Christopher Smitherman

Last updated

2003 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

Winning Candidates

Losing Candidates

  • 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 (G): 5,504
  • Eric Wilson: 2,686
  • Glenn O. Givens Sr.: 2,327
  • Larry J. Frazier: 2,323
Smitherman speaking at Elder High School in March 2018 Christopher Smitherman at Elder High School.jpg
Smitherman speaking at Elder High School in March 2018

Smitherman was elected to Cincinnati City Council on November 4, 2003, as a member of the Charter Committee. Smitherman ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, racial reconciliation, improved community-police relations, and improved transportation and employment opportunities. During his first term on council, Smitherman served as the vice-chair of the Arts & Culture Committee. He also served on the Law and Public Safety Committee, Neighborhood and Public Services Committee, the Community Development Committee, and the Education & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. [11] During his term, Smitherman focused on neighborhood improvements including authoring a motion to allow part of drug-related dollars seized by police to be returned to the affected community. He introduced motions to pioneer regional economic cooperation via Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD) and Cooperative Economic Development Agreements (CEDA). Smitherman worked to firm up the city's working capital fund and also played a leading role in ending Fire Department brownouts. [12] Smitherman did not win reelection in 2005. [13]

2011 – 2013

2011 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

Winning Candidates

Losing Candidates

  • Chris Bortz (C): 22,044
  • Kevin Flynn (C): 21,828
  • Amy Murray (R): 21,433
  • Leslie Ghiz (R): 20,719
  • Wayne Lippert (R): 18,397
  • Jason Riveiro (D): 18,174
  • Mike Allen (I) 16,598
  • 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

On November 8, 2011, Smitherman was elected for a second time to Cincinnati City Council after receiving 23,760 votes in the at-large general election. [14] Smitherman ran as an Independent politician whose platform was a balanced budget, proper funding for police and fire, and fixing the city's pension. [15] Smitherman was sworn in for a two-year term on December 1, 2011.

2013 – 2017

2013 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

Winning Candidates

Losing Candidates

  • Laure Quinlivan (D): 21,079
  • Greg Landsman (C, D): 19,619
  • Michelle Dillingham (D): 19,143
  • Pam Thomas (D): 18,499
  • Vanessa White (C): 16,892
  • Sam Malone (R): 16,462
  • Mellisa Wegman (R): 9,942
  • Shawn Butler (D): 9,788
  • Mike Moroski (I): 8,688
  • Angela Beamon (I): 7,943
  • Kevin Johnson (I): 6,647
  • Timothy Joseph Dorsbrusch (I): 4,006

On November 5, 2013, Smitherman was reelected to Cincinnati City Council with 24,125 votes. Having run as an Independent, Smitherman did not receive the endorsement of any major party. He ran on a platform of balancing the budget, delivering basic services, and solving the Cincinnati Pension crisis. [16] During this same election, John Cranley defeated incumbent Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls to become the Mayor of Cincinnati. [17] Cranley appointed Smitherman as the Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee, giving him jurisdiction to oversee all city issues related to Police; Fire; Safety Policies; Citizen Complaint Authority; Liquor Licenses; and Public Services. During this term, Smitherman also sat on the Budget and Finance Committee, Economic Growth and Zoning Committee, and the Neighborhoods Committee. Smitherman was sworn in for a four-year term on December 1, 2013.

2018 – Present

2017 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

Winning Candidates

Losing Candidates

  • Michelle Dillingham (D): 21,773
  • Ozie Davis (D): 18,671
  • Lesley Jones (D): 18,345
  • Laure Quinlivan (I): 16,758
  • Derek Bauman (C): 16,680
  • Henry Frondorf (C): 10,637
  • Seth Maney (R): 10,114
  • Brian Garry (G): 9,152
  • Kelli Prather (I): 7,175
  • Tamie Sullivan (G): 6,232
  • Tonya Dumas (I): 6,186
  • Erica L. Black-Johnson (I): 5,539
  • Cristina Burcica (I): 4,150
  • Manuel Foggie (I): 3,556
  • Dadrien Washington (I): 125
Smitherman at the Little Village stay-and-play center grand opening. Christopher Smitherman Little Village stay-&-play center launch.jpg
Smitherman at the Little Village stay-and-play center grand opening.

On November 7, 2017, Smitherman was reelected with 27,149 votes. On December 13, 2017, Mayor John Cranley, having just defeated incumbent City Councilwoman and Mayoral challenger Yvette Simpson, appointed Christopher Smitherman to serve as the Vice Mayor replacing then Vice Mayor David Mann. [18] Cranley also appointed Smitherman to serve on the Cincinnati Planning Commission starting on January 2, 2018. Smitherman was sworn in as a member of the Cincinnati City Council and as the Cincinnati Vice Mayor on January 2, 2018. Smitherman continues to serve as Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee. He is also a member of the Economic Growth and Zoning Committee and the Neighborhoods Committee. In early 2019, Smitherman submitted his resignation from the Budget and Finance Committee – citing time constraints. Smitherman is term-limited and will end his tenure on Cincinnati City Council in January 2022.

Two Year City Council Terms

In the wake of five democratic members of Cincinnati City Council, P.G. Sittenfeld, Chris Seelbach, Wendell Young, Tamaya Dennard, and Greg Landsman, being caught in an open meeting law(s) violation(s) scandal, Smitherman announced in May 2018, that he was launching a ballot initiative to place a charter amendment on the November Ballot to revert Cincinnati City Council terms to 2 years. [19] This issue, which later became known as "Issue 10," was later placed on the ballot by a council vote. On November 6, 2018, Cincinnati voters approved "Issue 10" by a margin of 70.09% (71,461) in favor and 29.91% (30,502) opposed. [20] The amendment will take effect in 2021, following the next council election.

