HAMILTON — Jack Zettler's bid for Butler County auditor was backed with more than $67,000 from the Ohio Democratic Party, according to campaign finance forms filed last week, suggesting the party saw the seat as key in breaking Republican control of this county.

Still all that money didn't work. Zettler lost to Republican incumbent Roger Reynolds, collecting only 44 percent of the vote.

In addition to backing from Columbus, Zettler shelled out $67,108 in the final weeks of his campaign. Reynolds spent $37,617 during the same time period, plus more than $20,000 from the Ohio Republican Party.

The Butler County Democratic Party spent $11,700 backing Zettler of its total budget of $15,000 between Oct. 15 and the Nov. 4 election. The county GOP had $51,916 available in that same time period and donated $200 of it to Reynolds, according to records.

The inverse to this was the race for Butler County juvenile judge, where Judge Kathleen Romans became the only Democrat elected to countywide office.

Romans spent $24,384 in the final weeks of her campaign. Her challenger, Tim Evans, spent $15,968 and received more than $8,000 of in-kind contributions from the state GOP.

Romans was the incumbent in this race after Gov. Ted Strickland appointed her to replace deceased Judge David Niehaus.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.