Former Cincinnati Vice Mayor Smitherman jumps into crowded City Council race
Smitherman, of North Avondale, said in an Aug. 12 post on the social media site X that he's running for Cincinnati City Council. Smitherman joins a crowded field for the nine council seats.
As of Aug. 12, 24 candidates have submitted petitions to run for Cincinnati City Council, including eight of the nine incumbent Democratic candidates. The deadline to file to run is Aug. 21. Smitherman has pulled petitions but hadn't filed them as of Aug. 11, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
"With a sense of duty and humility, I announce my candidacy for Cincinnati City Council," Smitherman wrote on X. "We need experience and common sense at City Hall. If elected, I will act to reduce crime and support our police, listen to residents on development issues and make sure tax dollars are spent on essentials."
Will he run as an independent or Republican?
The announcement comes a week after Smitherman cohosted a town hall at a restaurant in the Riverside neighborhood with Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Smitherman in the past ran as an independent. Smitherman didn't return a message seeking comment, so it wasn't clear whether he'd remain an independent or run as a Republican.
The Hamilton County Republican Party issued a statement saying the GOP welcomes Smitherman into the race and hopes he will consider running as a Republican.
"Local elections matter, and voters deserve a clear choice," Hamilton County Republican Chairman Russell Mock said in a statement. "We encourage all Cincinnatians who share our priorities – safer streets, responsible budgeting and a government that works for the people – to support candidates who stand for those principles."
Can Smitherman beat the Democrats?
While Cincinnati City Council races are officially nonpartisan, party politics play a big role. All nine City Council members and the mayor are Democrats. In a city where Democrats outvote Republicans 3-to-1, the Democratic endorsement has become increasingly important.
In 2017, six of the nine candidates endorsed by the Democrats won. In 2021, eight of the nine candidates on the slate won election. Two years later, all nine won election.
In addition to the nine endorsed Democrats, there are also five candidates endorsed by the Cincinnati Charter Committee, a group formed in the 1920s to address corruption at City Hall. Republicans plan on endorsing a slate of council candidates after the Aug. 21 deadline to file for council.
Who is Smitherman?
Smitherman is a well-known political veteran. He won his first election to Cincinnati City Council in 2003, running as a Charterite and serving a two-year term. He became president of the local chapter of the NAACP in 2007, a post he held until 2014.
He returned to Cincinnati City Council as an independent in 2011 and served there until 2022. He ran unsuccessfully in 2022 as independent for Hamilton County Board of Commissioners.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Vice Mayor and Councilman Smitherman announces council run
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