Blue Ash mayor Jill Cole seeks Ohio House District 28 seat

Jill Cole, the Republican mayor of Blue Ash, is running for Ohio House of Representatives District 28 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

She faces Democrat Karen Brownlee.

Cole is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

Party: Republican
Office sought: Ohio House of Representatives, District 28
Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
Current office: Mayor of Blue Ash (sworn in Dec. 1, 2023)
Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing, The Ohio State University (1985)
Military service: U.S. Army veteran. Cole said she served as a Russian voice interceptor at the Defense Language Institute and received an honorable discharge, according to her campaign website. She said she was named Outstanding Trainee of her platoon during basic training.
Professional: Principal at Cole Realty Associates since 2006, according to BallotReady. Cole also lists experience as owner/operator of Galbraith Business Center and a commercial loan officer trainee in commercial banking.
Other affiliations: Board member of the Blue Ash Republican Club and board member of SheLeads, according to her campaign website. Graduate of the JoAnn Davidson Ohio Leadership Academy.

Experience and public service

Cole was first appointed to Blue Ash City Council as an at-large member in 2020, elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2023, according to her campaign website. She was sworn in as mayor on Dec. 1, 2023. During her council tenure, she said she served on all council committees and held positions on the city's Investment Board and the CRA Housing Review Council.

She served on the Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education from 2007 to 2015. Cole said she held leadership roles on the board including president, vice president, policy liaison and student achievement liaison.

On the issues

Cole's policy positions, as stated on her campaign website:

Education: Cole said she supports expanding educational opportunities for parents through vouchers and charter schools but said that expansion should not come at the expense of strong, accountable public schools. She said she favors a focus on reading, math, history and practical skills such as financial literacy and physical education. Cole said she supports local decision-making on schools, development and municipal priorities. She also called for improved building security, coordinated safety protocols and greater collaboration between school leaders and law enforcement.

Taxes and budget: Cole said she supports cutting personal income taxes and eliminating wasteful spending. She said she would push for transparency and fiscal discipline in large-scale state projects.

Public safety: Cole said she backs investments in public safety and law enforcement training and supports a justice system that holds offenders accountable while protecting victims and reducing repeat offenses.

Infrastructure: Cole said she supports public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects and wants to prioritize improvements to high-traffic commercial corridors and underserved areas. She said she would advocate for state support to help communities restore aging infrastructure and expand and maintain parks, trails and outdoor spaces.

Economy: Cole said she believes government should reduce burdensome regulations and paperwork to help entrepreneurs succeed. She said she supports workforce development programs and investment in trade and manufacturing.