinnati with eastern and western suburbs, which could spur suburban development while reaffirming downtown's position as the engine that drives the Tristate.
• Funding essential public services such as a complete, state-of-the-art emergency communications system out of Hamilton County's general fund instead of asking taxpayers to fund it. (The communications levy was defeated in May.)

Hyland said her experience running against Tom Neyer Jr. for his commission seat in 1998 has positioned her favorably among county voters. Neyer won the election 56-44 percent, although Hyland points out that she received the second most votes in Hamilton County among all Democrats running for local, state and national office in 1998.

"I feel I have momentum from the race against Neyer," she said, "and I'm in the midst of a walking tour through every precinct in the county. People want to talk to me. I'm encountering a lot of residents who tell me they've never met a commission candidate before."

Hyland is up against formidable obstacles in her race, not the least of which is Bedinghaus, a well-funded Republican Party favorite who already has started running campaign TV commercials. No Democrat has been elected to the Hamilton County Commission since the early 1960's. Only one woman has ever served as a commissioner.

And then there's the small issue of her own party not supporting her run.

"Marilyn has been asked and will continue to be asked to step aside from the race," said Tim Burke, co-chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. "We don't believe she's the strongest candidate the Democrats can field in 2000."(for Marilyn's response, click here)

Recognizing that Hyland "went out and worked hard last year" after entering the race against Neyer at the last minute, Burke said the party instead favors some combination of County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, State Rep. Jerome Luebbers and City Councilman Todd Portune to run against Bedinghaus and Dowlin. The deadline for getting certified to run in the March primary election is Jan. 7.

"I absolutely believe we'll have other Democratic candidates (by that date)," Burke said.

The only Democrat to receive more county votes in 1998 than Hyland? Dusty Rhodes, who was overwhelmingly re-elected to the auditor's office.