List of mayors of Columbus, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of Columbus |
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Flag of the City of Columbus
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Seal of the City of Columbus
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 Andrew Ginther since January 1, 2016 |
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| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | Four-year term, no limits |
| Inaugural holder | Jarvis W. Pike |
| Formation | February 14, 1812 |
| Deputy | President of Columbus City Council |
| Salary | $177,000 (2016) |
| Website | mayor.columbus.gov |
A mayor is the leader of a city. They help make important decisions for everyone living there. The city of Columbus, Ohio, has had 48 different people serve as mayor. Some mayors even served more than one time!
The very first mayor of Columbus was Jarvis W. Pike. He was chosen by the city council in 1816. Later, in 1834, John Brooks became the first mayor chosen by a vote from the people. Five mayors have served terms that were not back-to-back. This means they were mayor, then someone else was, and then they became mayor again!
Some mayors have left their job early. Five mayors have resigned from office. No mayor has ever died or become seriously ill while in office. The mayor who served the shortest time was James Robinson. He was mayor for only eight months. The mayor who served the longest was Michael B. Coleman. He was mayor for 16 years! He was also the first African American mayor of Columbus. The current mayor is Andrew Ginther. He started his term on January 1, 2016.
Contents
Understanding the Mayors of Columbus
The mayors of Columbus have come from different backgrounds. They have also belonged to various political parties. A political party is a group of people who share similar ideas about how the government should work.
Political Parties of Mayors
Mayors in Columbus have belonged to a few main political parties over time. Here are the colors that show which party each mayor belonged to: Party affiliation not known Democratic Party Whig Party Republican Party
Notable Mayors and Their Terms
Many interesting people have served as mayor of Columbus. Some held other important jobs before becoming mayor. Others made history with their time in office.
Early Mayors and Changes
Jarvis W. Pike was the first mayor, chosen in 1816. This was when Columbus was a very new city. For many years, mayors were chosen by the city council. Then, in 1834, John Brooks was the first mayor elected by the people. This was a big change!
Mayors Who Served More Than Once
It is not common, but some mayors have served more than one time. This means they were mayor, then someone else took the job, and then they became mayor again. For example, Philo H. Olmsted was mayor twice. Alexander Patton, James G. Bull, George J. Karb, and Jack Sensenbrenner also served non-consecutive terms. This shows their dedication to the city.
Longest-Serving Mayors
Some mayors have served for many years. Michael B. Coleman holds the record for the longest time as mayor. He served for 16 years, from 2000 to 2016. He was also the first African American mayor of Columbus. Another long-serving mayor was James John Thomas. He was mayor for 12 years, from 1920 to 1932. These mayors helped shape Columbus for a long time.
Mayors with Other Important Roles
Many mayors had other important jobs before leading Columbus. For example, Jim Rhodes was the 44th mayor of Columbus. He later became the Governor of Ohio. This shows how leaders can move between different levels of government. Others served on the Columbus City Council or as judges.
See also
- Government of Columbus, Ohio
- Green Lawn Cemetery – Many former mayors of Ohio's capital city are buried here. It is located in the southern part of Columbus, Ohio.
- Timeline of Columbus, Ohio
Images for kids
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Jim Rhodes, 44th mayor of Columbus, and only former mayor to serve as Governor of Ohio
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Michael B. Coleman, 52nd mayor of Columbus, and the first African American to serve as mayor of Ohio's capital
