Keller, Hamilton in only contested Fairfield council race


CRAIG KELLER

Age: 54

Length of residence: Eight years

Education: Graduate of Garfield High School, Southern Ohio College, Louisiana Baptist University and Andersonville Theological Seminary

Employment: Bailiff for Butler County Common Pleas Court

Previous political experience: None

Family: Wife and two daughters

JOHNNY HAMILTON

Age: 64

Length of residence: 55-plus years

Education: Fairfield High School graduate; attended Scarlet Oaks; Tool & Die apprenticeship at Mosler Safe; attended Miami University and studied business and engineering

Employment: J&D Heritage Investments LLC

Previous political experience: None

Family: Wife, two sons and one grandchild

All four ward seats in Fairfield are up for election next month, but only one of them is contested: the seat for Ward 2 being sought by Craig Keller and Johnny Hamilton.

That seat is held by Marty Judd, who opted not to run for reelection after he filled in for departing council member Jeff Holtegel.

Keller already has some experience with the city, having served on the parks board and on the cultural arts commission, so to him, council seemed like a “natural progression,” he said.

“I love Fairfield, and I want to contribute,” he said. Keller works as a bailiff for Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Charles Pater, and he’s also served with the Coast Guard and as the vice president of the Butler County Historical Society.

Keller prides himself on honesty and fiscal responsibility, adding “There’s a lot to be said for common sense as well … I’m not really coming with an agenda.”

He wants to concentrate on retaining business in the city and ensuring the strength of public safety agencies like police and fire. Financial stability and infrastructure and public safety concerns should receive “additional attention by council,” he said.

Longtime resident Johnny Hamilton threw has hat in the ring, because he sees Fairfield as “slipping,” and he would like to reverse the slide.

“I’ve been living here for 55 years, and I’ve got a passion for Fairfield, he said. “It seems to be slipping — my words. Crime seems to be going up and the residential areas seem to be going down.”

He said that the overall quality seems to be declining, having noticed bars on the window of a gas station at the intersection of Patterson and Pleasant Avenue had bars on it. As a landlord for several properties in Butler County, Hamilton thinks he sees the way back up. He runs a corporation called J&D Heritage Investments, LLC.

“Middletown has an ordinance that puts pressure on landlords … if you can get rid of troubled tenants, you can fast-track eviction, and when you do that you can clean up some other issues,” Hamilton said. He said that if one takes care of run-down areas, then a lot of other problems, such as crime tend to fall into place.

“ Fairfield was a better place, and I’d like to see it that way again.

Adam Jones and Debbie Pennington are running unopposed in Wards 1 and 3, while Tim Abbott, formerly an at-large council member, will return in the fourth seat.

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