Saturday, March 11, 2000
Key Butler Democrat switches
Don Dixon becomes a Republican
BY STEVE KEMME and JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Don Dixon, one of Butler County's most prominent Democrats, has changed his political stripes.
After some soul-searching, the former chairman of the Butler County Democratic Party has become a Republican.
Mr. Dixon, a former county commissioner and a major donor to the local Democrats, asked for a Republican ballot when he voted in Tuesday's primary election. So did his other family members, including his son, Brent, a special assistant at the Butler County Board of Elections.
“I think the decision was based on a lot of philosophical issues. It was just a lot of everything, and not one thing,” Don Dixon said Friday, declining to elaborate.
“I think choosing one's politics is a private issue, and I'd just as soon leave it alone.”
The Dixon clan traditionally has been among the Democratic Party's most generous supporters.
During the past four years, Mr. Dixon, his brother Greg and son Brent contributed more than $19,400 to the party, Board of Elections records show.
Mr. Dixon's defection is a stinging blow to county Democrats.
The Democrats, once the dominant party in Butler County, have only one county officeholder, Prosecutor John Holcomb, who's running for re-election this year. The influx of suburban conservatives into Butler during the past 30 years transformed the county into a Republican stronghold.
There have been other high-profile defections from the Democratic Party in recent years.
In 1997, Greg Jolivette, then Hamilton mayor, joined the Republican Party so he could be appointed to a vacant seat in the Ohio House. Common Pleas Judge Michael Sage left the Democratic Party last year.
Mr. Holcomb said his party will feel Mr. Dixon's loss.
“It's a wound to the party, but it's certainly not life-threatening or anything,” he said. “I'm disappointed that he did this because I know he's not a Republican.”
He said he will continue to have a high regard for Mr. Dixon.
“I always thought Don Dixon was a top-notch, high-class guy,” Mr. Holcomb said. “No matter what his political affiliation is, that's not going to change how I feel about him.”
Union Township Trustee Catherine Stoker, a Democrat, said she has spoken with Mr. Dixon since his defection and knows he doesn't bear ill will toward the Democrats.
“He's always been a party supporter and has been very generous financially with the party,” said Ms. Stoker, who is running this year for a county commissioner's seat against incumbent Chuck Furmon.
Mr. Dixon, 50, a developer in the health-care business, was Fairfield Township trustee for 10 years until 1997, when he decided not to seek another term.
Last month, he completed a four-year term as a member of the Butler County Board of Elections.
Mr. Dixon's party switch didn't especially surprise Democrat Richard Holzber ger, a Hamilton city councilman. He said he noticed a drop-off in recent years in Mr. Dixon's financial contributions to the local Democratic Party and his participation in party activities.
“The signs were there,” Mr. Holzberger said.
Meanwhile, Butler County Republicans welcomed Mr. Dixon.
“We're happy to have him,” said Marilyn Hatfield, executive director of the Butler County Republican Party. “I haven't heard how involved he plans on getting in the party. But if he gets involved, it will mean a lot.”
She said she thought he was a good county commissioner during his four-year stint in the 1980s.
“Even back then, I told Don he was too nice to be a Democrat,” she said with a laugh.
Mr. Holcomb, who has been prose cutor for 27 years, said he has no notion of switching parties — even though registered Republicans more than double the registered Democrats in Butler County.
“It seems like in the past 10 years, some (Democrats) have said, "If you can't beat them, join them,'” he said. “But I'm not going to join them, I'm going to beat them.”
Catholics split on St. Pat's feast
Plight of needy changed man who had it all
False burglar alarms divert police
Reducing the chance of a false alarm
Students get a taste of space
Police: Crack cut to trickle
Sewer gas odor makes Reading students sick
Two students found with knife, razor
Bill hands airport $7.1M
Key Butler Democrat switches
Landmark sold to developer
Ruling keeps gun fight alive
Blaze devastates restaurant
Miss America's wedding plan stirs protest
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Ballet celebrates women brilliantly
GET TO IT
Violinist Oundjian shines in CSO conducting debut
208-room Hilton Garden Inn to be built near Levee project
5th floor turns into jail
Academic hall names 3 from N. Ky.
Elections director quits
Fans to sip Sunrise at Spiral Stakes
Glendale starts new long-range plan
Human rights advocates share stories
More burley farmers join tobacco lawsuit
Orange powder 'over everything'
Police seek 2 gunmen in Green Twp. holdup
Schools told to rehire drivers
TRISTATE DIGEST
Wild woods to get survey
