Here's yet another example of why one-party rule of any institution is usually a supremely terrible idea. The local Republican Party has long dominated the little-scrutinized Hamilton County Courthouse, making it a bastion of patronage for friends and campaign workers, along with serving as a launching pad for up-and-coming politicians. That would be bad enough, but an incident last month has troubling implications for how justice is meted out in the county.  

Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. is a man who's used to getting whatever he wants, usually through badgering and bullying other elected officials. Lately, though, the blustery Leis has gotten a cold, hard dose of reality.  

Democratic incumbent Todd Portune and Republican Greg Hartmann, endorsed candidates who received money and volunteer help from their respective parties, easily won in their separate Hamilton County Commission races. Still, Ed Rothenberg, an unendorsed Republican who challenged Portune, and Chris Dole, an unendorsed Democrat who vied against Hartmann, each nabbed more than one-third of the votes cast in the races.  

Hamilton County voters go to the polls Nov. 4 and cast their ballots in the two county commission races, they will have their choice of candidates in each contest - despite the best efforts of local Democratic and Republican party leaders to prevent it.