Democrats honor late Brigid Kelly's wish, pick Jessica Miranda as county auditor

Hamilton County Democrats honored the wishes of the late county auditor Brigid Kelly by naming the successor she had picked before her death.

The more than 200 members of the Hamilton County Democratic Central Committee on Saturday appointed state Rep. Jessica Miranda as Hamilton County auditor. The vote was unanimous. She was sworn in after the vote.

"It will truly be the greatest honor of my life to carry forward Brigid's remarkable legacy," Miranda said on Saturday. "And I will not let the people of Hamilton County down."

Kelly had served as auditor for a year before her death on March 26 from esophageal cancer. State law allows the party of the previous elected officeholder to fill the vacancy.

The Democrats on Saturday presented Kelly's mother and husband with the Ohio flag that flew over the Ohio Capitol.

"It was tears of joy and sadness," Hamilton County Democratic Chairwoman Gwen McFarlin told The Enquirer.

Miranda, 37, of Forest Park has served the past five years representing the state House in the 28th District, which includes Forest Park, Sharonville, Blue Ash and other northern suburbs of Hamilton County. Prior to that, she served as president of the Winton Woods School Board. She brings financial experience to the auditor's position. She owns her own insurance brokerage and tax preparation firm.

"Rep. Miranda has a deep understanding of school funding, which is the largest portion of tax distribution for most property owners in Hamilton County, and how the unconstitutional formula impacts property taxes," Kelly wrote in an email to supporters days before her death. "In all these roles, Rep. Miranda knows that the government and elected officials work for the taxpayer.

She told The Enquirer on Saturday she wants to continue improvements Kelly started as auditor, including upgrading financial software and the auditor's website.

The appointment to the auditor's vacancy, per state law, only lasts until the end of the year. Miranda must run for election on the November ballot, something the Democrats also approved on Saturday.

She will face Mount Lookout Republican Tom Brinkman in the November election. Brinkman, a former state representative, was originally running for Hamilton County treasurer but has switched races and will run as auditor, he told The Enquirer Saturday.

Miranda's move from the state House to county auditor has left an open seat in the Ohio House. The Hamilton County Democrats are expected to choose a candidate for the 28th District. The candidate will face Republican Jenn Giroux. The Hamilton County Democrats could choose Miranda's successor for the House as early as May, McFarlin said in an interview with The Enquirer.

"We are looking forward to continuing what we've been doing and continuing to turn this county blue and get our Democrats elected," McFarlin said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Democrats pick replacement for late Hamilton Co. auditor Brigid Kelly