Balancing Butler County’s estimated $78.6 million budget and improving relations among county office holders are top concerns for the three candidates vying for an open seat on the board of commissioners.

The candidates — T.C. Rogers, of West Chester Twp., Jodi Billerman, of Liberty Twp. and Daryl Olthaus, of Milford Twp. — say they’ve watched the current commissioners squabble, struggle to pay down debt and end deficit spending. Each one believes they have what it takes to help Butler County get back on the right track. But no matter who wins on Election Day, the commission will have a new face and first-time office holder on board in January.

“I think that I can work with the group to get things done,” said Rogers, a Republican who bested incumbent commissioner Charles “Chuck” Furmon and state Rep. Courtney Combs in the GOP primary last March. “Conflict is not getting anything done.”

And neither is one-party rule, according to Billerman and Olthaus. Billerman, a Democrat, and Olthaus, a Libertarian, have both argued that the Republican stronghold on county offices, in part, contributes to the scandals and charges of corruption that have dogged Butler County in recent years.

Billerman, a former stay-at-home mom who now works for Educational Resource Consultants of Ohio, said her candidacy offers voters a real choice in this election.

“I decided to run because I didn’t feel represented,” said Billerman, 44. “If nothing else, I thought I could raise some issues… I value the people’s side of government over the political side.”

Olthaus, a former Republican and Central Committee member, said he switched to the county’s fledgling Libertarian Party because he “found (Republicans) were not the party of limited government that they said they are.” He said one-party government does not make for healthy fiscal planning.

“It is easier to turn your head if you are all in the same party,” said Olthaus, 52.

While Rogers has been involved with the county GOP since 1988, he is quick to point out that he is not part of the “establishment” and didn’t receive any money or endorsements from the party. The 64-year-old builder and real estate broker noted that he beat two long-time county Republicans in the primary who “thought they had it in the bag” because he “outworked them” with his door-to-door campaign.

Rogers, a native of Butler County, has worked on campaigns for his brother Randy Rogers, the county’s longtime probate judge. But it wasn’t until he was appointed to the Butler County Budget Advisory Board working to help solve the county’s financial crisis that he decided to run for the commission seat.

Olthaus, a nurse at Fort Hamilton Hospital who owns a small farm just outside of Somerville, said he chose to run because “I worry about where our country is going and I want to make a difference.” Olthaus said he perceives a lot of dysfunction among county officials and thinks that he could create a more unified team by working with all departments and observing first hand what their needs are.

Billerman said she sees senior citizens and those on fixed incomes paying the price for the county’s financial short falls. The county must stop “hemorrhaging money” and begin managing the budget so that the departments can provide the services that are needed and, in some cases, mandated by law.

“I do not want to see us compromising essential services,” Billerman said.

Getting people back to work and the economic vitality of the county are important issues for all three candidates.

Billerman said she is is interested in attracting high-tech jobs by creating the right economic environment.

“We have a growing population and a nationally-known university. We need to create business opportunities the will limit the brain drain and attract 21st century businesses,” Billerman said.

Retail developments “look good and are popular because everybody likes a new restaurant to try,” she said, but they do not create the high-paying jobs that are needed in the county.

Olthaus said there really isn’t much county government can do to create jobs, but keeping taxes low and maintaining and improving infrastructure will make Butler County attractive to new business and business expansion.

Rogers said the county could do more to attract new business, noting he wants to create a new economic climate combining the resources of groups throughout the area that will showcase the assets of the county, including the airport, Miami University and the aquifer.