The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners reorganized its leadership and committee assignments at an organizing meeting on Jan. 6, confirming Commissioner Dumas as board president for 2026 and Commissioner Alicia Reese as vice president.

The board also confirmed Leslie Hervey as clerk of the board for 2026, approved deputy clerks (Christie, Rachel, Jeff Aludo and Quinn Falter), and adopted a list of commissioner assignments to county committees and regional boards. The board designated Denise Treehouse as its official representative and Stephanie Summer O'Dimmis as alternate for voting at the 2026 annual meeting of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio.

The reorganization was handled by a series of motions that were seconded and adopted by roll call. Early in the meeting, a motion to close out the 2025 calendar year’s business was made and approved. The board then moved through nominations for temporary officers, permanent officers and staff roles without extended debate.

On assuming the gavel, the newly elected president thanked the board for the unanimous vote and said the year will bring challenges. “I appreciate the confidence and the unanimous vote by the board, for me to be the president for 2026,” the president said. Vice President Alicia Reese offered brief remarks: “Happy New Year to everyone… it’s gonna be a tough year. So we all just have to work together throughout the whole county.”

A commissioner reading the committee assignments listed appointments to local and regional entities including the Hamilton County Family and Children First Council, Hamilton County Board of Revision, Hamilton County Investment Advisory Committee, Hamilton County Land Reutilization Corporation, the Emergency Management Agency executive board, the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, the Records Commission, the State Capital Budget Task Force, REDI Cincinnati, recycling and solid waste oversight, the county stormwater district oversight, Continuum of Care, the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition and Region 2 Recovery Foundation governance boards.

During remarks, a commissioner warned of fiscal headwinds ahead, citing possible reductions in federal and state funding and referencing a ballot initiative that could reduce property taxes statewide and ‘‘have a devastating impact to the county, to the schools, to all of our levies,’’ if enacted. The board did not take action on that subject during the organizing meeting.

With nominations and assignments complete and no further business, the board moved to adjourn the organizing meeting.