Election Results, City Council of Cincinnati, Ohio
Encyclopedia
The nine-member city council of Cincinnati, Ohio
is elected at-large in a single election in which each voter chooses nine candidates from the field. The nine top vote-getters win seats on the council for a two-year term.
Until the charter of 1925, the council comprised 32 members—six elected at-large and 26 elected from single-member wards. The 1925 charter instituted the present nine-member council elected in a single non-partisan, at-large election. From 1925 to 1955, elections were under the single transferable vote
form of proportional representation
. The mayor was chosen by the council from among its members. In the 1970s, the system was changed so that the top vote-getter in the council election automatically became mayor. Starting in 2001, the mayor is chosen in a separate election
.
Although the election officially is non-partisan, the three major parties (Democratic
, Republican
, and Charterite) endorse candidates in the race. Party designations, however, can be fluid. After the 1997 election, for example, Democrats Minette Cooper and Dwight Tillery
formed a majority coalition on the council with Republicans Charlie Winburn, Phil Heimlich, and Jeanette Cissell.
There is a term limit
of four two-year terms for council members.
Party designations: C - Charterite. D - Democrat. G - Green. I - Independent / Unendorsed. R - Republican.
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...
is elected at-large in a single election in which each voter chooses nine candidates from the field. The nine top vote-getters win seats on the council for a two-year term.
Until the charter of 1925, the council comprised 32 members—six elected at-large and 26 elected from single-member wards. The 1925 charter instituted the present nine-member council elected in a single non-partisan, at-large election. From 1925 to 1955, elections were under the single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
form of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. The mayor was chosen by the council from among its members. In the 1970s, the system was changed so that the top vote-getter in the council election automatically became mayor. Starting in 2001, the mayor is chosen in a separate election
Election Results, Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio
The mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, is elected directly in a nonpartisan election separate from the City Council election. Until 2001, the candidate who received the most votes in the City Council election would become mayor. Mayoral candidates in the general election are chosen in an open primary.Bold...
.
Although the election officially is non-partisan, the three major parties (Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, and Charterite) endorse candidates in the race. Party designations, however, can be fluid. After the 1997 election, for example, Democrats Minette Cooper and Dwight Tillery
Dwight Tillery
Dwight Tillery is an American politician of the Democratic Party who is active in local politics of Cincinnati, Ohio.Tillery grew up in the city's West End and attended the University of Cincinnati in the 1960s, where he helped found the university's United Black Association and graduated with a...
formed a majority coalition on the council with Republicans Charlie Winburn, Phil Heimlich, and Jeanette Cissell.
There is a term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
of four two-year terms for council members.
Party designations: C - Charterite. D - Democrat. G - Green. I - Independent / Unendorsed. R - Republican.
Cincinnati City Council Members
- Roxanne QuallsRoxanne QuallsRoxanne Qualls is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, having served from December 1993 to November 1999. She also served a two-year term on the Cincinnati City Council prior to her service as mayor, having been elected in 1991. On August 8, 2007, the Charter Committee announced her...
(C,D) vice mayor - Cecil Thomas (D) president pro-tem
- Chris BortzChris BortzChris 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...
