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Richard K. Jones, Butler County Sheriff
Biography: Jones, 55, is a Hamilton native who was sworn in as Butler County sheriff in 2005. Before that, he was chief deputy for 12 years. Jones holds a master’s degree in corrections from Xavier University and served as a major at the Lebanon Correctional Institute before joining the sheriff’s office. As sheriff, Jones has built a tough-on-crime reputation and enjoyed national prominence for his tough stance on illegal immigration.
U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp.
Biography: Boehner, 59, lives in West Chester Twp. and has served as U.S. House Republican leader since 2006 and as a U.S. congressman since 1990. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Xavier University and is president of a local plastics sales firm. He also has served as state representative and township trustee. In his current post, Boehner has been a vocal opponent of the federal stimulus package and the $3.4 trillion federal budget lawmakers approved last week.
Boehner vs. Jones in 2010?
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Biography: Jones, 55, is a Hamilton native who was sworn in as Butler County sheriff in 2005. Before that, he was chief deputy for 12 years. Jones holds a master’s degree in corrections from Xavier University and served as a major at the Lebanon Correctional Institute before joining the sheriff’s office. As sheriff, Jones has built a tough-on-crime reputation and enjoyed national prominence for his tough stance on illegal immigration.
Biography: Boehner, 59, lives in West Chester Twp. and has served as U.S. House Republican leader since 2006 and as a U.S. congressman since 1990. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Xavier University and is president of a local plastics sales firm. He also has served as state representative and township trustee. In his current post, Boehner has been a vocal opponent of the federal stimulus package and the $3.4 trillion federal budget lawmakers approved last week.
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By Josh Sweigart,
Staff Writer
Updated 10:34 AM Sunday, May 3, 2009
His friends call him “Jonesy,” he is known for his folksy demeanor and tough stance on illegal immigration. He is Butler County’s sheriff, and may vie to become its next U.S. congressman in 2010. But that job is already held by a highly polished, West Chester Twp. businessman who happens to be one of the most powerful Republicans in the country. Should Rep. John Boehner be concerned? Does Richard Jones stand a chance?
Sheriff’s support unknown outside Butler County
One of Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones’ favorite things to point out is that he got more votes in Butler County last year than John Boehner, the U.S. House minority leader from West Chester Twp.
While this is technically true — Jones got 114,665 votes compared to 99,382 for Boehner — it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Boehner’s congressional district doesn’t include a large swath of rural southwest Butler County where Republicans enjoy broad support. But it does include all or part of Montgomery, Darke, Mercer, Miami and Preble counties.
And as the sheriff openly contemplates challenging one of the country’s most powerful Republicans in a primary next year, he’ll have to think about more than Butler County.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t know that I can pick him (Jones) out of a line-up,” said Del Kramer, GOP chairman in Mercer County, where 71 percent of residents voted Republican in the last election.
As for Boehner: “I’ve always felt that he was very well received up here,” Kramer said. “I think most people like him generally pretty well.”
Jim Nathanson, Republican member of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, said Jones has some name recognition in the Dayton area, “but I don’t think he has a great deal of respect.”
“The congressman is extremely well regarded and well liked in (the Dayton) area, and I think the community will rally around the congressman,” Nathanson said. “I don’t know why the sheriff is doing what he’s doing, but he won’t get traction in Dayton.”
Kramer did meet Jones when the sheriff attended a GOP fundraiser there. It was one of many such events he recently attended throughout Boehner’s district, sparking rumors that he was testing the waters for a run.
Jones still has little more than a toe in the water. He pulled petitions to run for the seat Tuesday, April 28, but said, “right now, it’s all in the experimental stages.”
“I’m not a candidate at this time,” he said. “I love being sheriff.”
“I need to find out the feasibility of me running a race and winning,” he said. “I don’t want to run a race just to be running a race … it’s a contact sport and I need to find out if I can raise the money it takes.”
Jones vs. the GOP
If Jones does file a petition, he’ll be stoking a fight with a political behemoth.
As a national figure, Boehner has access to deep-pocketed supporters across the country. He spent more than $1 million during the 2008 election — much of it donated to other campaigns — and had $314,563 on hand at the end of the last reporting period.
Jones is one of the most successful fund raisers in local politics, with $178,899 on hand after last year’s election.
But Federal Election Commission rules prevent Jones from spending this money on a federal race. He could give the money back to donors and ask them to donate to his congressional race, but that would be risky.
Jones also could end up taking on his own party.
“(Boehner) is a great American, he is a great member of Congress for the state of Ohio and an outstanding Republican leader, he has an outstanding record on fiscal discipline,” said Kevin DeWine, Ohio GOP chairman. “I’m confident that the people of the congressional district will re-elect him not only in the primary but also in the general election.”
DeWine said he wasn’t concerned about such a race hurting the party, but local Republicans are more concerned about an expensive contest that could bruise opinions and reputations.
“From our perspective, we certainly do not welcome a contested primary,” said Butler County GOP Chairman Tom Ellis. “It’s financially expensive and divisive within the party; it’s something we hope does not happen.”
“They’re both immensely popular officeholders and have represented constituents well in their respective positions,” he said.
Jones has rankled the GOP before, taking out a newspaper ad criticizing Arizona Sen. John McCain’s immigration views during his run for president and last month voicing his lack of support for state Sen. Jon Husted’s run for Secretary of State.
'David and Goliath’
Jones seemed unfazed about the prospect of running as an outsider.
“Just remember David and Goliath, and having the most money isn’t always the best thing,” he said. “People like to have a choice and they seem to be fed up with both parties at this point.
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Then turns arounds and says that He is opposed to Washington's Tax and Spend policies.
He is the Wolf in Sheeps clothing...much worse than just a regular Wolf; like Obama, Ted Kennedy, Pelosi, Feinstein, etc.
9:38 AM, 5/5/2009
I think you have made a great sherrif for butler county. We need you here to continue your work for Butler County. You would be a freshman in congress and freshman has a hard timne getting any thing done in Washington. Senority rules up there. I know we need new people up there, but most people doese not seem to think so. They keep sending the same ones back and look what a mess the country is in now.
10:08 AM, 5/4/2009
9:34 AM, 5/4/2009
11:22 PM, 5/3/2009
6:53 PM, 5/3/2009