Nancy Nix seeks full term as Butler County auditor

Nancy Nix, the Republican incumbent running for Butler County Auditor, faces Democrat Amy Hines in the Nov. 3 general election. Nix has held the office since February 2023 and won the two-year unexpired term in November 2024.

Asked why she is seeking the office, Nix said in our candidate questionnaire: "A public servant is who I am, and hopefully, voters will allow me to serve another four years."

Candidate information

Party: Republican

Education: Nix said in our questionnaire: "M.B.A. from Miami University, 2012, emphasis in Finance. B.S. from Truman State University, 1992, double major in Accounting and Marketing. Graduate of three 9-month long leadership programs."

Family: Nix said: "My husband Robert Leshnak and I have a blended family with six adult children between us."

Experience and public service

Occupation and work history: Nix said in our questionnaire: "I have served as Butler County Auditor for nearly four years, acting as the county's chief financial officer and real estate assessor. From 2007 to 2023 I was the elected Butler County Treasurer, responsible for property-tax collections and county investments." She added: "From 2002 to 2005 I served on Middletown City Council, including two years as vice mayor. I have 34 years of work experience, from 1992 - 2026."

Nix also holds a Certified Public Accountant license, according to the Butler County Auditor's website. She graduated from the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute.

Key accomplishments: Asked what evidence she would cite, Nix said she "served on the state property-tax committee in Columbus that developed recommendations later reflected in the five property-tax bills signed by the governor in December 2025" and "helped establish the Butler County Land Bank in 2012." She said she "reduced staffing 43% as treasurer and about 10% so far as auditor while continuing core operations" and "received the State Auditor's Excellence in Financial Reporting award in 2025."

On the issues

Critical differences from opponent: Nix said: "The contrast is experience in the duties themselves: valuing property, calculating tax bills, keeping the county's books, issuing payments, and administering exemptions and credits. I am seeking another term based on that record."

Property valuation increases: Nix said: "Upon taking office in February 2023, I was notified that the county's residential real estate values would be increasing 37% with the triennial update." She said she "personally testified in front of lawmakers at the state house, held ten town hall forums, provided timely and detailed information via press releases and social media …" She added: "Our office recently conducted the 1/1/26 revaluation … this time the property tax reform legislation implemented in December 2025 should prevent the large tax spikes experienced the last several years."

LLC transfer loophole: Nix said: "I support closing that loophole. When a family sells a home, they record the deed and pay the conveyance fee. When an investor sells the LLC that owns the same kind of real estate, the sale can skip both the fee and the price report the auditor uses to value property." She said the county auditor cannot close it alone: "It takes the General Assembly."

Butler County Land Bank: Nix said: "During my tenure as statutory chair of the land bank, over 1,000 blighted structures were removed from tax rolls and given clean titles."