County-level candidates win commission, judge primaries on Tuesday
Jordan Wortham appeared to narrowly defeat Rennes Bowers on Tuesday in the Republican primary race for Montgomery County commissioner, according to unofficial Montgomery County Board of Elections results.
Wortham finished with 50.6% of the vote, compared to 49.4% for Bowers. Provisional ballots and valid late-arriving absentee ballots will still be counted in the coming days, but Wortham’s margin of 394 votes makes a change in the final result unlikely.
If Wortham’s victory stands up, he will run against Democratic incumbent Carolyn Rice in November.
Wortham worked for the Dayton Police Department for seven years, while Bowers worked for the Dayton Fire Department for 30 years. Wortham said business development, removing red tape and making government services more efficient would be his top priorities if elected.
“I am a fiscal conservative, former police officer, and businessman who is ready to fight for American prosperity and freedom,” Wortham said.
Montgomery County judge race
Angelina Jackson defeated Jacqueline Gaines in the Democratic primary for a Montgomery County Common Pleas Court judge seat. Jackson came out ahead Tuesday with 63.5% of the vote to Gaines’ 36.5%, according to the unofficial Board of Elections results.
Jackson will now compete in November against Robert Hanseman for a sixyear term.
Jackson leads the appellate division in the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office. She said her priorities if elected will be using evidence-based therapeutic alternatives to incarceration where legally appropriate, increasing efficiency and access to the court using technology, and respecting the rights of victims.
“I am a Dayton native, a graduate of Dayton Public Schools, an HBCU graduate, and a mother of two school-aged daughters. I am a hard-working, openminded, and compassionate person and I believe I would be a good judge,” Jackson said.
Warren County Commission
Incumbent Tom Grossmann narrowly won the Republican primary for his Warren County commission seat over challenger Amy Brewer. Unofficial results from the Warren County Board of Elections showed Grossmann with 51.4% of all votes, and Brewer receiving 48.6%.
Grossmann is an incumbent commissioner and former mayor of Mason. Brewer recently stepped down after 32 years on Lebanon City Council, including 20 years as mayor.
As the winner of the Republican primary, Grossman will face Democrat Nabila Babar in November’s general election.
Grossmann said the county must continue promoting balanced growth to maintain its tax base. He said public services should be maintained and improved, including properly funding county offices and upgrading and improving county facilities; improving county infrastructure and roads to keep up with growth.
“My word is true and can be trusted,” Grossmann said. “I have a proven conservative record of accomplishment because I am trustworthy.”