By Reid Forgrave
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GREEN TWP. - Charles E. Mitchell, a former township attorney, was appointed Monday to an open trustee seat.

He will serve the two-year term of Paul Rattermann, who resigned shortly after he was re-elected in November. A committee had been charged with finding Rattermann's replacement.

Rattermann resigned after accepting a magistrate position that precluded him from holding elected office.

"I have a great love for Green Township," Mitchell said before clerk Thomas Straus swore him in. "I want to make sure we have balanced growth out here."

The committee's choice went against suggestions of the other two trustees. Last week, Tony Upton nominated Peggy Lopez, and Stephen Grote nominated Dick Hammersmith.

Without a consensus at that meeting, the appointment became the nominating committee's job.

"Chuck is the best person for the job. Chuck is a Republican and this is a Republican township," said Straus.

Mitchell said he'll run for trustee in November 2005.

Mitchell, 53, a graduate of Western Hills High School, has been president of the Oak Hills Board of Education and the Kiwanis Club of Cheviot-Westwood.

Mitchell said he hopes stay above the fray on this often-contentious board of trustees.

"I won't participate in any of the nonsense, any of the name-calling or other shenanigans that have been going on here," Mitchell said.

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E-mail rforgrave@enquirer.com