HAMILTON — City Councilman Donald Ryan unseated Mayor Adolf Olivas in a close three-way battle Tuesday for the city's top elected position.

        In Hamilton's first direct mayoral election, Mr. Ryan won with 5,000 votes, while Mr. Olivas had 4,580 and Vice Mayor Tom Nye had 3,659. The results are unofficial.

        Mr. Nye, an optometrist, was elected mayor four years ago in his first campaign for a public office. Two years ago, he finished second in the city council race, losing the mayor's seat to Mr. Olivas.

        In the race involving 15 candidates for six Hamilton City Council seats, James Noonan, Ed Shelton, Katherine Becker, Christopher Flaig, George McNally and Richard Holzber finished in the top six.

        Ms. Becker, Mr. Holzberger and Mr. McNally are incumbents. Mr. Shelton is a former Butler County commissioner.

        Incumbent Councilman Archie Johnson, who was appointed to council in August, finished 163 votes behind Mr. Holzberger for the last council seat.

        The top three vote-getters — Mr. Noonan, Mr. Shelton and Ms. Becker — will serve four-year terms, and the next three vote-getters — Mr. Flaig, Mr. McNally and Mr. Holzberger — will serve two-year terms. In Fairfield, With all of the city's 38 precincts reporting, Ms. Kinder was the leader in the council race with 16.6 percent of the vote.

        She was followed by Mark Scharringhausen, the only incumbent city council member in the race for three at-large council seats. He was being returned to office with 16.5 percent followed by former councilman Howard Dirksen, who had 16.1 percent

        Robert Wolpert, who stepped down from the mayor's seat this year, to run for council, fell short with 15.1 percent.

        In Middletown, Perry Thatcher easily beat incumbent City Councilman Fred Sennett and James E. Armbruster for the First Ward City Council seat. Mr. Thatcher had 1,077 votes, more than double the totals for each of his opponents.

        Nancy Nix defeated Anthony Marconi for the Third Ward's City Council seat, 1,936-940 votes.

        Walt Schaefer contributed.
       

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