Marilyn Hyland, Democratic candidate for Hamilton County Commissioner, says she has no intention of withdrawing from the race, despite continuing speculation that the Democrats want to field a two-man team from among auditor Dusty Rhodes, outgoing State Rep. Jerry Luebbers and Cincinnati Council Member Todd Portune to run against Republican Commissioners John Dowlin and Bob Bedinghaus.

Ms. Hyland, who ran unsuccessfully against Commissioner Tom Neyer in the last commission race, was the first to file petitions to run for the commission next year. She is running against Bedinghaus. Despite some published reports to the contrary, Ms. Hyland says she has not been asked by anybody, including party co-chair tim Burke, to step aside -- and says she wouldn't even if somebody did ask. "I'm in this race to win," Ms. Hyland said.