(C) - Leslie Ghiz (R)
- Laure Quinlivan (D)
- Amy Murray (R)
- Charlie Winburn (R)
- Wendell Young (D)
- Wayne Lippert (R)
Election results
Italic type indicates incumbent.| Year | Winning Candidates | Losing Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, having served from December 1993 to November 1999. She also served a two-year term on the Cincinnati City Council prior to her service as mayor, having been elected in 1991. On August 8, 2007, the Charter Committee announced her... (C,D): 37,275 P. G. Sittenfeld (D): 30,474 Wendell Young Wendell Young Wendell Edward Young is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the general manager of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:... (D): 29,067 Cecil Thomas (D): 28,892 Charlie Winburn (R): 28,829 Laure Qunlivan (D): 27,422 Yvette Simpson (C,D): 27,204 Christopher Smitherman Christopher Smitherman Christopher Smitherman is a politician from Cincinnati, Ohio. He was elected to Cincinnati City Council in 2003 as a member of the Charter Committee. He was defeated in his attempt for reelection in 2005. Smitherman was elected president of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP in April... (I): 23,760 Chris Seelbach Chris Seelbach (politician) Christopher Seelbach is an American politician. He made history in 2011 when he became the first openly-gay politician elected to the Cincinnati City Council.Seelbach was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He moved to Cincinnati in 1998... (D): 23,484 |
Chris Bortz Chris Bortz 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... (C): 22,044 Kevin Flynn Kevin Flynn Kevin Daniel Flynn is a politician in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Oakville for the Ontario Liberal Party.... (C): 21,828 Amy Murray (R): 21,433 Leslie Ghiz (R): 20,719 Wayne Lippert (R): 18,397 Jason Riveiro (D): 18,174 Nicholas Hollan (D): 14,628 Catherine Smith Mills (R): 13,513 Pat McCollum (I): 6,180 Kathy Atkinson (I): 5,012 Jacqueline Allen (I): 4,555 Sandra Queen Noble (I): 2,726 Orlando Welborn (I): 33 |
| 2009 | Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, having served from December 1993 to November 1999. She also served a two-year term on the Cincinnati City Council prior to her service as mayor, having been elected in 1991. On August 8, 2007, the Charter Committee announced her... (C,D): 43,513 Cecil Thomas (D): 35,690 Chris Bortz Chris Bortz 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... (C): 32,911 Jeff Berding Jeff Berding Jeff Berding is an American politician of the Democratic Party, who currently serves as a councilman for Cincinnati, having held a seat on council since his election in November 2005... (I): 30,509 Leslie Ghiz (R): 30,050 Chris Monzel (R): 29,786 Charlie Winburn (R): 29,055 Y. Laketa Cole Laketa Cole Laketa Cole is currently a member of the City Council of Cincinnati, Ohio She first ran for council in 2001 as an independent. She came in tenth, losing narrowly. In April 2003, she was appointed to council to fill an unexpired seat. With incumbency on her side, Cole was able to win election to... (D): 28,976 Laure Quinlivan (D): 28,775 |
Greg Harris Greg Harris (Ohio) Greg Harris was an American politician of the Democratic party and was a member of Cincinnati City Council. He lost the November 2009 election to keep his seat on Council.- 2004 Congressional race :... (D): 25,216 Bernadette Watson (D): 24,985 Amy Murray (R): 23,667 Kevin Flynn (C): 23,619 Wendell Young (D): 22,100 Tony Fischer (D): 21,742 Nicholas Hollan (D): 18,096 George Zamary (R): 12,834 Anitra Brockman (G): 8,071 LaMarque Ward (I): 7,806 |
| 2007 | Roxanne Qualls (C): 33,775 John Cranley John Cranley John Cranley was a Democratic member of the city council of Cincinnati, Ohio and a partner of City Lights Development. John is a Harvard law school graduate and co-founder of the Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.... (D): 33,772 David Crowley David Crowley David Crowley was a politician from Cincinnati, Ohio who served on the Cincinnati City Council and as Vice-Mayor of the city. Crowley was elected in his first political candidacy in 2001 and was re-elected in 2003. In 2001, he came in seventh place; and in 2003, he finished ninth... (D): 31,124 Cecil Thomas (D): 27,103 Chris Bortz (C): 26,500 Leslie Ghiz (R): 24,920 Y. Laketa Cole (D): 24,900 Jeff Berding (D): 23,586 Chris Monzel (R): 23,336 |
