Former Rep. Courtney Combs (Photo: Provided)

Update: The Enquirer published a story Monday about a feud between two well-known Butler County politicians. What was the feud about? Liquor.

After the story ran, GOP challenger Courtney Combs doubled down on his Twitter attack on state Rep. Wes Retherford, who he said was treating the statehouse in Columbus like a frat house.

Among the new insults from Combs: #SoundsLikeHillary and #VeryObamaLike.

The two are competing for a seat in Ohio's 51st House District.

RT - Nearly 300 followers in 10 days! Thanks to each of you. With your help, #ExperienceAndDignity will replace #LiquorAndLies in Columbus. — Courtney Combs 4 Rep (@CourtneyCombsOH) February 2, 2016

#Desperation from opponent. Why is he ignoring the policy issues that people want to hear. #PrinciplesoverPolitics — Wes Retherford (@WesRetherford) February 2, 2016

.@wesretherford posts "Principals over politics" after more lies exposed. Policy: how about his House violation of alcohol in his ofc? — Courtney Combs 4 Rep (@CourtneyCombsOH) February 2, 2016

.@wesretherford: clarification, is your ofc at Riffe or bars at Lindy's & Mitchell's now that your #LiquorCabinet is gone? #ThePartysOver — Courtney Combs 4 Rep (@CourtneyCombsOH) February 2, 2016

1 of 2 #wesretherford loses #ButlerCoGOP endorsement. Chair said Wes lied. His old campaign team & officeholders tired of antics & partying — Courtney Combs 4 Rep (@CourtneyCombsOH) February 2, 2016

2 of 2 #wes#Where'sTheParty Retherford bringing in Columbus carpet bagging #CommunityOrganizers to force Cbus values in @ButlercoOhio#Sad — Courtney Combs 4 Rep (@CourtneyCombsOH) February 2, 2016

Original Story: GOP challenger Courtney Combs says Rep. Wes Retherford treated the statehouse like a frat house, but the incumbent argues that one drink cabinet in his office wasn't improper.

Combs, a former representative who was endorsed by the Butler County Republican Party over Retherford, started tweeting Thursday about the impropriety of his opponent keeping a liquor cabinet in his office. Combs, who has fewer than 300 followers on Twitter, used hashtags like #StatehouseNotFratHouse and #ThePartysOver to express his distaste.

My opponent admits after confronted to having LIQUOR CABINET in his @OhioHouseGOP#Columbus office. It's the #StatehouseNotFratHouse#GrowUp — Courtney Combs 4 Rep (@CourtneyCombsOH) January 29, 2016

"He has a partying problem in Columbus," said Combs, who held the seat before Retherford's election in 2012. "It’s just not a good thing. He has not held up what I think needs to be the integrity of the office."

Rep. Wes Retherford (Photo: Provided)

But Retherford said he never used his office in the Vern Riffe Center as a frat house, calling the idea "absurd." Retherford said he purchased a drink cabinet from a term-limited Rep. John Adams, who left the government building and the drink cart in December 2014. The cart remained in Retherford's office from January until late summer, before he ultimately took it to his Hamilton home.

"It’s a drink cabinet," Retherford said. "It’s not a bar or anything. It’s a piece of furniture."

Still, House rules prohibit lawmakers from possessing or consuming alcohol in their offices. Ohio Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, asked Retherford to remove the drink cabinet shortly after taking over as leader of the House and again several months later when Rosenberger learned it was still there.

"He thought it was inappropriate that it would be in that office," Rosenberger spokesman Brad Miller said. "On top of that, House administrative policy prohibits that."

Retherford was not penalized for violating the office policy, Miller said.

Combs and Retherford are vying for a seat that encompasses portions of Butler County, including Hamilton, Fairfield and Ross Township and part of Fairfield, Hanover, and St. Clair townships. The primary is March 15. The winner will face Democrat Johnny Hamilton in the heavily Republican district.

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