County commission race - The speeches

By Josh Sweigart | Friday, November 6, 2009, 11:40 AM

Below is the full text of the speeches given last night by Butler County Commissioner Gregory Jolivette and former West Chester Twp. trustee Jose Alvarez, as prepared for delivery. They were seeking the county GOP’s endorsement for commission next year, which no candidate secured.

Both have said they plan to run in the Republican primary in May.

Here is Jolivette’s speech:

(Click on the top right corner to enlarge)

JolEndSpeech

Here is Alvarez’s speech:

(Click on the top right corner to enlarge)

AlvEndSpeech
What do you think?

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Tori’s Station update 8 - No endorsed candidate

By Josh Sweigart | Friday, November 6, 2009, 12:02 AM

There was no endorsement after the final round of voting by the Butler County GOP for endorsement for county commission next year.

I’m told there were 279 cast ballots in the final round, with 60 percent needed to win the endorsement:

The breakdown, I’m told, was:

• No endorsement - 69 votes
• Nancy Nix - 113 votes
• Jose Alvarez - 97 votes

What this means:

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’ll have to consider whether to stay in it, but the others plan to run.

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

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.

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 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,” said a draft of his speech.

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.”

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Tori’s Station update 7 - Fourth round counted

By Josh Sweigart | Thursday, November 5, 2009, 11:26 PM

There was no endorsement after the fourth round of voting by the Butler County GOP for endorsement for county commission next year. One more runoff vote to go.

I’m told there were 290 cast ballots in the fourth round, with 174 percent needed to win the endorsement:

The breakdown was:

• No endorsement - 68 votes
• Nancy Nix - 113 votes
• Jose Alvarez - 109 votes

They are casting ballots for a fifth and final round, with no change in candidates.

More on this race below.

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Tori’s Station update 6 - Third round counted

By Josh Sweigart | Thursday, November 5, 2009, 11:06 PM

Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter was eliminated in the third round of voting by the Butler County GOP for endorsement for county commission next year.

I’m told there were roughly 300 cast ballots in the third round, with 60 percent needed to win the endorsement:

The breakdown, I’m told, was:

• No endorsement - 25 votes
• Nancy Nix - 109 votes
• Cindy Carpenter - 56 votes
• Jose Alvarez - 111 votes

They are casting ballots for a fourth round without Carpenter.

More on this race below.

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Tori’s Station update 5 - Second round counted

By Josh Sweigart | Thursday, November 5, 2009, 10:40 PM

Commissioner Gregory Jolivette was eliminated in the second round of voting by the Butler County GOP for endorsement for Jolivette’s seat next year.

There were 313 cast ballots in the second round, with 187 needed for endorsement.

The breakdown was:

• No endorsement - 7 votes
• Nancy Nix - 94 votes
• Gregory Jolivette - 50 votes
• Cindy Carpenter - 57 votes
• Jose Alvarez - 105 votes

They are casting ballots for a third round without Jolivette.

More on this race below.

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Tori’s Station update 4 - First round counted

By Josh Sweigart | Thursday, November 5, 2009, 09:55 PM

No endorsed candidate for Butler County commission emerged from the county GOP’s first round of voting here at Tori’s Station.

There were 318 cast ballots, with 190 needed for endorsement.

The breakdown was:

• No endorsement - 10 votes
• Wes Retherford - 13 votes
• Nancy Nix - 84 votes
• Gregory Jolivette - 54 votes
• Cindy Carpenter - 66 votes
• Jose Alvarez - 91 votes

This means Retherford is eliminated and they go to another round.

More on this race below.

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Tori’s Station Update 3

By Josh Sweigart | Thursday, November 5, 2009, 08:38 PM

The speeches have been delivered. Questions have been asked and answered. I’m told the Butler County Republican Party has finished its first round of voting and are tallying the votes now.

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