List of mayors of Cincinnati Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Mayor of Cincinnati
Flag of Cincinnati, Ohio
Seal of Cincinnati, Ohio
Incumbent Aftab Pureval since January 4, 2022
Style	The Honorable
Term length	Four years; may serve two consecutive terms; renewable once
Inaugural holder	David Ziegler
Formation	1802
Succession	Vice Mayor of Cincinnati
Salary	$121,291
Website	Office of the Mayor

George Puchta was mayor from 1916 to 1917

The mayor of Cincinnati is the main leader and spokesperson for the city. Many people have been mayor of Cincinnati over the years. The very first mayor was David Ziegler, who started his job in 1802. Right now, the mayor is Aftab Pureval. He was elected on November 2, 2021, and officially took office on January 4, 2022.

What Does the Mayor Do?
Who Becomes Mayor Next?
How Cincinnati's Mayors Have Been Chosen
Important "Firsts" for Cincinnati Mayors
Images for kids
See also

What Does the Mayor Do?

The mayor of Cincinnati has several important jobs. They are like the city's chief executive.

Leading City Council Meetings

The mayor leads all the meetings of the Cincinnati City Council. This means they help guide discussions and keep things organized. The mayor can also call special meetings for the council. However, the mayor does not get to vote on council decisions.

Proposing New Ideas

The mayor can suggest new laws or plans for the council to discuss. They help shape the city's future by bringing up important ideas.

Choosing City Leaders

The mayor gets to choose the vice-mayor. They also pick the leaders for all the different committees within the city council. They can make these choices without needing the council's approval.

Representing the City

The mayor is the official face of Cincinnati. They represent the city in many different situations. They can also suggest who should be the city manager. If at least five council members agree, that person can be hired.

Annual City Report

Every year, the mayor gives a speech to the council and the people of Cincinnati. In this speech, they talk about how the city is doing. They also share their ideas for what the city should try to achieve in the future.

Handling Emergencies

During times of public danger or emergency, the mayor can take charge of the police. With the council's agreement, they can help keep order and make sure laws are followed.

Who Becomes Mayor Next?

If the mayor leaves office because they pass away, resign, or are removed, the Vice Mayor of Cincinnati steps in. The vice-mayor then becomes the new mayor. The current vice-mayor of Cincinnati is Jan Michelle Kearney.

How Cincinnati's Mayors Have Been Chosen

The way Cincinnati chooses its mayor has changed over time.

Early Days (Before 1925)

Before 1815, the person who led the city council acted like the mayor. For many years, until 1925, people voted directly for the mayor in special elections. These elections were often linked to political parties.

The Charter Party (1924 Onwards)

In 1924, a local political group called the Charter Party was formed. This party focused only on Cincinnati's local government. Many people from other parties, like the Democrats, even ran as Charterites for a while.

Council Chooses the Mayor (1925-1998)

From 1925 until 1998, the mayor was not chosen by a direct public vote. Instead, the nine members of the city council would choose one of themselves to be the mayor.

Rotating Mayors (1970s)

In the 1970s, the Democrats and the Charter Party worked together. They decided to take turns being mayor. After a few years, they changed the rule. The city council member who received the most votes in the election would automatically become mayor.

Back to Direct Elections (1999)

In 1999, the system changed back. People could once again vote directly for their mayor. Charlie Luken was the first mayor chosen under this new system.

Important "Firsts" for Cincinnati Mayors

Cincinnati has had some mayors who made history:

In 1900, Julius Fleischmann became the youngest mayor of Cincinnati. He was only 28 years old!
In 1954, Dorothy N. Dolbey became the first woman to be mayor of Cincinnati.
In 2006, Mark Mallory was the first African-American mayor of Cincinnati to be directly elected by the people.
On November 2, 2021, Aftab Pureval was elected as the first Asian American mayor of Cincinnati. He is the 70th person to hold this important job.