HAMILTON — Courtney Combs announced Thursday that he will seek his fifth consecutive term as a Butler County commissioner.

Combs

        Mr. Combs, a commissioner since 1986, said several months ago that he intended to run for re-election next November. But he made an official announcement Thursday.

        No opposition has surfaced within Mr. Combs' Butler County Republican Party. In fact, the party has endorsed him for re-election.

        So far, no Democratic candidate has surfaced to run against Mr. Combs.
       

Wanted: Democrats to run

        But the Butler County Democratic Party hopes to find someone to run for commissioner, said John M. Holcomb, chairman of the party's central committee.

        “We're actively looking for candidates for all the offices on the ballot,” he said.

        Mr. Combs, 56, said he considers himself the fiscal conservative on the board, even though his two colleagues, Mike Fox and Chuck Furmon, are also Republicans.

        “I will continue to watch the taxpayers' dollars,” he said.

        Last month, Mr. Combs voted against a 10-year increase in the county sales tax. He said the shaky economic climate and his concerns about some of the projects on the sales tax funding list made him oppose the tax increase.

        But the other two commissioners voted for the tax increase and it passed. Barring a referendum, the increase will take effect March 1.

        Mr. Combs is a Ross Township resident who served on Hamilton City Council for four years before becoming a county commissioner.
       

Water dispute simmers

        Mr. Combs said settling the 4-year-old water rate dispute with Hamilton is one of his major goals this year.

        The county and Hamilton have been locked in a legal battle that is still in the courts.

        County water users, unlike Hamilton water users, pay one of the highest water rates in Ohio.

        Butler, which has been under contract to buy water from Hamilton since 1989, has accused Hamilton of overcharging. Hamilton officials say their prices are fair.

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