LEBANON — Political newcomers dominated the day in Warren County's two largest cities as voters sifted through crowded slates.

        Lebanon challengers campaigned — apparently successfully — against incumbents they said wasted more than $200,000 buying a historic but fire-damaged building and against the bickering and scandals that climaxed with the city manager's indictment in July.

        “It's historic, but let private enterprise take care of it,” resident Elizabeth “Betty” Lyon, 65, said after casting her ballot for Amy Brewer.

        Mrs. Brewer, an art teacher, was the only incumbent to win Tuesday, according to complete, unofficial results. She and newcomer James Norris II — also a teacher — led the eight candidates with 16.5 percent of the vote each.

        Four four-year seats were up for election — enough to change the balance of power on City Council in the county's seat.

        Norm Dreyer, a school board member, and retired city employee Jim Hause nabbed the other two seats.

        Falling short were Mayor James Mills, Council members Mark Flick and Jane Davenport, and Main Street resident Gary Casimir.

        Mason's City Council race was even more crowded, with 12 candidates running for four four-year terms in the fast-growing city.

        Political newcomers Tom Grossmann and Victor Kidd, as well as incumbents John McCurley and Peter Beck were on their way to victory with 100 percent of the precincts counted, according to unofficial returns. Mr. Grossmann was winning the race for the top vote-getter with about 20 percent of the ballots cast in his favor.

        Mr. Grossmann said he plans to focus on making Mason run efficiently, lowering taxes and managing the growth through infrastructure improvements and careful planning.

        According to unofficial returns, Mr. McCurley had 14 percent of the votes, Mr. Kidd had 13 percent and Mr. Beck had about 10 percent.

        Mason lost two incumbents this year, as Betty Davis and Tom Muennich opted not to run again.

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