Marijuana Decriminalization

In May 2019, Christopher Smitherman and Councilman Jeff Pastor sponsored an ordinance that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana under 100 grams in the City of Cincinnati. [21] After failing to pass suspension, Smitherman vowed to begin a petition drive to put the issue on the ballot if the ordinance ultimately failed. On June 12, 2019, Cincinnati City Council voted 5–3 to pass the ordinance.

Vice Mayor of Cincinnati

Smitherman was reelected to Cincinnati City Council on November 7, 2017. Following the election, on December 13, 2017, Cincinnati mayor John Cranley appointed Christopher Smitherman to serve as the vice mayor of Cincinnati – replacing former vice mayor David S. Mann. [22] Smitherman took the oath of vice mayor on January 2, 2018, during the city council and mayoral inaugural ceremony. The role of the vice mayor is to act and preside over city council in the absence of the mayor. Smitherman's term as vice mayor will end in January 2021.

President of the Cincinnati NAACP

On March 27, 2007, Smitherman was elected president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) after a highly contested election with incumbent Edith Thrower. [23] During his term the chapter's membership increased 600% from 500 to 3,000 members and the chapter's debt was eliminated. [24] In June 2013, Smitherman temporarily stepped down as president during his reelection campaign for Cincinnati City Council. James Clingman, a vice president of the NAACP and founder of the Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber of Commerce, served as interim president. [25] Smitherman won reelection to council in November 2013 and tendered his resignation as president of the Cincinnati NAACP effective January 1, 2014. [26]

During Smitherman's time as president, the Cincinnati NAACP co-authored and co-sponsored five ballot initiatives, three of which were successful. Those initiatives that passed included defeating a county jail tax, stopping red-light cameras, and allowing voters to ratify the sale of Greater Cincinnati Water Works. Smitherman fell short in his attempt to institute proportional representation on city council and to pass Issue 9, the anti-street car rail initiative. [27] In order to place these initiatives on the ballot, Smitherman helped collect more than 100,000 signatures.

Hamilton County jail tax

In 2007, the Cincinnati NAACP partnered with various bipartisan activist groups throughout Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio to oppose a proposed tax increase to fund a massive jail development in Cincinnati. The sales tax increase included a 0.5 percent for eight years and 0.25 percent for an additional seven years. The tax would pay for a $198 million, 1,800 bed adult detention facility, $11 million juvenile detention facility expansion of 50 beds, a $2 million Hamilton County Justice Center remodeling and other programs that altogether totaled $736 million over 15 years. [28] In order to place this initiative on the November ballot, 28,750 signatures were needed. The Hamilton County Board of Elections confirmed 38,961 valid signatures were obtained. [29] On November 6, 2007, Hamilton County voters of rejected the sales tax increase by more than a 12% margin. [30]

Red light cameras

In 2008, the Cincinnati NAACP, along with other activist groups, collected over 10,000 signatures to put the use of red light cameras to the voters. [31] The ballot initiative would allow the voters to decide on an amendment to the city charter prohibiting local officials from ever installing either red light cameras or speed cameras. [32] In November 2008, a majority of Cincinnati voters approved the amendment to the city charter prohibiting the use of red light cameras.

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References

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  2. "Public Safety Committee Members".
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  6. "EARLIER: Who is Chris Smitherman?".
  7. "Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman".
  8. "Pamela Smitherman, 48: Wife, mom, teacher died Tuesday".
  9. "For better or worse, cancer won't define Smithermans".
  10. After Paul Booth stepped down from his seat on the Cincinnati City Council, Cole was sworn in as his replacement on April 23, 2003.
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  13. "News: A Whole New Team".
  14. "Council Member; City of Cincinnati Election Information November 8, 2011 Election".
  15. "Voter Information for Christopher E. C. Smitherman. November 8, 2011 Election".
  16. "Voter Information for Christopher E.C. Smitherman. November 5, 2013 Election".
  17. "Cincinnati will have a new mayor". November 6, 2013.
  18. "Smitherman appointed vice mayor". December 27, 2017.
  19. "Chris Smitherman says it's time to go back to 2-year council terms. He's already collecting signatures".
  20. "Cincinnati, Ohio, Issue 10, City Council Two-Year Terms Charter Amendment (November 2018)".
  21. "Marijuana decriminalization: Cincinnati takes first steps".
  22. "Smitherman appointed vice mayor". December 27, 2017.
  23. Communications, Emmis (October 2008). "Cincinnati Magazine".
  24. "He Shall Overcome". July 2010.
  25. "Smitherman Temporarily Stepping Down from NAACP".
  26. "Smitherman stepping down as president of Cincinnati NAACP". December 20, 2013.
  27. "He Shall Overcome". July 2010.
  28. "Issue 27: Referendum on Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners – Hamilton County, OH".
  29. "Momentum builds for repealing Hamilton County jail tax".
  30. "News: Jail Tax Loses in Landslide".
  31. "Ohio: Push for a Vote on Red Light Cameras Gathers Steam".
  32. "Cincinnati Voters Ban Red Light Cameras". November 6, 2008.
Christopher Smitherman
Christopher Smitherman Portrait.jpg
Vice mayor of Cincinnati
In office
January 2, 2018 January 4, 2022