The 2009 Dayton mayoral election took place on November 3, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Rhine McLin ran for re-election to a third term. She was challenged by community activist Gary Leitzell. Though the race was formally nonpartisan, McLin was supported by local Democrats,[1] and Leitzell, an independent, was endorsed by the Montgomery County Republican Party.[2]
McLin was endorsed for re-election by the Dayton Daily News, which praised her "good instincts" and for being "intuitive about what won't sit well with citizens and the unintended consequences of decisions that could disadvantage Dayton." It noted that although she "isn't a natural spokesperson" and "struggles to be a force in the room and in the wider community," she "is more astute than many give her credit for." And while it gave Leitzell "credit for making the race," he "is not ready."[3]
Ultimately, Leitzell narrowly defeated McLin, winning 51 percent of the vote to her 49 percent, and beating her by a margin of just 882 votes.[4]
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