Eight candidates, four seats: What do they say?

By Chuck Gibson

LOVELAND, OH (October 7, 2025) – It’s hard to believe but, once again, it is City Council election time in Loveland with eight candidates running for four seats with in-person voting underway and less than a month until polls open Tuesday, November 4th.

How do you decide? Who should be making the decisions for the future of our city? Tough questions for sure. On Tuesday evening, October 1st, in the council chamber at Loveland City Hall, a “Candidate Forum” organized and hosted by the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) was held for the public. All eight candidates running for the four open seats were on-hand to respond to questions selected by LMRCA from the questions submitted to them by the public. The format was simple: with Chamber President Cee Cee Collins acting as moderator/emcee, each candidate was given two minutes (timed) to introduce themselves, then likewise to respond to each of the three questions posed (we’ll get to that in a moment) and finally two minutes each to offer closing remarks on their own behalf. First, the candidates: (Though we’re sure you’ve seen their campaign signs)

As seated left to right at the council table: Jim Daumeyer, Sherry Hamilin, John Hart (current council member), Deidre Hazelbaker, Adam Jeranek, Todd Osborne (former council member), Kip Ping (current council member) and Lynn Zuch. Let there be no mistake, this group of eight is divided into two distinct slates of four. The placing of their yard signs Hart, Jeranek, Ping and Zuch most always together while Daumeyer, Hamlin, Osborne and Hazelbaker campaign signs are likewise mostly placed together. That divisional distinction led directly to the first question submitted by the people, but first here’s a brief peek at their introductory remarks:

• Jim Daumeyer highlighted his 20-plus years as a resident while pointing to his volunteer work on trails in the parks and his focus on issues of traffic, biking and making Loveland a “better city”.
• Sherry Hamlin highlighted her love for Loveland as the main reason she is seeking to serve on council. “The secret is out…” she said pointing to her goal to protect the charm of Loveland from outside influences which may not all be good.
• John Hart pointed at the fact he is a current council member, school teacher and believes strongly in the current master plan and working toward those goals.
• Deidre Hazelbaker highlighted her background as a small business consultant and eight years as a resident of Loveland. She’s been knocking on doors hearing traffic remains and issue. She want to protect “community charm” and put residents 1st!
• Adam Jeranek has been a resident since he was 10, attended Sycamore H.S. and wanted to get more involved so he served as a volunteer with LSFD and wants to ensure Loveland continues to be the “best place” to live and work.
• Todd Osborne is a lifelong Loveland resident, previously elected to council twice and has regularly attended council meetings since the mid-90’s. Called current council  “complacent” cited “time for a change” and honor “past and future”.
• Kip Ping is a current member of council and in 1999 ran, but was not elected, for school board. He believes the platform he ran for council on four years ago is still pertinent bringing balance while continuing to work to achieve goals set in the master plan.
• Lynn Zuch is a 26-year resident, raised her children here and wants to “give back”. She highlighted her education and career in city planning with a vision for progress while stewarding the history and future of the city.

What follows is a review of the forum Q&A. In the interest of full disclosure, what is written here is NOT exact text of the questions, nor is it full transcription of the candidate responses. It was livestreamed via the LMRCA Facebook page and may be available for you to view and listen in full there. Here you will simply find this journalists take on what stood out from each candidate

As mentioned early in this report, it is clearly evident the eight candidates have placed themselves into two distinct “slates” of four. The voters are not unaware and stated so in the first multi-tiered question of the forum:

Q: Eight candidates for four seats seems like a lot for a local council election. It seems like there are two distinct groups of four. What sets you/your group apart and how do we reach you? 

• Sherry Hamlin – Affirmed two separate slates. Referred to her slate, (Daumeyer, Hamlin, Hazelbaker and Osborne) as slate A. A is for change. The other candidates (Hart, Jeranek, Ping and Zuch) as slate B. B is for continue.
• John Hart –  Believes background as educator gives him a different view. Wants to continue because the current course for the city is strong. 
• Deidre Hazelbaker – Distinguished herself as single, independent but currently aligned with Daumeyer, Hamlin and Osborne for change.
• Adam Jeranek – Believes city is “moving in the right direction”. Sees a council with many different views, but on the “same path.”
• Todd Osborne – Pointed to his knowledge from attending council meetings since 1997 and points to a clear divide between his slate the “citizens” slate versus the “hand-picked” slate.
• Kip Ping – Believes his “approach” sets him apart: quiet, engineer future view.
• Lynn Zuch – Contemplated running for council in the past. Running now because belief the current stability and vision is the right direction for the city.
• Jim Daumeyer – Pointed to the distinction being part of a “slate of listeners” seeking input from community residents, input from a “meet-n-greet” one hour before council meetings.

