Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes won't be saluting the new county flag anytime soon.

Hamilton County's flag, held here by Todd Portune, is offensive to townships, says Auditor Dusty Rhodes. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Mr. Rhodes, a longtime Delhi Township resident who served as a trustee for 21 years, said the flag disrespects the township form of government.

        The flag has a golden circle on its blue field. Inside the circle are 36 stars with another star inside the H, representing the county's cities and villages.

        Surrounding the circle are 12 “cogs” meant to represent the county's townships.

        Mr. Rhodes has asked county commissioners to reconsider the flag design, adding that townships get overlooked at all levels of government from the state of Ohio to quasigovernmental organizations such as the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.

        About 40 percent of the county's population live in townships, Mr. Rhodes said.

        “Cogs on the wheel just don't get it done for me as a township resident,” said Mr. Rhodes, who went on to read definitions of cog out of the dictionary.

        A cog is a “necessary but subordinate part” of a larger organization.

        “A star, on the other hand, is defined in much more positive and glowing terms,” Mr. Rhodes said. “I believe townships could be more appropriately and respectfully recognized.”

        Commissioner Todd Portune, a former Cincinnati city councilman, said he likes the flag.

        “The artist did take into consideration the differing types of government we have,” Mr. Portune said.

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