Michael Ryan wins Butler County commission seat
The former Hamilton City Councilman will take office in January, vowing to tackle property taxes and manage data center expansion.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Butler County residents will see a new face on the County Commission in early January. Michael Ryan, a Republican and former Hamilton City Councilman, won the open seat on Tuesday. He is the first new member added to the board in 15 years.
Ryan defeated his Democratic opponent, Mike Miller, by a double-digit margin. In the primary election, Ryan had already secured a strong showing against incumbent Cindy Carpenter. He won that contest with 72 percent of the vote. The final result ensures a shift in the board’s composition for the next term.
Speaking shortly after the election, Ryan said he felt great about the result. He described the weather as misty but noted that it is always sunny in Butler County. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the county residents.
Ryan identified affordability and cost as his top priority for day one. He said these were the most common complaints he heard during the campaign. In Butler County, this focus translates to addressing rising property taxes. He plans to work with state lawmakers on long-term tax reform. He also supports a property tax rollback that is currently under consideration, stating he wants to give that money back to people.
The new commissioner-elect cited his experience guiding Hamilton’s economic recovery as council. He acknowledged that the county presents a larger and more diverse challenge than the city. He expressed interest in attracting drone and aviation industry jobs to the area. He also wants to focus on tech jobs for future generations of workers.
Data centers have become a point of contention in the region. Voters in Trenton banned large-scale data centers in the same election that elected Ryan. Ryan said he supports the current moratorium on data centers. He stated that this pause should continue until the overall impact of the structures is better understood. He is waiting for a report from the state Data Center Committee before finalizing his position.
Ryan said he believes economic development should be tailored to specific areas of the county. He described his approach as smart growth. This method aims to balance new industry with local needs. He will take the oath of office in January to begin this work.