Question #2 was more of a “hot topic” with community safety at the heart of it.

Q: Water safety levels set by EPA show PFAS contaminants plague the city water supply. What would you do differently?

• John Hart – Said Loveland water meets current standards, the city has found a water specialist and is ahead of the curve on this.
• Deidre Hazelbaker – Pointedly stated Loveland is “not ahead of the curve” citing Cincinnati water is safe and Warren County water is safe.
• Adam Jeranek – Believes Loveland is a leader in the fight against PFAS and the water currently “compliant” with regulations. (NOTE: did not use the term safe)
• Todd Osborne – Wants to know what the city is receiving from a “Class Action” lawsuit filed in Federal Court. He also wants city to better inform the community.
• Kip Ping – Said the city is taking steps to improve water and has improved connections with Clermont County water. Cited the PFAS issue as a National issue, not a Loveland issue.
• Lynn Zuch – Sees two important aspects to the water issue: keep it local to keep costs lower for residents and find better ways to communicate to the community.
• Jim Daumeyer – Believes residents are “uninformed” on the issue and facts need to be better communicated suggesting a “Town Hall” forum/discussion on the issue.
• Sherry Hamlin – Identified “three pillars” to the water issue: 1) Determine the problem, 2) Define long-term solution/short-term solution and 3) Work out short-term solution.

Question #3 brought a surprising amount of positive response and agreement.

Q: What is your approach to fiscal responsibility and stewardship of funding/budget to meet needs?

• Diedre Hazelbaker – Wants to “prioritize services” with water and safety at the top by planning costs.
• Adam Jeranek –  Points to a need to improve use of tax dollars and an increase in business, commercia and industrial tax base.  
• Todd Osborne – Confident the city has a “strong finance committee” now but, sees a need to clarify “what’s going on with Chestnut” in a responsible way to better the community.  
• Kip Ping – Sees the planning aspect as a key along with “spending wisely” while addressing roads and keeping employers.
• Lynn Zuch – Cited current city leadership as “very fiscally conscious” respecting grant awards funding stayed within budget.
• Jim Daumeyer – Again pointed to his own volunteering efforts as a method of fiscal responsibility. He affirmed confidence in the current fiscal responsibility.
• Sherry Hamlin – She said there was “not a lot I would change” again agreeing the city has shown good fiscal responsibility.
• John Hart – Pointed to the awards Loveland has received for being fiscally responsible and conservative using planning and prioritizing use of taxpayer dollars.

Cee Cee Collins transitioned to the closing of the forum announcing each candidate would have two minutes (again timed) to offer closing remarks. Let it be said here, each began closing comments with a “Thank you” to Cee Cee, the chamber, and to everyone who came out.

• Adam Jeranek – Stated his love for “this town” to serve as an “ambassador” and said Loveland is “the best place to live”.
• Todd Osborne – Said he wants to assess the master plan, bring change, and help residents.
• Kip Ping – Emphatically defended being “part of a council that engages” and is “not part of a do-nothing council” as suggested by candidates for change.
• Lynn Zuch – Promises a high priority on “championing” the master plan, inviting people to “come experience” Loveland, and develop smart
• Jim Daumeyer – Stated he will listen, reach out to the community and asked for your vote.
• Sherry Hamlin – Offered “two thoughts” beginning with “at its best honor history and future” while highlighting asset of “charm”.
• John Hart – Talked about how this election is being “presented as a change election” but pointed to how much change current council has accomplished in jus the last several years through structured direction of development and opportunity.
• Diedre Hazelbaker – Pointed to her going door-to-door and hearing “Master plan is not the priority of the citizens.” She heard “parking” remains the #1 priority.  

In-person early voting began today here in Ohio. Voting day with polls open for all eligible voters is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. While this was not a comprehensive view of each of the eight candidates seeking to fill the four at large Loveland Council seats, it is the sincere hope of Loveland Beacon this brief recap of the public forum will shed some measure of light in assisting you to make an informed choice for your representation in the coming term of council.

NOTE: For more on each candidate, you can search by name for their online social media and website information pages. 

For more from the forum, visit Little Miami River Chamber Alliance Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/LMRChamberAlliance.org

More about Little Miami River Chamber Alliance at:

https://www.lmrchamberalliance.org/