City Council

To quote from the city's official website:

"The Mission of the Cincinnati City Council is to provide, in a democratic and transparent manner, efficient and effective services which will make Cincinnati a better place in which to live, work and play."

Current members:

 * Laketa Cole
 * Jeff Berding
 * Chris Bortz
 * Leslie Ghiz
 * Chris Monzel
 * Cecil Thomas
 * Roxanne Qualls
 * Laure Quinlivan
 * Charlie Winburn

Organization
9 members, not including the Mayor, elected at large on non-partisan ballot for 2-year terms.


 * Legislation - Council may propose, introduce, vote on and override mayoral veto of legislation
 * Committees - Council forms committees to conduct business not including appointment of committee chairs.
 * Mayor Presides at Council meetings but not a member of Council. Official head and representative of city for purposes unless otherwise provided in Charter.
 * Legislative Assignments - Mayor assigns all legislative matters to the appropriate committees
 * Committee Chairs - Appointed and removed by Mayor without Council approval.
 * Mayoral Succession (in event of death, removal, or resignation) - Vice mayor becomes Mayor. If Vice-Mayor assumes office of Mayor prior to June 1 in the year of a Council election, an election is held for the unexpired term of mayor.
 * Eligibility - Anyone eligible to run regardless of Council service who is a resident of Cincinnati.
 * Vice Mayor - Appointed by Mayor without Council approval from among Council members for 2-year term. No additional compensation. Fills in when Mayor is absent except may not exercise veto power or appointive and removal powers.

Committees
The major portion of the work of City Council is conducted by committees, a practice common to legislative bodies. The committee system enables citizens to be heard on matters of particular interest to them at weekly meetings of each committee, and it provides the means for committees to thoroughly consider items brought before them before recommending some action to the full council. The standing committees are:


 * Arts, Culture, Tourism, Marketing & Technology Committee
 * Economic Development Committee
 * Finance Committee
 * Health, Environment and Education Committee
 * Law and Public Safety Committee
 * Vibrant Neighborhoods, Recreation and Public Services Committee
 * Rules and Government Operations Committee
 * Transportation & Infrastructure Sub-Committee
 * Internal Audit Committee

Roles

 * City Council approves zoning changes in the city.
 * City Council approves Community Reinvestment Area tax abatement applications

Stable Seats
Republicans: Steve Chabot 1990 -> Nick Vehr 1996 -> Jeanette Cissel

Democrats: Charlie Luken 1990 -> Dwight Tillery 1998 -> Paul Booth 2003 -> Laketa Cole

Democrats: David Mann 1992 -> Todd Portune 2000 -> John Cranley 2009 -> Greg Harris

Charterites: Bobbie Sterne 1998 -> Jim Tarbell 2007 -> Roxanne Qualls

Upcoming Election:
2009 Cincinnati City Council Candidates

Previous Elections:
2007 Cincinnati City Council Candidates