As the father of twin daughters, this story is especially important to me. I have seen firsthand the remarkable bond twins share, and few Hamilton County families illustrate that connection quite like Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt and his extended family.
Mark, a Westfield resident and longtime Hamilton County commissioner, is an identical twin. His brother, Mike Heirbrandt, lives in Cicero. The family’s history of multiple births also includes Mark’s twin sons, Ethan and Evan, and Mike’s triplet sons, Chase, Joel and Tim.
Their story comes as families celebrate National Twins Day and the 50th anniversary of the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. Founded in 1976, the event is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest annual gathering of twins, according to a news release about the Heirbrandt family.
For Mark and Mike, being twins has meant a lifetime of companionship, shared experiences and occasional confusion.
“Having a twin means built-in companionship from day one,” Mark said. “You share everything—from a childhood room to this incredible, unspoken connection. Watching that same dynamic play out across our entire family over the years has been truly special.”
Their nearly identical appearance once became an unusual asset during Mark’s political career.
During Mark’s 2016 reelection campaign, debates in Westfield and Fishers were scheduled for the same time. Mark said he asked Mike to attend one of the events, introduce himself as the candidate’s twin and answer questions on Mark’s behalf.
“People in the room were completely stunned,” Mark recalled. “It wasn’t just that he looked like me—his voice, his hand gestures, and everything else was an exact match.”
The resemblance has also created plenty of cases of mistaken identity. Mike has been approached by residents who thought he was the commissioner and wanted to discuss local issues, including drainage projects. Mark said he has occasionally been mistaken for Mike—with consequences ranging from amusing to uncomfortable.
“At this point, if someone calls me Mike or if someone calls him Mark, we’re used to it,” he said.
The family’s history of twins reaches back several generations. Mark and Mike’s maternal grandmother had identical twin brothers named Ennis and Willis, while their mother had identical twin cousins.
Then Mark and Mike carried the tradition into the next generation: Mark became the father of twins, while Mike became the father of triplets.
“Genetically, our family seems to be a complete anomaly,” Mark said. “To have my grandmother’s brothers, my mother’s cousins, Mike and me, and then pass that right down to twin boys and triplet boys—it completely defies the odds.”
The children who once appeared with Mark and Mike in a widely shared family photograph are now adults and pursuing lives of their own. But the connection between the original Heirbrandt twins remains as strong as ever.
Mark said he and Mike still speak three or four times each day.
“No matter how busy life gets, that connection never fades,” he said. “It’s a bond that’s unique and never fades.”
For those of us fortunate enough to raise twins, that bond is easy to recognize. The Heirbrandt family’s story is not simply about remarkable genetic odds. It is a local example of the companionship, shared history and enduring connection that make being a twin—and parenting twins—such a special experience.