Charlie Winburn (R): 22,080 Minette Cooper (D): 18,941 Sam Malone (R): 17,486 Melanie Bates (C): 15,376 Pat Fischer (R): 15,084 Greg Harris (D): 14,184 John Eby (R): 14,025 Wendell Young (D): 13,963 Brian Garry (D): 13,164 Joan Kaup: 8,476 (C) Andre Harper (R): 7,499 Justin Jeffre (G): 7,371 Mitch Painter (I): 5,140 Steve Pavelish (I): 4,213 Michael Earl Patton (I): 3,149 George Zamary (I): 2,203 |
| 2005 | John Cranley (D): 35,603 James R. Tarbell Jim Tarbell James "Jim" Tarbell is an American politician of the Charter Party, who served as a member of the city council and Vice-Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. By mayoral proclamation, Jim Tarbell holds the title "Mr. Cincinnati" for life.- Political career :... (C): 32,392 Y. Laketa Cole (D): 29,966 David Crowley (D): 29,856 Leslie Ghiz (R): 29,758 Jeff Berding (D): 28,344 Chris Monzel (R): 27,911 Chris Bortz (C): 27,304 Cecil Thomas (D): 27,091 |
Sam Malone Sam Malone (Ohio politician) Samuel A. Malone Jr. is a businessman in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served as a Cincinnati city councilmember from 2003-2005 and gained national prominence after being tried on domestic violence charges after disciplining his teenage son with a leather belt.-Early life and education:Malone grew up in... (R): 25,838 Christopher Smitherman Christopher Smitherman Christopher Smitherman is a politician from Cincinnati, Ohio. He was elected to Cincinnati City Council in 2003 as a member of the Charter Committee. He was defeated in his attempt for reelection in 2005. Smitherman was elected president of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP in April... (C): 24,642 Damon Lynch III (D): 22,556 Wendell Young (D): 21,505 Eve Bolton (D): 19,729 John Eby (R): 16,272 Samantha Herd (D): 14,306 Nick Spencer (C): 9,462 Paul Mcghee (I): 5,407 Gerry Kraus: 4,719 (I) William S. "Stew" Mathews II (I): 3,915 Robert J. Wilking (I): 3,762 Ishaq Nadir (I): 3,208 Eric Wilson (I): 3,082 Michael Earl Patton (I): 2,770 Curtis Wells (I): 2,482 Robert Wilson (I): 2,319 Ronnie T. Stallworth: 2,271 Bill Barron (I): 1,849 Bennie Green (I): 1,800 Victor Phillips (I): 1,695 Antonio Hodge (I): 1,276 |
| 2003 | David Pepper (D): 34,405 Alicia Reece Alicia Reece Alicia Reece is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 33rd district.Reece is a graduate of Withrow High School International Studies Academy and Grambling State University. Before becoming a state legislator she was on the city council of Cincinnati and was the city's... (D): 32,078 Y. Laketa Cole (D):27,644 James R. Tarbell (C): 27,480 John Cranley (D): 26,980 R. Patrick DeWine Pat DeWine Richard Patrick "Pat" DeWine is an American lawyer and politician from Ohio. He is the son of former U.S Senator Mike DeWine and like his father is a Republican.... (R): 26,573 Christopher Smitherman (C): 25,483 Sam Malone (R): 24,002 David Crowley (D): 22,713 |
Damon Lynch III (I): 21,764 Leslie Ghiz (R): 19,916 Chris Monzel (R): 19,197 Barbara W. Trauth: 17,480 John Connelly: 14,047 Pete Witte: 13,479 Terry Deters: 11,889 John F. Schlagetter (C): 11,420 Tom Jones: 10,441 Samuel T. Britton: 9,778 Howard H. Bond: 8,260 Nick Spencer (C): 7,378 Marilyn Hyland: 5,864 Brian Garry: 5,504 Eric Wilson: 2,686 Glenn O. Givens Sr.: 2,327 Larry J. Frazier: 2,323 |
| 2001 | David Pepper (D): 45,174 R. Patrick DeWine (R): 43,191 Alicia Reece (D): 43,180 Minette Cooper (D): 38,040 John Cranley (D): 36,998 James R. Tarbell (C): 35,533 David Crowley: (D): 33,225 Paul Booth (D): 27,732 Chris Monzel (R): 26,479 |
Y. Laketa Cole (D): 24,567 Todd Ward (R): 23,895 Sam Malone (R): 23,211 Jane Anderson: 21,026 Akiva Freeman: 19,788 Dawn Denno: 19,598 Lawra Baumann: 17,686 Ken Anderson: 15,119 Clarence D. Williams III: 14,371 Nathaniel Livingston Jr.: 12,735 Tom Jones: 12,235 John F. Schlagetter (C): 10,269 William Kirkland: 6,211 Theo Barnes: 4,795 Eric Wilson: 4,376 Wes Flinn: 3,682 Toni Andrews: 3,651 |
