About Michael McNamara

Before becoming County Treasurer, McNamara worked his way through county and state government amassing a body of knowledge providing a unique breadth and depth of experience to the residents and taxpayers of Butler County.

From 2020-2023, McNamara served as Director of Clermont County’s Department of Community + Economic Development where some of his accomplishments included:

Negotiated a $550 million project to land a Nestlé Purina manufacturing facility at the county’s South Afton Industrial Park
Partnered with the county’s chamber of commerce and visitors bureau to launch a study to eventually place cabins and a lodge at East Fork State Park
Developed a strategic plan for the department that placed a focus on quality job attraction and retention, elevating quality of life, and historic preservation
Acquired 160 acres for a new industrial park
Started the Clermont County Bond Fund through its Port Authority
Instituted regular meeting with local officials to educate them about economic development tools available to them
Led a multi-county effort with Clermont, Brown, Adams and Scioto counties to apply for grant funds through Ohio’s Appalachian Community Grant Program

Prior to Clermont County, McNamara served as Butler County’s Development Administrator where he led the Butler County Land Bank and the Butler County Port Authority as Executive Director. Some of his successful projects include:

Teaming with the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the County Commissioners on Project Spark that rebranded Butler County
Built a large number of projects with the Port Authority that brought the flailing organization to financial stability and left it with over $2 million in its accounts
Demolished over 600 residential structures that were considered blight in target neighborhoods mostly in the cities of Hamilton and Middletown
Worked with CMC to develop The Marcum, bring 102 market rate residential units to downtown Hamilton that supports local businesses and breathed new life into downtown
Closed on the $100+ million West Chester Trade Center bringing hundreds of new jobs to the region
Worked with the Kroger Company on the first-of-its-kind automated “shed” facility in Monroe

McNamara also served as Chief Deputy in the Butler County Treasurer’s office from 2010 to 2015. He has previously worked for the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office, the Ohio Treasurer of State, and the Butler County Clerk of Courts office.

Education

McNamara graduated from Ohio University with a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2019 with a 4.0 GPA.

McNamara’s undergraduate degree is in Political Science from Miami University in 1998.

Michael McNamara graduated from Kings High School and was a varsity athlete in cross country and swimming and a member of the National Honor Society.

Community Service

McNamara has made community service a priority in his life. McNamara was a member of the Board of Trustees for Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School for six years and was Chairman of the Board for two years. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and was a Red Cross Board member for 12 years. He also served for six years on the Outreach Commission at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church and was Commission Chair for two years which also included service on the Parish Council.

Other civic memberships over the years have included:

Ohio Economic Development Association Board of Directors member
Ohio Council of Ports Authority
International City/County Management Association
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
National Society of Sons of the American Revolution
Workforce Investment Board of Butler, Warren and Clermont Counties
West Chester 2050 Visioning Committee
Leadership Middletown Class of 2016
Leadership West Chester Class of 2017
Leadership Hamilton Class of 2018
National Rifle Association Benefactor Life Member
Ohio Gun Collectors Association
Greater Cincinnati Right to Life

Personal

McNamara is a licensed FCC amateur radio operator (KB8ELI) and has been a certified drone pilot with the FAA. He is the author of two books: The Political Campaign Desk Reference and Nick Thomas Versus God. He and his wife, Lisa, live in West Chester where they raise their two sons. Their boys attend Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School. They enjoy traveling, supporting local businesses, school activities and sports, and family adventures.

Philosophy

Michael McNamara started his journey as a conservative when he was 11 years old and bought his first paper route delivering the Toledo Blade. He doubled the size of his route, acquired basic business acumen, learned the importance of good customer service, and sold his route three years later for a 300% profit.

But business is not the only element important to McNamara. At a young age, Michael McNamara's understanding of the importance to protect life and give voice to the unborn became a core value of his. History is full of examples in which select human lives are considered property or less valuable than others. In our lifetime, the unborn are the victims of this backwards way of looking at human life. McNamara works to change the hearts of those who see the lives of the unborn as less human or as personal property.

Michael McNamara has been a conservative leader dedicated to liberty from an early age. He was President of the Miami University College Republicans and Chairman of the Ohio College Republican Federation. While at Miami University, McNamara was a member of the Miami University Rifle-Pistol Team. He has always been 100% pro 2nd Amendment.