In the race for Hamilton County Sheriff, a rematch is brewing between two seasoned law enforcement figures: incumbent Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and her former boss, former Sheriff Jim Neil.
Each candidate brings decades of law enforcement experience to the table, having previously served as sheriff. Their long-standing rivalry and shared history add a twist to this contest, making the race more compelling than ever.
The two candidates attended both Western Hills High School and the University of Cincinnati at the same time, both receiving a bachelor’s in criminal justice. They often worked closely with one another during their extensive careers in law enforcement.
The main controversy in their history stems from Neil dismissing McGuffey from the Hamilton County Jail in 2017. Neil claims it was justified due to an internal investigation that found McGuffey created a hostile work environment and was dishonest. McGuffey vehemently denies this, arguing the investigation was biased and retaliatory, rooted in discrimination against her gender and sexual orientation. This conflict led her to file a lawsuit against the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and other involved parties, including Neil, alleging she faced unequal treatment and disrespect compared to male colleagues. Though the suit was settled, the lingering tensions and questions of fairness and accountability continue to loom over the current race.
Neil, with nearly 40 years of experience as a deputy and two terms as sheriff, paints himself as a steady hand and “a good man.” McGuffey, the first female and openly lesbian sheriff in the county, touts her 37-year rise through the ranks and her commitment to reform. Their differing styles and backgrounds, as well as their troubled professional relationship, create a personal backdrop for this election.
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Charmaine McGuffey (D)
McGuffey has a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, serving in various roles within the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, including jail service officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, electronic monitoring unit commander, major, commander of jail and court services, and, most recently, sheriff.
In her tenure as Hamilton County Sheriff, McGuffey has made efforts to overhaul the sheriff’s office through use of collaborative efforts across other governmental organizations, modernizing technology the office uses, structuring the office’s budget and shifting policies to prioritize empathy over violence or escalation.
“I brought criminal justice reform to the table when I was the major of that jail, and I also stood by my convictions. I have very great convictions about appropriate use of force when necessary, not abusing people who are incarcerated, not allowing uniformed officers not to be held accountable,” McGuffey said.
She also mentioned the work she has done to improve staffing efforts across the sheriff’s office. At the beginning of 2023, the Hamilton County Justice Center was down 60 officers, with the justice center needing to go into restricted protocols to handle the understaffing. Now, McGuffey says she has certified 80 deputies and has plans to double this number.
McGuffey prides herself on being approachable and supportive, both for the community and for those in uniform. This helps maintain trust between law enforcement and Hamilton County residents and improves retainment in the sheriff’s office.
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Jim Neil (R)
With nearly four decades of experience in law enforcement and two terms as Hamilton County sheriff, Neil has established himself as a prominent figure in the community.
Neil attributes the successful collaboration across departments and the overall performance of the sheriff’s office during his time in office to his commitment to the Hamilton County Police Association’s philosophy of “cooperation and operation.”
“[Cooperation and operation] creates a force multiplier when you can share resources, including human resources…to make law enforcement more successful in this county, we as law enforcement officers work together like no others,” he said.
One of his proudest implementations during his time as sheriff includes the establishment of a pod, a set of smaller and self-contained housing units in a prison, specifically for U.S. veterans.
“We were able to bring them a wealth of services while they were locked up and serving their sentence or locked up on bond while their case was being processed through the courts. The services that were brought to them and them working with one another to provide support, it’s just a wonderful thing,” Neil said.
With his campaign slogan, “A Good Man!” and his opposing candidate being a woman, CityBeat asked if Neil believes this campaign message resonates with voters, and to provide insight into the slogan. He credits the slogan to another individual involved in the campaign who frequently referred to him as “a good man,” stating that he did not play a role in its development.
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Candidate comparison and analysis
Both candidates emphasized that their main priorities while running are to make Hamilton County safer for residents, businesses, families and activities. This is the ultimate duty of the sheriff, and both candidates align not only their campaigns, but their careers, with this goal.
As Ohio and Cincinnati continue to grapple with elevated rates of substance use disorders — and estimates from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that show that 63% of individuals in jail and 58% in prison struggle with these issues — both McGuffey and Neil prioritize the importance of offering treatment options for inmates.
With the tense climate surrounding trust between community and police enforcement, the two understand the importance of transparency of internal happenings, instances of misconduct and updates on local issues.
While both share similar values in certain ways, the two candidates still take issue with major aspects of each other’s leadership styles.
McGuffey told CityBeat that she felt Neil’s leadership often felt disorganized, especially in terms of budgeting, and that the staff he hired “did not think that uniformed officers should be held accountable for their behavior.”
Neil finds issue with McGuffey’s alleged usage of her Democratic values in her policing.
“I was the people’s sheriff. She’s the party sheriff. She’s an activist. She’s a political sheriff…[using] every opportunity to apply those agendas into her policy, whereas I stayed out of the agendas of the parties,” he said.
As the election draws near, the rivalry and race between McGuffey and Neil will not only shape the future of law enforcement in Hamilton County, but also set the tone for community engagement and trust in local law enforcement for years to come.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Oct. 30 print edition.
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This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 12, 2024.
