Two-term Republican Greg Hartmann said Tuesday morning he will officially resign from office on Monday, clearing the way for the Hamilton County Republican Party to name his successor.
That is likely to be Dennis Deters, a Colerain Township trustee. Deters and two other Republicans filed for the office by the Dec. 16 deadline for the March primary. Two have dropped out, leaving only Deters.
Deters, the brother of county prosecutor Joseph Deters, will face Democrat Denise Driehaus, who is term-limited out of her Ohio House seat, in the November general election.
The appointment by the Hamilton County Republican executive committee would likely come some time in early January.
Hartmann told WVXU Tuesday morning that had intended to finish out his term, but wants to give Deters a leg-up in the November election.
“My plan was to serve all year,’’ Hartmann said. “But Dennis Deters is the only person running for my seat and he’s somebody who represents my values and can continue the good work we’ve been able to accomplish over the past seven years.”
Hartmann said he is going back to the private practice of law and will pursue business opportunities. But he said he may well run for public office again some day.
Driehaus put out a written statement on the development through her campaign.
"Hamilton County deserves a forward-thinking commission, willing to build partnerships and invest in our future,'' Driehaus said in the written statement. "Regardless of who I'll be running against - an elected incumbent, an appointed incumbent or a traditional Republican - I'm going to work passionately to win my fellow Hamilton County residents' votes."
