James L. Mills, a Warren County financial executive and Libertarian Party leader, is running for Ohio lieutenant governor on the Kissick-Mills ticket in the Nov. 3 general election.
Mills, CEO of Ironvest Financial Partners, said he entered the race because he was frustrated with the two-party system. "I got tired of picking my poison, so I decided I wanted to be part of the antidote," Mills said in his questionnaire response to Surround Sound News.
Candidate information
- Party: Libertarian
- Running mate: Don Kissick
- Residence: Warren County, Ohio, which includes Mason and Deerfield Township
- Education: MBA, Xavier University; bachelor's degree in political science and economics with a minor in Spanish, University of Cincinnati
- Professional designation: Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC)
- Family: Married, two children; grew up in Cincinnati as one of five children
Experience and public service
Mills is CEO and co-founder of Ironvest Financial Partners, where he works with individuals, families and businesses on financial planning, retirement and employee-benefit strategies, according to his Libertarian Party candidate profile. His career in financial services has included roles at Nationwide, Western & Southern, PNC and Brokerage Solutions.
Earlier in his career, Mills served as an AmeriCorps member, helping develop programs for a homeless shelter. He said that experience shaped how he views public service and the financial challenges people face.
In the Libertarian Party of Ohio, Mills has served as vice chair and field development director. He currently chairs the Warren County Libertarian Party.
Mills has not held public office.
On the issues
Mills outlined his positions in a questionnaire submitted to Surround Sound News. The following reflects his stated views.
Property taxes and spending transparency: Mills said the Kissick-Mills ticket supports eliminating property taxes on owner-occupied homes and family farms, starting with roughly a 25% reduction and phasing out the rest as replacement funding is identified. He said the ticket favors local consumption-based taxes as a replacement. Mills called for a comprehensive review of state education funding, lottery dollars, corporate subsidies and administrative spending to identify waste before telling homeowners the state cannot afford relief.
Government ethics and transparency: Mills said he supports a publicly searchable database of state contracts, lobbying activity, major expenditures and meetings involving public officials. He called for stronger Sunshine Laws, limits on nondisclosure agreements in public business and a five-year ban on legislators becoming lobbyists after leaving office. He cited the House Bill 6 bribery scandal as evidence of what happens when government operates behind closed doors.
Role of lieutenant governor: Mills said he and Kissick view the position as an active partnership rather than a ceremonial post. He said his focus areas would include small-business growth, economic development, government transparency and connecting the administration with communities across Ohio. Mills said voters should judge his success by whether small-business barriers decrease, state spending becomes more transparent and communities gain meaningful access to state government.
Economy and small business: Mills said the ticket wants to simplify licensing and regulation for small businesses, gig workers, tradespeople and in-home childcare providers. He called for a more collaborative small-business ecosystem with incubators, venture capital studios and chambers of commerce.
Immigration: Mills said due process applies to everyone and that immigration enforcement should be civil, not militarized. He said those in the country illegally should have a clear path to citizenship and be required to show good-faith progress toward legal status, with deportation considered only after repeated and proven failure to comply.
Ohio voters can find registration and ballot information through the Warren County Board of Elections.