| 1999 | Mayor: Charles J. Luken Charlie Luken Charles J. Luken is an American politician of the Democratic party who was mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio and served in the Ohio's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Luken's uncle, labor leader James T. Luken, also served as mayor of Cincinnati... (D): 42,022 Todd Portune Todd Portune Todd Portune is an American politician of the Democratic Party, who currently serves as a commissioner for Hamilton County, Ohio. Before holding that position, Portune was a councilman for the city of Cincinnati.... (D): 36,333 Charlie Winburn (R): 34,176 Phil Heimlich (R): 31,487 Alicia Reece (D): 27,900 R. Patrick DeWine (R): 27,745 James R. Tarbell (C): 26,045 Minette Cooper (D): 25,277 Paul Booth (D): 22,667 |
Jeanette Cissell (R): 22,095 Diane Goldsmith (R): 21,250 Scott V. Seidewitz (D): 20,389 Kaye M. Britton (D): 19,300 Forrest L. Buckley (D): 19,248 Jane Anderson: 17,297 Ken Anderson: 15,433 Chris Monzel (R): 9,335 Sam Malone (I): 5,030 Theo Barnes (I): 4,885 Charlie Lee Gardner (I): 3,312 |
| 1997 | Mayor: Roxanne Qualls (D): 50,560 Dwight Tillery (D): 45,238 Todd Portune (D): 42,721 Charlie Winburn (R): 39,913 Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne is a former American politician of the Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was Cincinnati's first female mayor. A long-time member of the Cincinnati City Council, Sterne served two terms as the Mayor of Cincinnati, from 1975–1976 and 1978-1979. She retired from the council in... (C): 39,529 Phil Heimlich (R): 37,896 Tyrone Yates Tyrone Yates Tyrone Keith Yates is a Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge. He was elected on November 8, 2011. He was unopposed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Nadine Lovelace Allen who was elected to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. His new term runs until January 1, 2014. He was appointed... (D): 35,592 Minette Cooper (D): 35,451 Jeanette Cissell (R): 34,209 |
James R. Tarbell (C): 33,867 Forrest Buckley (D): 25,357 Diane Goldsmith (R): 22,676 Kaye Britton (D): 20,724 Rosemary Meyer (R): 18,976 Todd Ward (R): 18,438 Bryn Lewis (C): 10,135 William Gaz (R): 9,213 Theo Barnes (I): 6,051 |
| 1995 | Mayor: Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, having served from December 1993 to November 1999. She also served a two-year term on the Cincinnati City Council prior to her service as mayor, having been elected in 1991. On August 8, 2007, the Charter Committee announced her... (D): 49,165 Phil Heimlich (R): 48,072 Dwight Tillery Dwight Tillery Dwight Tillery is an American politician of the Democratic Party who is active in local politics of Cincinnati, Ohio.Tillery grew up in the city's West End and attended the University of Cincinnati in the 1960s, where he helped found the university's United Black Association and graduated with a... (D): 45,616 Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne is a former American politician of the Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was Cincinnati's first female mayor. A long-time member of the Cincinnati City Council, Sterne served two terms as the Mayor of Cincinnati, from 1975–1976 and 1978-1979. She retired from the council in... (C): 40,663 Nick Vehr (R): 40,207 Minette Cooper (D): 40,105 Charlie Winburn (R): 38,963 Todd Portune Todd Portune Todd Portune is an American politician of the Democratic Party, who currently serves as a commissioner for Hamilton County, Ohio. Before holding that position, Portune was a councilman for the city of Cincinnati.... (D): 36,308 Tyrone Yates Tyrone Yates Tyrone Keith Yates is a Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge. He was elected on November 8, 2011. He was unopposed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Nadine Lovelace Allen who was elected to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. His new term runs until January 1, 2014. He was appointed... (D): 33,644 |
Jeannette Cissell (R): 31,960 Mark Longabaugh (D): 30,969 John Kruse (R): 28,098 John Mirlisena (D): 27,379 Diane Goldsmith (R): 26,627 Norman Murdock (R): 24,369 Don Driehaus (D): 22,961 Cromwell: 9,109 Simmons: 4,354 |
