Two novice candidates run for Butler County Commissioner
The candidates, Republican Michael Ryan and Democrat Mike Miller, are running to fill the seat vacated by Carpenter, who was elected in 2010 and sought a fifth term.
This story was produced by Miami University journalism students Taylor Powers and Josie Zimmerman in partnership with The Oxford Free Press.
Butler County voters will elect a new member of the Board of Commissioners for the first time since 2012 on Nov. 3. The current commissioners – Donald L. Dixon, Cindy Carpenter and T.C. Rogers – have served since 2007, 2011 and 2013, respectively.
The candidates, Republican Michael Ryan and Democrat Mike Miller, are running to fill the seat vacated by Carpenter, who was elected in 2010 and sought a fifth term.
Ryan, former Hamilton City Council member and vice mayor, received almost 72% of the primary vote in May and ousted Carpenter, according to the Butler County Board of Elections.
Ryan works as a life insurance underwriter and served on the Hamilton City Council for eight years.
One of Ryan’s priorities is creating better jobs, and he's interested in the growing aviation industry in Southwest Ohio. Butler County has three airports that he said it should be taking advantage of.
Ryan said these opportunities will bring in jobs that will “attract capital investment and revenue that we can use to fund our infrastructure.”
Ryan also wants to address rising property taxes. He supports an inside millage rollback and wants to give back to taxpayers.
“No one's going to move here if the bills continue to rise,” Ryan said. “So as a county commissioner, I'm going to do everything I can to keep our costs low, but [also] attract jobs and opportunities for our residents.”
Ryan wants voters to know he has already started the work, and he pointed to his conversations with Volynt Aero, a drone start-up in Oxford, about how the county can prepare for the expansion of drones and eVTOLs.
“I'm ready to work for them,” Ryan said. “I work for the people, and I can't wait to fight for them and help everyone out that I'm able to do.”
Michael Ryan shakes someone’s hand at Operation Pumpkin in Hamilton, which took place Oct. 9-11, 2026. Photo provided by Michael Ryan. Mike Miller, the Democrat candidate for the Butler County Board of Commissioners race. Photo provided by Mike Miller.
Miller is entering the race for county commissioner as a first-time political candidate. He is a stay-at-home dad and youth sports coach from Fairfield, Ohio.
Miller’s focused on data centers in Trenton, Ohio. He says he favors development that does not burden local communities, and he argues development is one of the issues people are paying attention to in this election.
“I am for responsible development, which includes being against the data center,” Miller said. “I am not for any development that would be potentially … strain our (electricity) and water.”
Issues related to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the county jail and public safety are also a concern for Miller. He wants the county to redirect the commission’s attention away from ICE and to instead focus on Butler County residents.
Miller argues the commissioners should support the safety of Butler County and avoid serving a personal or political agenda. If elected, he would be the only Democrat on the board.
“I may be a vocal minority in a panel of three, but at least acknowledge they are being heard,” Miller said.
Voters can find information on early voting, polling locations and view a sample ballot on www.ohiosos.gov/elections.
