HAMILTON — Butler County commissioners say the question over whether married couples should get preference in adoption placement appears to be settled on the local level.

Now state lawmakers are contemplating taking up the issue.

As far as commissioners are concerned, the policy — which gives preference in adoption placement to married couples over single parents or same-sex couples — has never been implemented and now won’t be.

State Representative Tim Derickson (R- Oxford) was sworn in as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in ceremonies on the first day of the 128th General Assembly Jan. 5.

"I look forward to representing the entire 53rd House District; from the cities of Middletown, Trenton, and Oxford to the townships of Madison, Morgan, Wayne, St. Clair, Hanover, Reily, Oxford, Milford and Fairfield," Derickson said.

BUTLER COUNTY — With votes overwhelmingly in favor of two incumbents and a newcomer, Republicans will likely hold on to three Ohio House district seats that were up for grabs.

Hanover Twp. Trustee Tim Derickson, and state Reps. Courtney Combs, of Hamilton, and Bill Coley, of Liberty Twp., all had commanding leads over their Democratic challengers, according to unofficial counts by the Butler County Board of Elections this morning.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is endorsing the Republican slate in state House and Senate races.

The Chamber's endorsement list includes state Sen. Gary Cates, state Rep. Courtney Combs from Hamilton, state Rep. Bill Coley from West Chester Twp. and Tim Derickson, candidate for the state House in Middletown.