| 1993 | Mayor: Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, having served from December 1993 to November 1999. She also served a two-year term on the Cincinnati City Council prior to her service as mayor, having been elected in 1991. On August 8, 2007, the Charter Committee announced her... (D): 48,476 Dwight Tillery Dwight Tillery Dwight Tillery is an American politician of the Democratic Party who is active in local politics of Cincinnati, Ohio.Tillery grew up in the city's West End and attended the University of Cincinnati in the 1960s, where he helped found the university's United Black Association and graduated with a... (D): 45,928 Nick Vehr (R): 45,494 Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne is a former American politician of the Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was Cincinnati's first female mayor. A long-time member of the Cincinnati City Council, Sterne served two terms as the Mayor of Cincinnati, from 1975–1976 and 1978-1979. She retired from the council in... (C): 43,077 Thomas A. Luken (D): 39,771 Charlie Winburn (R): 39,670 Tyrone Yates Tyrone Yates Tyrone Keith Yates is a Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge. He was elected on November 8, 2011. He was unopposed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Nadine Lovelace Allen who was elected to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. His new term runs until January 1, 2014. He was appointed... (D): 36,204 Todd Portune Todd Portune Todd Portune is an American politician of the Democratic Party, who currently serves as a commissioner for Hamilton County, Ohio. Before holding that position, Portune was a councilman for the city of Cincinnati.... (D): 34,460 Phil Heimlich (R): 33,873 |
John Mirlisena (D): 32,915 Virginia Rhodes (D): 29,327 Jeannette Cissell (R): 27,504 Martin Wade (R): 26,224 Anne Power (R): 25,232 John Kruse (R): 24,713 Nell D. Surber (R): 23,714 Eric Kearney (C): 23,138 Val Sena (C): 18,131 Matthew Rosen (D): 15,851 Barbara Milton (D): 14,078 Pat Clifford (I): 7,759 |
| 1991 | Mayor: Dwight Tillery Dwight Tillery Dwight Tillery is an American politician of the Democratic Party who is active in local politics of Cincinnati, Ohio.Tillery grew up in the city's West End and attended the University of Cincinnati in the 1960s, where he helped found the university's United Black Association and graduated with a... (D): 52,020 Guy Guckenberger (I): 49,793 David S. Mann David S. Mann David Scott Mann is an American politician of the Democratic party in Ohio.Mann was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961 at Harvard University. After graduating, Mann served in the United States Navy, from 1961 to 1965. Afterwards, he was accepted at Harvard Law School and he was awarded a... (D): 48,595 John Mirlisena (D): 47,655 Peter J. Strauss (D): 45,577 James Cissell (R): 42,467 Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne Bobbie L. Sterne is a former American politician of the Charter Party of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was Cincinnati's first female mayor. A long-time member of the Cincinnati City Council, Sterne served two terms as the Mayor of Cincinnati, from 1975–1976 and 1978-1979. She retired from the council in... (C): 40,697 Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls Roxanne Qualls is a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, having served from December 1993 to November 1999. She also served a two-year term on the Cincinnati City Council prior to her service as mayor, having been elected in 1991. On August 8, 2007, the Charter Committee announced her... (D): 38,543 Tyrone Yates Tyrone Yates Tyrone Keith Yates is a Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge. He was elected on November 8, 2011. He was unopposed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Nadine Lovelace Allen who was elected to the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. His new term runs until January 1, 2014. He was appointed... (C): 36,548 |
Nick Vehr (R): 33,277 Virginia Rhodes (D): 32,240 Nell D. Surber (R): 27,281 William Al'Uqdah (R): 21,846 Martin Wade (R): 19,993 Shirley Rosser (D): 18,189 Jay Andress (R): 16,807 Mary Ann Brown (R): 15,290 Val Sena (C): 14,886 Len Garrett (R): 12,365 Richard L. Buchanan (D): 11,655 Chaunston Brown (D): 10,461 Todd O'Neal (I): 9,684 John Cheng (I): 6,866 Claudia Miller (I): 6,337 Anita F. Bolce (I): 6,712 Dennis L. Maxberry (I): 3,336 |
External links
- SmartVoter.org - Current & historical election information to 1998 for Hamilton County, OH presented by the League of Women Voters
- Hamilton County, OH Board of Elections Current & historical election information
- City of Cincinnati - Elections Commission Political Contribution Data
- Cincinnati Municipal Code
- City Council Member Leslie Ghiz