Butler, Warren families have multiple members in public office

Cathie Mulligan won a seat on the Middletown City Schools Board of Education, and Joe Mulligan won a seat on the Middletown City Council.

Of the 10 seats on the school board and city council, three of them will belong to the Mulligan family.

In Warren County’s Franklin Twp., three families have multiple members who were elected or re-elected on Nov. 7.

One of the best known is the Ruppert family, who have had relatives serving in various offices in the communities for the past few decades.

Last week, Ron Ruppert, who is completing his third term as a Franklin Twp. trustee, was elected to succeed his uncle, Franklin Municipal Court Judge Rupert E. Ruppert.

Rupert Ruppert, a former Franklin Twp. trustee and Franklin school board member, is vacating the bench after 12 years due to age limits. He succeeded his brother James D. Ruppert to the bench after he served as judge from 1989 through 2005. Prior to being elected on the bench, Rupert Ruppert served multiple terms on the Franklin school board and as a Franklin Twp. trustee.

Another of Rupert Ruppert’s nephews, Paul Ruppert, is in the middle of his first term on Franklin City Council.

Ron Ruppert’s daughter, Rachel Ruppert-Wolfinbarger, was re-elected to a second term on the Franklin school board. She was the leading vote-getter in the four-way field for three seats.

“It’s the same thing as other families who are involved in public service such as families who have members in law enforcement or who are lawyers or physicians,” Ron Ruppert said.

The Centers family also added another member to the roster of public officials.

Shane Ruppert was the leading vote-getter for Franklin Twp. trustee in his first run for public office.

His father, Mayor Denny Centers was re-elected to his fifth four-year term on Franklin City Council. Another son, Brent Centers, is in the middle of his first term on Franklin City Council.