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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > September > 05
Friday, September 5, 2008
Butler County GOP blasts Strickland appointments
Butler County Republican Party Chairman Tom Ellis just released this blistering press release about Gov. Ted Strickland’s appointment of two Democrats to fill two local judgeships:
Let the Voters Decide - Not Politics as Usual
(Hamilton, OH) The Butler County Republican Party concedes that no one should be too surprised that the Democratic governor chose Democrats to fill the two open judicial positions in Butler County, but “the process has now been tainted by politics,” says Butler GOP Chairman Tom Ellis.
Two judicial openings in Butler County occurred in the last few weeks when longtime Juvenile Judge David Niehaus passed away and Area Court Judge Robert Hendrickson resigned his position to run for Appeals Court. Both of these judges were endorsed by the Republican Party and elected by the voters of Butler County.
Democratic Governor Strickland promised to change the political selection process when he was elected in 2006. He has created a task force to vet and consider all interested and qualified judicial candidates. In the case of the local Butler County openings, both the two Democrat endorsed candidates and Republican endorsed candidates applied for the position. All were recommended by the Task Force, but the governor chose the Democrats in both cases. One of the Democrats, Glenda Smith, is the former Chair of the Butler County Democratic Party and active on the Governor’s campaign.
The governor could have allowed qualified interim judges to stay on the bench through the election and allowed the voters to make the decision without outside influence. “The governor has politicized the election process, but we are confident that the conservative voters of Butler County will see through this and elect our conservative team of Tim Evans for Juvenile Court and Dan Haughey for Area Court. Both are highly qualified and both will keep the same conservative, common sense approach of their two predecessors,” said Ellis.
Here in Butler County, our citizens are going to send the Governor a strong message in November; keep your liberal politics in Columbus, and let us select our own judges.”
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Crime and courts
Governor fills two local judge seats
Press release from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland:
Columbus, Ohio - Governor Ted Strickland today announced the appointment of Glenda Smith to the Butler County Municipal Court Area III and the appointment of Kathleen Romans to the Butler County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division.
“In her years as a public servant and attorney, Glenda has exemplified hard work, legal expertise, and commitment to her community; she also brings a diversity of experience to the bench that will make her an outstanding judge,” Strickland said.
Smith, 47, of Fairfield Township, fills a seat on the Butler County Municipal Court that was vacated due to the resignation of Judge Robert Hendrickson on August 15th.
Smith will begin September 6, 2008.
Smith has maintained a private practice in Fairfield Township since 2001 and has presided as a hearing examiner for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles since 2007. She represented law enforcement officers as a deputy attorney general in Indiana from 1992-1993, and protected the interest of vulnerable citizens as a guardian ad litem in the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office from 1999-2001. She has also taught a variety of law-related courses as an adjunct professor at both Cincinnati State and Columbus State. Smith received her bachelor’s degree from the Indiana University in 1989, and both her master’s and legal degree from Indiana University in 1992.
“I am humbled by Governor Strickland’s appointment and assure that I will serve the court and community with high standards,” Smith said.
Kathleen Romans, 59, of Middletown, fills a seat on the Butler County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division that was vacated due to the death of Judge David Niehaus on August 1st.
“Kathleen has served Butler County for more than two decades as a respected attorney dedicated to protecting Butler County families and children,” Strickland said. “Kathleen is ready to assume the great responsibilities of a juvenile judge from day one.”
Romans will begin September 6, 2008.
Romans was appointed by the late Judge Niehaus as magistrate of the Butler County Juvenile Court in 2003, and continues her service in that court. Romans has also maintained a private general law practice sine 1983. Prior to becoming a juvenile magistrate, Romans was a supervising assistant prosecuting attorney in Butler County Juvenile Court for over eighteen years (1983-2001).
Among her community activities, Romans served on the Middletown Regional Hospital Foundation Board from 1994-2003 and chaired the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Board of Butler County from 1994-1998. She is active in the legal community as both an attorney and magistrate, dedicating much time to working on issues of domestic violence, child assault and abuse of children.
Romans received her bachelor’s degree from Miami University in 1973 and her law degree from Dayton Law School in 1983.
“As a long term resident of Butler County, I am deeply honored by this appointment and I look forward to continuing my service to my community in this role,” Smith said.
A high resolution photo of Smith is available at the following link: http://www.governor.ohio.gov/News/Photos/GlendaSmith/tabid/826/Default.aspx
A high resolution photo of Romans is available at the following link: http://www.governor.ohio.gov/News/Photos/KathleenRomans/tabid/825/Default.aspx
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Crime and courts
MLS: Property values down
While property value assessments are going up 5.95 percent on average countywide, home sale prices dropped an average 5.4 percent countywide, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati.
More specifically, the value of the average home in Hamilton dropped 1.9 percent to $113,986 in Hamilton and went down a staggering 18.1 percent in Middletown to $83,716. The average home value did go up in West Chester Twp. 7.2 percent, leaving it at $257,913.
For a full breakdown, click on the thumbnail on the right to enlarge it.
So why the difference?
Several reasons. The MLS numbers, for example, take into account HUD homes, sheriff’s auctions and foreclosures, which bring down average values considerably.
But regardless of the “countywide average” County Auditor Roger Reynolds insists his appraisals are a conservative estimate of actual values. He said when he checked appraisals against homes for sale, the appraisals always came in below the asking price.
How has your home’s value fared in recent years?
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Only one person files write-in bid
Eric Wilson, of Cincinnati, is running for office this November, though his name won’t be on any ballots.
Wilson was the only locally to file a write-in candidacy by the Sept. 3 deadline. He is challenging U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, whose 1st Congressional District includes a small part of southwest Butler County.
Wilson appears to have run at least once for Cincinnati City Council, according to a quick Google search.
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