9-01-2025 4:06am

Who and What's On The Nov., Ballot For Your Warren County City

Beth Callahan Editor

While every city in Warren County has council members to be elected, two of these cities, Franklin and Lebanon, have separate issues for their voters to decide on this November 4.

CARLISLE, OHIO

Nestled in northwestern Warren and southern Montgomery counties, Carlisle is know for its small town charm and its railroad tracks. As of 2024, its population was 5855. Initially governed by a strong mayoral system (Mayor/Council), Carlisle transitioned to a Council/Manager form of government in 1987 following the adoption of a “home rule” charter by its residents. While council appoints the city manager, residents elect the city's council members.

Carlisle's council is made up of seven seats with one being mayor, which all are chosen by the residents. This year four seats are up that are currently being held by Willian Bicknell, Jason Faulkner, Timothy Humphries, and Michael Kilpatrick.

This election, there are five certified candidates running for these four open seats. They are:

Denise Eagle,
Jason Faulkner,
Glenna Griffin,
Tim Humphries,
Michael Kilpatrick,

Term Starts: 01/01/2026

FRANKLIN, OH

Situated along the Great Miami River in the northern part of Warren County is the city of Franklin with its 2024 population numbering 11,758. In 1984, the Franklin City Charter established the City’s form of government as the Council - City Manager Plan. Under this form of government, Council, which is made up by a board of seven elected individuals, constitutes the governing body of the City, and appoints the City Manager. The board of seven elected individuals, vote within the seven council members on who will serve as mayor and an assistant from within themselves.

This year on 12/31/2025 three seats expire. Holding these seats are:

Michael Aldridge, who was first elected back in 2006 and then re-elected in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022;
Dennis Centers, who was first appointed in 2001 and then 2002 elected; re-elected 2006, 2010, 2014 , 2018 and 2022; and
Matt Wilcher, who was first elected in 2018 and then re-elected 2022

This election, there are five individuals running for one of the three open seats. They are:

Michael Aldridge
David M. Hopper
Robert Dale Lipps, Jr
Ryan Roberts
Mathew Wilcher

Term Starts: 01/01/2026

Also, on the ballot for Franklin City Voters

A proposed tax levy to help generate funds for the operation of the City's Fire and EMT...

"An additional tax for the benefit of City of Franklin for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment, or other fire equipment and appliances, buildings and sites therefor, or sources of water supply and materials therefor, for the establishment and maintenance of lines of fire-alarm communications, for the payment of firefighting companies or permanent, part-time, or volunteer firefighting, emergency medical service, administrative, or communications personnel to operate the same, including the payment of any employer contributions required for such personnel under Section 145.48 or 742.34 of the Revised Code, for the purchase of ambulance equipment, for the provision of ambulance, paramedic, or other emergency medical services operated by a fire department or firefighting company, or for the payment of other related costs that the county auditor estimates will collect $1,765,884 annually, at a rate not exceeding 4.9 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $172 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2025, first due in calendar year 2026."

LEBANON, OH

Lebanon is the county seat for Warren County. In 2024 the estimated population was 21,995 The Lebanon City Council consists of seven members who are elected by its citizens and stagger four-year terms. The mayor and vice mayor are elected by City Council from its members to serve a two-year term. The council also appoints the City Manager, the City Auditor / Clerk of Council and City Attorney.

This year four council persons terms finish and all four are running for re-elction.They are:

Michael Cope,
Brad Lamoreaux, vice mayor
Scott Norris, and
Matt Sellers

Also running for one of the four open seats is:

James Norris, who is the past served on council for 16 years.

Term Starts: 01/01/2026

Also on the ballot for Lebanon voters is an Adult Use Cannabis Issue...

"Shall the following adult use dispensary, Therapeutic Healing Care II, LLC dba Ethos, whose owners also have had a licensed medical marijuana dispensary at 1525 Genntown Drive, Suite B5, Lebanon, Ohio 45036 since April 6, 2022, remain open as long as the adult use dispensary is licensed pursuant to Chapter 3780 of the Revised Code by the Division of Cannabis Control under the Department of Commerce, and the City of Lebanon is eligible to receive host community cannabis funding?"

