Chris Bortz
Encyclopedia
Chris Bortz is a politician from Cincinnati, Ohio
. He was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 2005 as a member of the Charter Party
.. Because the Charter Party is not recognized by the state of Ohio as an official party, Bortz is a registered Republican. He currently serves as the chair of the council's Strategic Growth Committee. Bortz was born in Cincinnati and attended Cincinnati Country Day School
for high school; he attended Tufts University
for his undergraduate education, and received a J.D.
from the University of Arizona
. Before his time on the City Council, Bortz served on the Charter Committee Board since 1997, as well as the Cincinnati Electoral Reform Commission, a panel created to study Cincinnati government.
After graduating from law school at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Bortz moved to Cincinnati and took on a new role at Towne Properties (a real estate developer) as General Counsel and Special Projects Director. He worked on converting the historic Shillito’s department store into modern residential living. On this and many other projects, Chris worked closely with his uncle, Arn Bortz, who served nine years on the Cincinnati City Council and one term as Mayor of Cincinnati in the early 1980’s. His work at Towne Properties has raised controversy where it intersects with his service on the council--a local attorney has pushed for censure of Bortz, since Towne Properties may benefit from a tax increment financing
district passed by the council (Bortz abstained from the vote). The same issue has also plagued his vote on Cincinnati's streetcar system
, which would serve several properties owned by the company.
Silver, Gold, or Platinum standards in order to encourage more sustainable development in Cincinnati. The motion created a Community Development Block Grant
as well to help finance structures for builders. He has also been a major advocate for shared services, sitting on the steering committee for GCEP (Government Cooperation and Efficiency Project) In April of 2008 Bortz signed onto the motion that moved for $50,000 be allocated for a professional services contact with the Regional Planning Commission in order to match Hamilton County's $50,000. The goal of the motion was to not create a regional government, but to reduce the cost of government while also improving the quality of services provided. In September of 2010 Councilman Bortz signed onto a motion to increase economic development in and attract businesses to Cincinnati to enter into a contractual agreement with the Port Authority to implement the GO Cincinnati Plan. As the motion stated, "the Port Authority will become the catalytic development corporation tasked with concentrating development expertise and financial resources required to implement GO Cincinnati, creating jobs and private investment in the City of Cincinnati.
Breakthrough Collaborative Board Member
Cincinnati Country Day School Board Member
Jewish Community Relations Council Board Member
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. He was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 2005 as a member of the Charter Party
Charter Party
The Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, is a minor political party. The party is Cincinnati's third party. Members of this party are called "Charterites."-History:...
.. Because the Charter Party is not recognized by the state of Ohio as an official party, Bortz is a registered Republican. He currently serves as the chair of the council's Strategic Growth Committee. Bortz was born in Cincinnati and attended Cincinnati Country Day School
Cincinnati Country Day School
Cincinnati Country Day School is a private, Independent School located in Indian Hill, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati....
for high school; he attended Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
for his undergraduate education, and received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
. Before his time on the City Council, Bortz served on the Charter Committee Board since 1997, as well as the Cincinnati Electoral Reform Commission, a panel created to study Cincinnati government.
Early career
Chris attended high school at Cincinnati Country Day School and later went on to graduate from Tufts University in Boston. Upon finishing college Bortz became a teacher at Country Day for 6th grade English and 8th grade Philosophy. He accepted a position as the Dean of Faculty for Summerbridge Cincinnati, a summer school program designed to give academically qualified, yet underprivileged students the opportunity to advance their education in a rigorous, nurturing academic environment. Besides his role as teacher and Dean of Faculty for Summerbridge, Chris also coached the football, track, baseball and wrestling teams.After graduating from law school at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Bortz moved to Cincinnati and took on a new role at Towne Properties (a real estate developer) as General Counsel and Special Projects Director. He worked on converting the historic Shillito’s department store into modern residential living. On this and many other projects, Chris worked closely with his uncle, Arn Bortz, who served nine years on the Cincinnati City Council and one term as Mayor of Cincinnati in the early 1980’s. His work at Towne Properties has raised controversy where it intersects with his service on the council--a local attorney has pushed for censure of Bortz, since Towne Properties may benefit from a tax increment financing
Tax increment financing
Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is a public financing method which has been used as a subsidy for redevelopment and community improvement projects in many countries including the United States for more than 50 years...
district passed by the council (Bortz abstained from the vote). The same issue has also plagued his vote on Cincinnati's streetcar system
Cincinnati streetcars
Cincinnati streetcars were the main form of public transportation in Cincinnati, Ohio at the turn of the twentieth century. The original streetcar system was dismantled in 1951....
, which would serve several properties owned by the company.
Cincinnati City Council 2005-Present
Bortz was a co-founder of the GO Cincinnati plan for economic development. In May of 2006 he signed onto a motion along with Laketa Cole that created an automatic tax exemption for LEED CertifiedLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
Silver, Gold, or Platinum standards in order to encourage more sustainable development in Cincinnati. The motion created a Community Development Block Grant
Community Development Block Grant
The Community Development Block Grant , one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development...
as well to help finance structures for builders. He has also been a major advocate for shared services, sitting on the steering committee for GCEP (Government Cooperation and Efficiency Project) In April of 2008 Bortz signed onto the motion that moved for $50,000 be allocated for a professional services contact with the Regional Planning Commission in order to match Hamilton County's $50,000. The goal of the motion was to not create a regional government, but to reduce the cost of government while also improving the quality of services provided. In September of 2010 Councilman Bortz signed onto a motion to increase economic development in and attract businesses to Cincinnati to enter into a contractual agreement with the Port Authority to implement the GO Cincinnati Plan. As the motion stated, "the Port Authority will become the catalytic development corporation tasked with concentrating development expertise and financial resources required to implement GO Cincinnati, creating jobs and private investment in the City of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati City Council Election 2011
Bortz has announced that he will run for reelection in the November 2011 Council elections, and that this would be his final 2-year term. While on Council, Chris has been involved in putting together successful incentive packages for businesses like Humana, Graeter's, and MedPace to keep them located in Cincinnati. In order to continue successful economic development in Cincinnati, the Port Authority and the Casino will be major projects for Council to work on.Board memberships
Electoral Reform Commission MemberBreakthrough Collaborative Board Member
Cincinnati Country Day School Board Member
Jewish Community Relations Council Board Member