Meet the 2023 City Council Candidates and the Women Who Inspire Them
The 2023 Election Day is just around the corner! On November 7, Cincinnatians will elect nine city council members to serve two-year terms. In addition to city council members, voters will decide who serves on the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education, whether or not to legalize recreational cannabis use and enshrine reproductive rights into the Ohio Constitution, and several other critical issues and levies. To put it mildly, this is an important election, with lasting effects on our community. To view a sample ballot, click here.
We reached out to all 10 Cincinnati City Council candidates to ask the question: “Tell us about an influential woman in your life and how her influence will affect your approach to government.”
Women of Cincy believes that Cincinnatians do have the power to create a more equitable city, and your voice, your vote – matters. We hope the candidate’s responses will allow you to connect with candidates on a very human level and spark an interest to dive deeper.
Women of Cincy is a nonpartisan organization. We encourage our readers to have open minds, make informed decisions, and to be engaged in their community.
The candidates directly submitted the following answers with minimal grammatical editing by Women of Cincy. The City Council candidate responses are listed in the order in which they were received.
Assembled by Women of Cincy staff.
City Council Candidates
Mark Jeffreys
Democrat
Clifton
votejeffreys.com
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Tell us about an influential woman in your life and how her influence will affect your approach to government.
My mother-in-law – Monica Holmes – who passed away 5 years ago is that woman. She was a Jewish refugee from Poland, leaving in April 1940. She was highly informed, opinionated, and principled. She kept a copy of the US Constitution by her bedside. I carry that copy in my inside suit pocket every day as a reminder of her principles. That reminder is to recognize injustice when I see it and to act accordingly to repair it. In many ways, she is a guiding light for me and similar to my own mother, who I lost when I was 15 years old. It is a reminder to stand up for those who do not have a voice. Every Wednesday during City Council, we have a moment of silence and I pray about that obligation and how in an even small way I can do my part to repair some damage through my words and/or actions as a part of my public service. Government should be about making sure everyone has a fair shot at living life to their full potential, regardless of the circumstances to which they have been born into. My role on the City Council is to fight for that and work to improve our systems in government to operate accordingly, such that once I’m gone from Council, then the system will work more fairly. That is what public service is about to me, and what Monica inspires me to do every day.
Seth Walsh
Democrat
Clifton
sethwalshforcincinnati.com
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Tell us about an influential woman in your life and how her influence will affect your approach to government.
The example my mother set for me has been incredibly influential in my approach to government. She taught me what it means to be a leader. To treat everyone with respect, to act in service of others, and to be a source of support for our community. She raised my sisters and I to be the next generation of leaders and to focus on ways to leave the world better than we found it.
Her continued example and guidance remind me why I dedicate myself to public service. It’s why I hope to continue to share and implement the values instilled in me by my mother and use them in service to the great people of Cincinnati and to accomplish our collective goals. I am so thankful to have a mom who believed in me and encouraged my journey and successes. Because of her, I will always strive to be a compassionate, responsible leader and make sure every person in every neighborhood is heard and cared for.
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
Democrat
Avondale/North Avondale
kearneyforcincinnati.com
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Tell us about an influential woman in your life and how her influence will affect your approach to government.
My mother, Elizabeth M. Lemon, was a Cincinnati Public Schools teacher. She loved her students and worked hard at her job. In the evening, in addition to preparing lesson plans, she spent hours on the phone calling parents to update them on their children and to problem-solve with them when necessary. Her students -- as young as second graders -- would pop over to our house and she would stop whatever she was doing to play games with them. She was "all in" and made teaching not a profession, but a part of her life -- a part of our life. Serving the people of Cincinnati is like that. It's not a job or a career move, it's a passion and I am honored to serve the people of Cincinnati. My motto is, "I'm working hard for you," and I mean it. I go to bed every night and wake up every morning thinking about how to make lives better in our wonderful city, and how to address the many challenges that our residents face every day.
Reggie Harris
Democrat
Northside
reggieforcincinnati.com
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Tell us about an influential woman in your life and how her influence will affect your approach to government.
My mother, Stephany Harris, has been the most influential woman in my life and my approach as an elected official. My mother is an intuitive and empathetic person. She can judge character without being judgmental. She balances objective truth with feelings and experiences to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of people, places, and situations. She has taught me how to engage in the world this way, and I have had the pleasure of observing her embodying these qualities.
Listening and understanding different perspectives while applying logic and rationale is critical to being a well-informed, responsive, and elected leader. I strive to do this every day as a City Council member.
Victoria Parks
Democrat
College Hill
voteparks.com
Facebook | Instagram
Tell us about an influential woman in your life and how her influence will affect your approach to government.
One of the women who has impacted my political career is County Commissioner, Denise Driehaus. I have had the privilege of knowing her for 15 years, and during this time, I have come to admire her unwavering commitment to public service, her tireless dedication to community betterment, and her remarkable ability to inspire and empower those around her. I worked with Denise while at Hamilton County, first as Chief of Staff to the late Commissioner Todd Portune, then when Todd passed, as fellow-Commissioner, when we worked side-by-side. Our time together began shortly before the COVID-19 shutdown, when none of us knew what to expect next. I witnessed, then president of the Commission, Denise, take control of the situation, providing leadership and disseminating desperately needed information daily to the community. She worked with experts in the field to reassure Hamilton County citizens they had the same information we had. It was heartbreaking to watch the COVID-19 numbers rise in our community, as well as the nation, but Denise’s calm demeanor, steady hand, reliable leadership, and propensity for teamwork brought us through. She was quite the example to me, and I learned from her on the run.
Her approach to government, and commitment to public service demonstrates the profound impact one person can have when they are dedicated to the greater good. Her moral compass points to principled and unyielding dedication to doing what is right, prioritizing the welfare of the people above all else. Denise is a natural collaborator having the ability to bring people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives together for a common cause.
I admire all these qualities in my friend Denise Driehaus and will be forever grateful for her loyalty, honesty and partnership whenever I call.
Anna Albi
Democrat
Madisonville
albiforcincinnati.com
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Tell us about an influential woman in your life and how her influence will affect your approach to government.
My mother, Joy Albi, has spent a lifetime being fearless and standing up for the values she believes in. Recently, she was recognized at the US Open as a United States Tennis Association "Champion of Equality" and received an award from Billie Jean King. I am so incredibly proud of the work my mother has done in the tennis community, and across everything she does to advocate for greater equity and inclusion. In addition to her volunteerism and advocacy in the tennis community, my mom worked as a public defender in Clermont County where she worked hard to make sure those with the fewest resources still received a fair trial. As I think about the work we need to do on the Cincinnati City Council, I firmly believe equity needs to be at the heart of everything and we need to ensure every voice has the opportunity to be heard.
The following candidates did not respond to our request, but we encourage you to learn more about each of these candidates and their platforms.
Meeka Owens
votemeeka.com
Jeff Cramerding
jeffcramerding.com
Scotty Johnson
scottyforcincinnati.com
Liz Keating
votelizkeating.com
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