Butler County voters showed up at the polls Tuesday and cast their ballots in several local races, issues and tax levies.
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Here’s a quick look at the results in local races and issues:
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
1. Historic school security tax fails
Issue 2 — the first school security tax hike tried in Southwest Ohio — was rejected by Butler County voters in the five school systems where it was on the ballot.
To win, the 1.5-mill tax hike needed more than a 50 percent majority in the combined vote total from Hamilton, Fairfield, Edgewood, Monroe and New Miami schools.
MORE: Butler County school leaders talk about what’s next after security tax issue fails
2. Ross Twp. police department avoids takeover by sheriff’s department
Ross Twp. will continue to have its own police department now that voters have approved an increase that will bring in almost $800,000 to add full-time officers.
MORE: What Ross Twp. homeowners will pay with levy passage
Ross Twp. Administrator Bob Bass said officials are very pleased they will be able to continue protecting and serving the residents directly. Officials said earlier the Butler County sheriff’s office would have likely had to take over had the levy failed.
MORE: What Ross officials said could have happened if levy failed
3. Ross Local Schools levy fails
Voters in Ross Schools rejected a hike in the district’s earned income tax, leaving school officials surprised by the loss.
It was the first time in nearly two decades voters did not approve an increase in the earned income tax that funds the rural Butler County school system.
MORE: Ross Schools vote leaves district leaders stunned
4. Political newcomer wins Ohio House seat
Republican Sara Carruthers of Hamilton defeated Democrat Susan Vaughn, also of Hamilton, according to unofficial final results reported by the Butler County Board of Elections.
MORE: 'I don’t believe the best candidate won,' Vaughn says
“I plan on working on jobs, health care, I really want to work on our homelessness issue here in town, in both Hamilton and Fairfield and actually it’s falling into Ross now,” she said. “And I want to work on the opioid issue — it’s tremendous, and it’s touched everyone’s lives.”
5. Lang pledges to put businesses first
Ohio Rep. George Lang has won election to his first full term representing the 52nd House District.
Ohio Rep. George Lang has won election to his first full term representing the 52nd House District.
Lang, a former West Chester Twp. trustee, said his business-first approach worked for the township, which he said is “the most business-friendly community in Ohio” and he wants Ohio to have that moniker in the nation.
MORE: 'I’m going to work on is pro-business legislation,' Lang says
6. Keller wins re-election in 53rd District
Incumbent Republican state Rep. Candice Keller defeated Democratic challenger Rebecca Howard for the Ohio House 53rd District.
Keller previously told the Journal-News that she had earned a return trip to Columbus representing northern and western portions of Butler County from Oxford and Okeana to Middletown and Monroe.
MORE: Howard not ruling out another run for office
“I’ve done what I promised I would do,” said Keller. “I’ve passed conservative legislation. I’m meeting with constituents almost daily, and I’m just really accessible to the people. I just enjoy being a legislator, and I have stayed in the district and worked hard for the district.”
7. Cindy Carpenter keeps Butler County Commission seat
Cindy Carpenter was victorious in seeking her third term on Butler County Commission.
The Republican bested Dora Bronston, president of the Middletown Branch of the NAACP.
MORE: 'Defeat is never in my vocabulary," Bronston says
“I’m thankful to the voters of Butler County for their confidence in me,” Carpenter said. “And I will continue to work very hard to represent them and their interests, to the best of my ability.”
8. With win, Davidson turns focus to immigration reform
U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson said regardless of which party wins control of the House, he will “do the things that you promised people you’d do.”
One of the “toughest challenges politically,” is immigration he said after winning re-election Tuesday and defeating Democrat Vanessa Enoch of West Chester Twp.
MORE: Democrats poised to take over the House
“We need a solution there,” Davidson said. “Border security is national security. I think that’s going to come out in this election and my hope is that we got close in June — we had 193 Republicans in the House vote for a bill — my hope is that we take the lessons learned from that and create a solution that gets us moving forward on immigration.”
MORE: Rep. Steve Chabot beats Aftab Pureval
9. 4 Butler County fire levies win voter approval
Voters approved fire levies in the village of Millville, as well as in St. Clair Twp., where two passed, and Wayne Twp., according to unofficial final results from the Butler County Board of Elections.
MORE: See what each community will receive with fire levy approvals
10. 3 of 4 liquor options pass
Land of Illusion owners had been hoping to get a liquor option approved by Madison Twp. voters, one that would allow its Voodoo Lounge, its full bar with 12 beers on tap, to sell alcohol on Sundays.
Land of Illusion owners had been hoping to get a liquor option approved by Madison Twp. voters, one that would allow its Voodoo Lounge, its full bar with 12 beers on tap, to sell alcohol on Sundays.
MORE: Land of Illusion loses vote for Sunday alcohol sales -- again
Three other liquor options were approved Tuesday by voters. They were:
• Froggy’s, 10 S. American Way in Monroe
• Casey’s General Store, 700 Wayne Madison Road in Trenton
• Fine Wine & Spirits, 9153 Cincinnati Columbus Road in West Chester Twp.
MORE: ‘Famous for Pizza:’ Casey’s General Store opening in Butler County
11. Hamilton voters approve change to local political process
With approval of the change, Hamilton now will use the state-dictated forms used by other candidates across Butler County.
MORE: Previous Hamilton forms nearly disqualified candidates
12. Voters approve changes to how Middletown conducts business
Three amendments to the Middletown City Charter have been approved by voters, according to final unofficial results in Butler and Warren counties. They are:
• Removing all references to wards and elections by wards
• Allowing the city’s Annual Report to be kept electronically instead of at library
• Allowing public notices of legislation or public hearings to be issued on city's website electronically instead of via newspaper publication
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