For the past four years, the Hamilton County Commission’s 11 representatives have all been men.
Now, the majority of challengers running against the incumbents this election cycle are women.
Seven out of 11 races have female challengers, and four of them are running against sitting commissioners of their own political party — the most women in contested primaries for decades.
The women in those primaries say they’re well aware that the County Commission has been all male for the past four years, but each of them also noted they don’t want somebody’s vote simply because they’d be a woman on a male-dominated board.
“I don’t believe any of us knew each other prior to qualifying,” Tonya Sadler, one of the women running in a contested primary this election cycle, said by phone. “I can’t say that it’s really influenced any way I’ve chosen to campaign, but it is interesting to see so many ladies out there ready to do the work.”