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Hamilton County issues and Commission Race

Seal of Hamilton County
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Hamilton County

The makeup of the Hamilton County Commission won't change after Tuesday’s elections.  When County Commission President Chris Monzel voted to separate Music Hall from the “Save Our Icons” proposal, some voters were incensed, and took a renewed interest in his re-election campaign.  His official Democratic challenger was Sean Patrick Feeney, a relative unknown to local politics.  Feeney refused to step aside for a more well-known name: former Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell.  Tarbell mounted his own write-in campaign.  But in the end, it didn't matter.  Tarbell pulled in only about 3.5% of the vote, while Feeney collected 37%.  Monzel glided to victory with 59%.

Besides Issue 8 for Union Terminal, there were other county-wide and local issues on Tuesday's ballot.  Three of the bigger measures were renewals, meaning property owners won't see a new line on their tax bill. 

  • Issue 1 was a renewal for Cincinnati Public Schools, on a levy that was first passed in 2009.  It passed with 70% of the vote.
  • Issue 6 was also a renewal, for Hamilton County Family Services, which funds alternatives to incarceration for offenders with drug, alcohol or mental health problems.   70% of voters approved.
  • Issue 7, the Health and Hospitalization renewal levy provides medical care for those who can't afford it, at University Medical Center and Children's Hospital.  71% of voters said yes.
  • Voters in Mariemont approved an additional tax levy for the city school district.
  • Winton Woods voters said no to a proposed bond issue for the school system there.
  • In Forest Hills, a school bond issue and tax levy passed.
  • Lockland voters said no to an additional tax levy for the schools there.
  • Two renewal tax levies in Cheviot passed.
  • Issue 11, which cleaned up language in the City of Cincinnati Charter, passed.  Charter amendments also passed in Madeira and in Lincoln Heights.
  • Harrison, and Arlington Heights voters turned down an additional tax levy.  Green Township approved an additional tax levy.  Addyston’s renewed and additional tax levies both passed.
  • Mt. Healthy voters approved an income tax for the community.
  • Tax levies were renewed in North College Hill, Greenhills, Golf Manor, and Glendale.
  • Golf Manor, Newtown, and Silverton voters all approved electrical, and natural gas aggregation proposals.

All results are unofficial until certified by the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.