LOVELAND, OH

The city of Loveland, which encompasses residents in Hamilton, Clermont and Warren counties, has a population of 13,277 in 2024. The city is administered by a council/manager form of government with seven council members elected at large on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms, has four seats that expire December 1, 2025. (The mayor, who is selected by council from its ranks, presides at council meetings and is the City representative at functions.)

While two of the elected councilmen: Ted Phelps, who was first elected to Council in 2013, then re-elected in 2017, and 2021; and Neal Oury who served on City Council from 2017 to 2021 and was unanimously appointed to fill a vacated City Council seat in June 2022 are not running again.

The two other council members whose terms expire this year are running for re-election this year. They are: John Hart and Kip Ping, who were both elected in 2021 to serve on Loveland City Council in 2021.

Others running to fill one of the four seats are:

Jim Daumeyer,
Sherry Hamlin,
Deidre Hazelbaker,
Adam Jeranek,
Todd Osborne and
Lynn Zuch

Term Starts: 12/02/2025

MASON, OH

The city of Mason, with a population of 36,046 in 2024, uses a Council-Manager form of government and it is the elected council that elects the Mayor from among its own members. Council members also have term limits, which are set at two consecutive four-year terms. This means a council member can serve two full terms back-to-back, but after that, they cannot be reelected to consecutive terms.

Both Mayor Diana K. Nelson and Vice Mayor Ashley Chance terms end November 30. Neither will be running for re-election as they have reached the two consecutive two year term limit.

Current council members:

Mark Haake and
Barbara Spaeth whose terms also expire on November 30, 2025, are running for re-election.

Others who are running for Mason Council are:

Tony Bradburn,
Mark Burrell,
Jan Roeder,
Gina Sanders,
Kim Singh, and
Murali Swamy

Terms Start: 12/01/2025

MIDDLETOWN, OH

The City of Middletown, which has a population of 52,291 in 2024, uses a council-manager form of government where the five-member legislative body consists of a mayor and four council members — all elected "at large" by the city's residents. And council then appoints a city manager. This year both Paul Horn and Paul Lolli terms expire, with only Paul Lolli is running for re-election

Also running for council along with Lolli are three others. They are:

Joe Mulligan
Scotty Robertson and
Larri Silas

Term starts 01/01/2026

MONROE, OH

The city of Monroe, which has a population of 15,950 as of 2024, uses a Council-Manager form of government. The council is made up of 7 elected individuals elected by its residents. The city council members then elects the mayor, who serves a two-year term, from among themselves after each council election. Council, also, appoints the city manager. This year, three council seats expire. They are:

John P. Centers
Kelly L. Clark and
Ben Wagner

While non of the current council members whose term expires at the end of the year are running for re-election. There are four individuals running for three open seats. They are:

Jordan Brown
Molly Cloyd
Todd Hickman and
Alex Kaiser.

Term Starts: 01/01/2026

SOUTH LEBANON, OH

A recently new city in the county is South Lebanon, with the population of 6,923 (2024). It uses a mayor-council form of government, which means the mayor is directly elected to serve as the chief executive. Council elects a Vice Mayor to perform the duties of the Mayor in the Mayor's absence.

This year four seats are open. Running to fill these positions are:

Linda Allen incumbent,
Brenda L. Combs incumbent,
Lisa Fedor incumbent, and
David Nathan Smith

Term Starts 01/01/2026

SPRINGBORO, OH

Springboro, which has the population of 19,646 (2024), has residents in both Warren and Montgomery Counties. The City of Springboro, Ohio, uses a council-manager form of government. Council consists of seven members with one council member elected from each of the city's four wards and the other three being citizens at large, which includes the one at large being elected as mayor. This election, voters will be voting on councilman from each of the four wards, all who are running unopposed. They are: