Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones decisively won re-election to his third term, according to unofficial results from the Butler County Board of Elections. Jones beat his opponent Dale Richter of Trenton by almost 90,000 votes.

“What I think is that this is my report card from the voters,” said Jones, 59, of Liberty Twp.

Jones, a Republican, said he’s “humbled to have received 80 percent.” He said he has a few more things he wants to accomplish as sheriff, including

continuing to combat illegal immigration, reducing the proliferation of illegal drugs into the county from Mexico and sharing services with other area, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

In the race to fill the vacant seat on the 12 District Court of Appeals, newly-appointed Judge Michael Powell was officially elected to the appellate court over Democratic candidate Raymond W. Lembke of Clermont County, according to unofficial results from the boards of elections in Butler and Warren counties. Powell will complete the term of the late Judge Rachel Hutzel who died of cancer in August.

Powell, who had served as Warren County’s Juvenile and Probate Court judge for the past 12 years, was appointed to the seat by Gov. John Kasich, but was required to run in the election to keep his seat on the bench. The 12th District covers eight counties including Butler and Warren counties.

“I asked for it, but the circumstances were far from ideal,” Powell said. “I’m certainly pleased to have picked up the torch from Rachel.””

It will be moving day for Warren County Judge Donald E. Oda II as he moves his office from the Warren County Court Building to the Warren County Common Pleas Courthouse after defeating his opponent Roger D. Staton, according to unofficial results from the Warren County Board of Elections.

Oda said it was very happy around his home as he and his wife Linda were elected to countywide offices Tuesday. Linda Oda was elected as the County Recorder.

Judge Oda said it was also “bittersweet” for him as he will be required to give up his law practice when he succeeds retiring Judge Neal Bronson as a full-time judge.

In the newly-redrawn Ohio 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Steve Chabot will also represent all of Warren County and most of Hamilton County, and Tuesday night was far ahead of the other three candidates, Libertarian Jim Berns, Democrat Jeff Sinnard, and Rich Stevenson of the Green Party.

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