Greg Hartmann vowed Monday to stay away from small political fights in making tough decisions for the citizens of Hamilton County.
The former Clerk of Courts made the comment after being sworn in as the lone Republican member of the Hamilton County Commission.
He joins Democrats David Pepper and Todd Portune on that body.
Hartmann said his top priorities will be economic development to create new jobs, raising new sources of revenue other than increasing taxes and public safety.
As Clerk of Courts, he had to lay off 42 employees to balance the budget. The move came as $30 million was trimmed from General Fund spending.
"We still have tough times ahead of us," Hartmann told his family members, friends and other elected officials after taking the oath of office from Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Norbert Nadel.
The Hyde Park father of five vowed to find smart solutions in a very difficult economy.
"The way to do that is not by playing small ball politics or playing who gotcha, but by working together and coming to compromise on certain issues," Hartmann said.
"That's what the public demands," he added.
