Rhine McLin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rhine McLin
McLin in 2008
54th Mayor of Dayton
In office January 4, 2002 – January 4, 2010
Preceded by	Mike Turner
Succeeded by	Gary Leitzell
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 5th district
In office January 3, 1995 – December 5, 2001
Preceded by	Neal Zimmers
Succeeded by	Tom Roberts
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 38th district
In office January 3, 1989 – December 31, 1994
Preceded by	C.J. McLin
Succeeded by	Lloyd Lewis Jr.
Personal details
Born	1948 (age 76–77)
Political party	Democratic
Relations	C. J. McLin (father)
Education	Parsons College (BA) Xavier University (MEd) Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (AS)

Rhine Lana McLin (born in October 1948) is an American politician. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Rhine McLin served as the 54th mayor of Dayton, Ohio. She was mayor from 2002 to 2010. Before that, she was part of the Ohio General Assembly. This is Ohio's state legislature, which has two parts.

Education and Learning

Rhine McLin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied sociology and secondary education at Parsons College. She also received a Master of Education degree. This was in guidance counseling from Xavier University. Additionally, she holds an associate's degree in mortuary science. She earned this from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

Political Career

Starting in the Ohio House

In 1988, Rhine McLin's father, C. J. McLin, passed away. Rhine was chosen to finish his term in the Ohio House of Representatives. This is one part of Ohio's state legislature. She was then elected to that same seat in 1990. She won re-election again in 1992.

Moving to the Ohio Senate

After her time in the House, she was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1994. The Senate is the other part of the Ohio General Assembly. She was re-elected to the Senate in 1998. In 2001, McLin became the Minority Leader. This means she was the main leader for her political party in the Senate. She served as Minority Leader until 2002. She could not run for re-election that year because of term limits. Term limits mean a politician can only serve a certain number of terms.

Becoming Mayor of Dayton

After leaving the Senate, Rhine McLin decided to run for mayor. She ran for the office of mayor of Dayton. In 2001, McLin was elected mayor of Dayton. She won against the current mayor, Michael R. Turner. She started her term as mayor in 2002. She was re-elected in 2005. However, in 2009, she lost her re-election bid for mayor.

Breaking Barriers

Rhine McLin has achieved many "firsts" in her political career. In 1994, she became the first African American woman elected to the Ohio State Senate. She was also the first African American woman to serve as Ohio Senate Minority Leader. When she became mayor of Dayton, she was the first woman to hold that position. She is also the third African American mayor of Dayton. In late 2005, she became the first African American woman to lead the Ohio Democratic Party.

Recent Activities

Since 2012, Rhine McLin has been the Vice Chairwoman of the Ohio Democratic Party. This means she helps lead the Democratic Party in Ohio. In August 2012, there was talk that she might run for an Ohio state representative seat. However, she decided not to run for that position.