For the first time in two decades, the November ballots in Hamilton County won’t bear the name of Joe Deters for the position of prosecutor. This came to be after his appointment to the Ohio Supreme Court last year. Consequently, the prosecutorial post left vacant will be contested by two fresh faces: Melissa Powers, the current Republican prosecutor who stepped up to fill the position since January of 2023, and Democrat Connie Pillich, who previously served as a state representative. The outcome will record a landmark achievement as the county will swear in its first elected female prosecutor.
Political pundits are watching this race intently, as they grapple with the question of whether or not a Republican can manage to retain this crucial seat in Ohio’s third-largest metropolitan county- which, notably, has been progressively edging towards the Democrats in successive election cycles. With her experience as a judge and her tenure as a prosecutor nearing two years by the time the election rolls around, Melissa Powers brings to the table an impressive professional portfolio.
However, the Democrat stronghold that Hamilton County has morphed into over the years can’t be downplayed. Demonstrated by the entirely Democrat representation in both the nine-member Cincinnati City Council and the county’s trifecta of commissioners. Despite the county’s partisan leaning, the voters have historically been hesitant to grant the prosecutorial reins to a Democrat.
This hesitance dates back to 1932, marking Robert N. Gorman’s last tenure as a Democrat Prosecutor. Although he initially ran on the Citizens’ ticket, he was firmly supported by the Democrats. His subsequent election to the Ohio Supreme Court also followed the Democrat ticket. However, since then voters have strayed away from supporting a Democrat for the position.
The stakes for this prosecutor’s race couldn’t be higher. The role is instrumental in shaping lives and determining which way the scales of justice should tilt — towards redemption, or retaliation. Anyone attempting to decipher the race’s possible outcome may find insight in looking at Franklin County and Cuyahoga County — the only two larger urban territories within the state’s borders.
In 2020, Franklin County surprised many by discarding their long-standing Republican prosecutor, Ron O’Brien. His Democratic rival, retired 10th District Court of Appeals Judge Gary Tyack, took on the mantle despite being on the road to recovery from a stroke at that time. O’Brien had been serving as prosecutor for an impressive 24-year stretch, making him the longest-running Franklin County prosecutor in history.
This year, the politically blue county of Cuyahoga is expected to re-elect Democrat Michael O’Malley for yet another term as prosecutor. O’Malley is uncontested in this race, effectively ensuring that the post remains in Democratic hands for the foreseeable future. There’s little doubt that Melissa Powers is apprehensively aware of these developments and the looming challenge of keeping the seat under Republican control.
To maintain her foothold, Powers has been active in fundraising endeavors since April of this year. Yet, the exact amount she’s gathered will remain a secret until the financial reports are due to be published on October 31st. But who is Melissa Powers? She describes herself as a modest Catholic girl hailing from Mount Airy, who ventured into the world of law in search of financial stability.
Powers began her legal career in the 90s within the very office she currently presides over. Her portfolio includes service as an assistant prosecutor from 1991 to 1998. Fast-forward to 2006, Powers attained a seat on the Hamilton County Municipal Court, where she dutifully served for a decade. On the experience front, Powers claims a distinct edge over her competition.
On the flip side, Connie Pillich’s narrative paints a different picture. Despite never having worked as a prosecutor, Pillich’s choice to attend law school was motivated by the ambition to contribute to a safer society. After earning her law degree in 1998, Pillich ventured into private practice and soon after, co-established a law firm.
By the mid-2000s, Pillich was running her own law firm. Now, she heads the Pillich Group, which consults for a range of non-profits, educational entities, and small businesses. In 2008, she delved into political service, winning an election to become a state representative, a position she held for six years.
Pillich is well aware that her potential takeover of the office may stir up some unease amongst its current employees. However, she has made assurances that her plans for the office don’t involve replacements. Her proposals, which include implementing conviction audits, establishing an ethics department, and undertaking technology upgrades, aim to streamline operations rather than disrupt the existing machinery.
Pillich hopes to draw on her military experience to guide her strategies. She recalls the best commanders she served under in the Air Force weren’t ones to introduce sweeping changes upon assuming their new post. Instead, they would first engage with the existing personnel, observe, learn and then only start to introduce changes based on their findings.