Warren County voters face contested commissioner race
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Warren County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to give longtime Commissioner Tom Grossmann another four years or elect one of two political newcomers — including a Democrat fresh out of college.
Why it matters: One of Ohio's fastest-growing counties faces mounting development pressures, infrastructure demands and questions about taxpayer spending.
- The three-member commission oversees the county's budget, sets certain taxes and guides economic development and infrastructure investments.
State of play: Grossmann, a Republican commissioner since 2015, defeated Lebanon Mayor Mark Messer in the May primary with nearly 62% of the vote.
- He now faces Democrat Ian Logan and Libertarian Katherine Bowles.
Meet the candidates
- Grossmann: The Mason resident is a former mayor, attorney and county GOP chairman. His campaign emphasizes low taxes, business development and farmland preservation.
- Bowles: The Lebanon resident left the Republican Party over what she described as internal politics. Her campaign focuses on cutting government waste and improving transparency.
- Logan: The Mason High School graduate earned his Ohio State political science degree this year. His platform emphasizes affordability, civil liberties and responsible development.
Where they stand
💵 Taxes: Grossmann's campaign touts more than $140 million in taxpayer savings during his time in local office. He supported June's 0.5-percentage-point sales tax increase paired with a one-year property tax waiver.
- Bowles and Logan oppose the tax swap, telling Vote411 that it shifts more of the burden onto renters and owners of smaller homes.
🏗️ Growth: Business development helps fund infrastructure and schools, Grossmann told the Dayton Daily News.
- Logan prioritizes affordable housing, lower living costs and preserving rural areas. Bowles wants commissioners to better manage growth and its infrastructure demands.
⚡ Data centers: The candidates aren't calling for an outright ban, but all want restrictions.
- Grossmann favors zoning controls on size and location. Bowles wants developers covering infrastructure and utility costs.
- Logan calls for community consent and opposes nondisclosure agreements with developers.
📸 Flock cameras: Grossmann supports license plate readers for law enforcement with safeguards against misuse.
- Logan's campaign calls for ending Flock surveillance. Bowles also opposes the cameras over privacy concerns.
🎪 Fairgrounds: All three support preserving the Warren County Fairgrounds. Bowles backs efforts to improve its finances. Logan wants more year-round events and public input.