NICK LACHEY - FORMER 98 DEGREES STAR RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF CINCINNATI

NICK LACHEY's former 98 DEGREES bandmate JUSTIN JEFFRE is set to run for mayor in the pair's hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jeffre, 32, announced his candidacy for the post at his alma mater, the School for Creative and Performing Arts, with Lachey supporting him yesterday (01APR05).

He tells MTV.COM, "I'm very passionate about my community and I believe Cincinnati can and will be the role model for modernising the American heartland.

"I think there should be full observation and participation in our election because too often people are marginalised and polarised because of partisan politics and they're voting on a caricature of a candidate, so we want to make sure everyone out there knows what we have to say.

"I've always been interested in national politics. But over the past couple of years it's been evident to me that we can really make a difference here in our backyard."

Jeffre, who is running as a non-partisan independent, calls his small campaign a "grass-roots, bare-bones" effort which he hopes will boost the city's image.

He confidently adds, "I think my chances (of winning) are great. I think it will be a tough race, but I have a great team already and people in town know me and know what I'm about."