The big spenders in this fall's more high-profile political races in Butler and Warren counties didn't always wind up the big winners.

        In fact, one Fairfield City Council candidate led all contenders — after spending a mere $35, according to campaign finance reports covering Oct. 18 through Dec. 7. Friday was the deadline for November's candidates to file their reports.

        In Hamilton, Mayor Adolf Olivas spent at least three times more than his two challengers spent in their campaigns, but lost his seat to Donald Ryan.

        Mr. Olivas plunked down $10,956, while Mr. Ryan, a councilman, spent $3,791 and Vice Mayor Tom Nye, who finished third in the race, spent $3,322.

        In the Hamilton City Council race, the biggest spenders fared well.

        James Noonan, a political novice, surprised a lot of people as the leading vote-getter among 15 Hamilton City Council candidates competing for six seats.

        But Mr. Noonan also was the leading campaign spender at $12,133.

        The second-leading vote-getter, challenger Ed Shelton, also was the No. 2 spender. Mr. Shelton, a former Butler County commissioner, spent $7,106.

        Christopher Flaig, another challenger who won a seat on Hamilton City Council, was the fourth-leading spender at $5,145.

        Challengers Art Sauerwein, Patrick Moeller and Daniel Acton spent more on their campaigns than three victorious council incumbents, Katherine Becker, Richard Holzberger and George McNally.

        Archie Johnson, an incumbent who lost his seat, and Phillip Grubb, an unsuccessful challenger, did not meet the Friday deadline for filing campaign expenses.

        In the Middletown City Council race, Perry Thatcher spent at least seven times more than his two challengers, and it paid off in an easy victory for the First Ward seat.

        Mr. Thatcher spent $12,577 and won by 31 percentage points over the second-leading vote-getter, James E. Armbruster. Mr. Armbruster spent $1,722, and incumbent Fred Sennet spent $1,442.

        But the big money didn't win Middletown's Third Ward race. Anthony Marconi outspent Nancy Nix, $9,475 to $3,389, but lost the election, 67 percent to 33 percent.

        Two of the three biggest spenders in the seven-candidate race for three Fairfield City Council seats fell short on votes.

        Jill Kinder, a first-time candidate who finished first in the race, spent only $35 on her campaign.

        The top spender at $3,217, Donald Hassler, failed to win a seat.

        Mark Scharringhausen, who won re-election, was the second-highest spender at $3,117, and the third winner, Howard Dirksen, spent $2,543, the fourth highest.

        These are the other three losing Fairfield Council candidates and their expenses: John Crothers, $2,753; Mayor Robert Wolpert, $1,690; and Charles Klosterman, zero.

        In Warren County, spending in the Deerfield Township trustees race far outpaced that in other area races and closely mirrored the election results.

        Randy Kuvin, a newcomer, topped the list with $10,148, followed by incumbent Barbara Wilkens Reed with $7,982.

        Mr. Kuvin and Ms. Wilkens Reed, who ran as a slate, won the two open seats.

        Lee Speidel had the third-highest spending, with $4,891, but came in fifth.

        Running mates Richard Bethel and Joe Mettey, who spent $3,738 each, placed third and fourth, respectively.

        The two candidates who placed in single digits — Fred Brian Hillard and Bill Wallace — didn't file campaign finance reports, according to Warren County Board of Election files.

        Reports are not needed if no individual donates more than $100 and the campaign doesn't spend more than $2,000.

        Neighboring Mason also had a crowded race, but City Council candidates spent far less, and vote totals didn't correlate with spending.

        Incumbent Victor Kidd spent the most, $3,966, but came in third. Still, Mr. Kidd won one of four seats.

        The other top spenders — Carl Boltz and Lee Hamilton — fell short on votes.

        Top vote-getters Pete Beck and John McCurley apparently did not spend enough to file a report.

        Likewise in Lebanon, Mark Flick spent the most at $4,007, but failed to win re-election in the eight-candidate race for four seats. Top winners Amy Brewer and newcomer Jim Norris did not file reports.

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