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Michael D. Pitman reports about Butler County, Ohio, politics, county government, countywide issues and Butler County people just like you for Cox Ohio Publishing (including the Hamilton JournalNews, Middletown Journal and several weekly papers in Butler County). He wants your suggestions and questions for more news stories. Leave a comment for him here or e-mail Michael at Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2010 > April > 06 > Entry
Butler County commission forum - Postgame 2
The six candidates all worked to stand out in the crowded field of Republicans vying for one Butler County commission seat in the May 4 primary.
And they succeeded, according to spectators at a candidates forum Tuesday night, April 7, at the Butler Technology and Career Development Schools’ Public Safety Education Complex.
“Several of them had interesting ideas on how to fix the (county’s) problems,” said Steve Wells, a Liberty Twp. resident who walked into the forum undecided.
The candidates fielded questions from reporters and editors from this newspaper and WKRC-TV Local 12. They touched on balancing the budget while promoting economic development and addressing concerns about nepotism in county government.
Jose Alvarez, former West Chester Twp. trustee and engineer at General Electric, ran largely on the economic growth of West Chester Twp. “I know what it means to make hard decisions when the money simply isn’t there,” he said.
He wanted the county to look at getting out of fiber optics and the regional airport, and advocated “personal integrity and individual accountability.”
“I’m not looking to just win a seat, I’m looking to change a culture of how we do things in Butler County,” he said.
Cindy Carpenter, who is in her fourth term as Butler County clerk of courts, ran as the experienced alternative to the status quo. “We’ve seen our commissioners locked in public battles and seen them fail to carry out their public duties,” she said.
She called for new comprehensive planning — “We need to grow on purpose,” she said — and better communication with other officeholders on budget cuts.
“We can work to regain the trust of the people and reclaim our role as the financial stewards of the hard-earned tax dollars paid by the citizens of Butler County,” she said.
Gregory Jolivette, current commission president, owner of Jolly’s drive-in, and former Hamilton mayor and state lawmaker, ran on his record.
He cited the county’s sales tax — the lowest in the state — high bond rating, cuts in water and sewer rates and 107 eliminated jobs. “You don’t get a good bond rating by accident, you do it with good fiscal policy,” he said.
“(This was) the toughest year in budget history in Butler County, and we had to make some tough decisions,” he said. “I’d like to be rehired as your county commissioner.”
Paul Nenni, certified public accountant and former Middletown city councilman, ran on a single issue: completely overhauling county government.
Nenni proposed a county charter similar to what has been done in Cuyahoga and Summit counties. Some county elected offices would be consolidated under his plan, and the county commission salary would be spread among up to a dozen commissioners. This would reduce waste and corruption, he argued.
“I’ll fight to get rid of my job as county commissioner,” he said, adding that he believes county commission races should be non-partisan.
Wes Retherford, a mortician assistant at a Hamilton funeral home and “proud member of the Tea Party movement,” ran as an outsider.
“Right now we have a choice between outsiders and party insiders, and party insiders just aren’t going to get the job done,” he said.
He said the commission needs to be more “transparent” and hold meetings in the evening and possibly hire a consulting firm to pour over the county’s budget. He also promised to cut his salary by $35,000 a year, if elected.
Jesse Von Stein, a Hamilton business owner and “simple man who works hard for a living,” ran on a “simple pitch.”
“Along the lines our politicians have forgotten who they work for, and I’m here to change that,” he said.
“We’re spending too much money, property taxes are killing us, people aren’t making enough money,” he said. “I am not a politician … I’m one of you guys, all I want to do is get it back to where the people handle it.”
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: County Commission
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By Donna Mollaun
April 7, 2010 7:10 AM | Link to this
There was supposed to be a video of Butch Hubble, the only Democrat running. This was scheduled at a time when he had obligations in another state. There’s no comment about it in this article.
By Don Carpenter
April 7, 2010 10:08 AM | Link to this
It is interesting that Wes Retherford refers to himself as a ‘proud’ member of the tea party movement yet he is a dues paying member of the Butler County Republican Party Executive Committee who sought our endorsement. He stood up there and said to vote ‘no endorsement’. If he truly wants to be disassociated from the Party, why the hypocrisy? He needs a little more seasoning before I would even consider a vote for him.
By To: DON C
April 7, 2010 2:02 PM | Link to this
right D.C. with your wife working for cindy carpenter we are supposed to listen to your bs. crawl back under your rock.
By soon to be Former GOP
April 8, 2010 9:50 AM | Link to this
Don C, If that’s the kind of elitist attitude that the “dues” paying GOP members, then I think I will resign. Who says that a GOP member can not be a member of another movement. In fact you are seeing a lot of Tea Party movement people trying to become part of the GOP, because the current members have screwed the system up so bad by backing politicians without values and principles.
By LovinLife
April 8, 2010 11:27 AM | Link to this
if we are talking nepotism and cronyism carpenter is second only to furmon in county government. carpenters son is working for the county and she has more hamilton and fairfield politicos family and friends on her payroll than you could believe. she is the problem not the answer to the problem.
By To Donna
April 8, 2010 2:19 PM | Link to this
The video statement by Butch Hubble will be added to the video which will be played on all the local access channels starting sometime next week.
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