Carpenter files formal complaint against Nix

Nix’s claims in Butler commission race ‘intolerable,’ clerk of courts says.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 11:03 PM Friday, November 13, 2009

HAMILTON — Butler County Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter says county Treasurer Nancy Nix crossed the line in her campaign for county commission.

Carpenter filed an Ohio Elections Commission complaint against Nix on Friday, Nov. 13, claiming Nix violated campaign law by making speeches and distributing campaign literature with “false statements” about Carpenter.

Specifically, Nix claimed that she had $101,000 in campaign funds — far more than the other candidates — and that unlike Carpenter she effectively reduced the county’s budget and possesses a “business woman’s point of view.”

“My intent was to accurately portray my qualifications against my opponent,” Nix said. “I haven’t seen the complaint, and I guess I’ll have to take a look at it and go from there.”

Nix made the comments in campaign literature and a speech to Butler County Republican Party members leading up to a vote for the party’s endorsement for county commission on Nov. 5. Nix got the most votes, but not enough for an endorsement.

Carpenter’s sworn affidavit counters that Nix compared funds she currently has with campaign filing declarations by other candidates in July. Those reports listed Nix as having $12,714 on hand and Carpenter having $8,513.

As for Nix’s other claims, Carpenter said she reduced her office’s budget $152,285 from 2007 to the draft 2010 budget; and that she has worked in business all her life.

“I grew up over a family business. I live in a family business now,” Carpenter said, referring to Barker Ornaments, which her husband runs from their home. “I think Nancy knows that.”

Carpenter called Nix’s claims “intolerable.”

“This is not OK to do, to operate this way in Butler County,” Carpenter said. “Any time you lie to the public, you print a lie in a campaign, that is a violation of Ohio law.”

Nix, Carpenter, incumbent Commissioner Gregory Jolivette — seen as vulnerable within his party because of an ongoing Ethics Commission investigation — and former West Chester Twp. Trustee Jose Alvarez are among candidates for the GOP primary.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

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Don-
Nothing in my post can be seen as even close to misogynist. My views on this candidate have only to do with her history as a public servant, her sex is irrelevant. Further I am neither judge nor jury over the case of "The people vs. Michael A. Fox". I owe him no presumption of innocence if I believe the contrary to be true.
You in no way dispute the political relationship between Fox-Carpenter, because you cannot.
Nice try though slandering me to support your friends.
-Try Objectivism

Alan
1:51 PM, 11/16/2009

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"Alan" I would imagine that you are blinded by the same prejudices that bedazzle and confront some of the leading good ole boys in Butler County. We have a woman who is a leader and unafraid, how do we get her back in the kitchen where she belongs? As far as Mike Fox is concerned, whatever happened to the presumption of innocence or are you part of the hanging lynch mob mentality along with being anti-female? It's hypocrisy at it's finest, some of these posts really demonstrate stupidity.

Don Carpenter
11:57 AM, 11/16/2009

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Cindy Carpenter ought to be more concerned about her image and what it looks like after years and years of very close affiliation with none other than Michael A. Fox. Mike helped her out when he was an assemblyman in Columbus. He also helped her gain support for her current job. In turn she supported him very vocally over the years.

Cindy Carpenter is, was, and always has been more of the same Butler County Politics we need to move far, far away from.

Alan
11:38 AM, 11/16/2009

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We are being censored here, posts are disappearing

So much for freedom of speech by the very component that preaches freedom of speech

JoeT
5:45 PM, 11/15/2009

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@ GOP Not upset at all. I don't agree with everything I read here, but I agree with everyone's right to say it

JoeT
5:29 PM, 11/15/2009

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