A heated primary race for commissioner in GOP-controlled Butler County began with a twist.
In January, the county’s Republican Party did not endorse the incumbent, Cindy Carpenter, and instead threw support behind her challenger, Michael Ryan. Carpenter chose not to seek the endorsement.
Former Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds, whose conviction for unlawful interest in a public contract was overturned in 2024, also joined the contentious Republican primary. But he dropped out of the race, leaving only Ryan and Carpenter.
One Democrat, Mike Miller, is also running for commissioner unopposed.
In this GOP-dominated county, where Donald Trump won with 62% of the vote in 2024, the Republican primary race is usually where elections are decided. All three commissioners, including Carpenter, are Republicans.
Commissioners make decisions about taxes, the county budget and more. Last year, they voted to double the Homestead property tax exemption. The board also authorized an agreement between the sheriff’s office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, allowing the Butler County Jail to detain ICE inmates. Commissioners earn over $102,000 per year.
Who is Cindy Carpenter?
Carpenter has served as commissioner since 2011. She’s won several crowded primaries, but did not have a Republican challenger in 2022.
On her campaign website, Carpenter said she’s voted in favor of property tax relief and investing in local colleges as a commissioner. She also supported the Millikin Road interstate interchange,which would create a new exit on Interstate 75 and potentially prepare the area for development. Construction for the interchange is expected to cost $55 million, said Dan Corey, director of Butler County Transportation Improvement District.
Unlike Butler County’s two other commissioners, Carpenter has advocated for bringing more federal dollars to the county to address its homelessness crisis.
In November, she was accused of making racist remarks and abusing her political power during a dispute with employees at her granddaughter’s apartment complex. The county prosecutor cleared Carpenter of legal wrongdoing, but said she acted “beneath her position.” Carpenter denied that her remarks were racist or that she abused her county position.
Who is Michael Ryan?
Michael Ryan is a former Hamilton city councilman. He won the Butler County Republican Party’s endorsement with 71% of the vote.
If elected, Ryan, 41, would be the youngest person to serve on the board of commissioners by decades. In a December interview with The Enquirer, he said he hopes to “ignite the younger conservative crowd” in Butler County.
As a Hamilton council member, Ryan supported installing the county’s first Safe Haven Baby Box, which allows for the safe surrender of newborns, in Hamilton. On his campaign website, Ryan pledged to focus on job growth, economic development, and lowering taxes.
Ryan told The Enquirer he works as a life insurance underwriter for Western & Southern Financial Group. He attended Wright State University and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, his website says.
In an email, Ryan told The Enquirer he attended mortuary school for opportunities to work in the funeral home industry. He worked as a funeral director and embalmer for four years, and continued working part-time in the funeral service industry up until last year.
How to vote
Early voting for the primary election started April 7. Election Day is May 5.
Check your voter registration or polling place online at VoteOhio.gov.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here’s who’s running for commissioner in Butler County
Reporting by Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
