GOP eliminates commissioner in second round of endorsement vote for his seat

Butler County Republicans did not endorse any of the 5 candidates for the commission seat.

Lebanon racetrack may face competition from Dayton
12:42 a.m.
Plans for Piketon uranium plant meet new resistance
12:35 a.m.
Ohio workers to share in AIG’s $725M settlement
12:29 a.m.
Court news: See who was indicted from your neighborhood
11:09 p.m.
State group pushing to revamp top county jobs
10:41 p.m.
> More headlines

By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 12:42 AM Friday, November 6, 2009

FAIRFIELD — A contested Republican primary for Butler County commission lays ahead after the party failed to endorse any candidate for the race Thursday night, Nov. 5.

Embattled incumbent Commissioner Gregory Jolivette was eliminated in the second round of voting.

“We’ve allowed cliques and vendettas and power grabs to control the process, which is unfortunate,” he said, pledging to run in the May primary.

The other candidates were county Treasurer Nancy Nix, Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter, former West Chester Twp. Trustee Jose Alvarez and Hamilton resident Wes Retherford.

Carpenter and Nix said they were strongly considering whether to stay in it, but the others plan to run. And party watchers say there are likely others waiting in the wings.

Voting by the more than 300 members of the party’s Executive Committee took place behind closed doors at Tori’s Station in Fairfield Thursday.

There were five rounds of voting, with the lowest vote-getter eliminated after each round until Nix and Alvarez were left. Neither could get the 60 percent needed for party backing, though Nix led in the final round.

This means no candidate will get access to party coffers or resources during the primary, though party members will aid their chosen candidates. Whoever wins the primary will automatically get the party support.

In a provided copy of his speech to the party, Jolivette touted his record, and defended himself against the nepotism allegations that brought a rush of big-name challengers from his own party.

Jolivette is under investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission for voting on the hiring of his son and daughter in 2004 and 2005 as county employees.

“My counsel has cleared me to inform you that I confidently state that I expect to continue in my capacity as commissioner and will stay in my office as long as I am elected by the fine people of Butler County,” he said.

He went on to call for a return on the Butler County GOP of the past that was “the envy of the state.”

“We were united in purpose,” he said. “We did not have such split agendas, and such naked personal ambition.”

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

Share this article