Christopher Smitherman

Smitherman was born on July 16, 1967, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Dr. Herbert Smitherman, was a chemist and the first African-American with a PhD hired at Procter & Gamble (P&G). His mother, Mrs. Barbara Smitherman, was a teacher and administrator at Cincinnati Public Schools.{{Cite web|url=https://newsok.com/article/3079242/cincinnati-naacp-rises-again-to-host-convention|title = Cincinnati NAACP rises again to host convention|date = July 5, 2008}} Smitherman has five siblings – one sister and four brothers.[http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/council/council-members/council-member-christopher-smitherman/ "City Council"],The City of Cincinnati, July 8, 2016

Raised Catholic, Smitherman attended St. Mark Elementary for primary school. Smitherman then became a product of Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), attending the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduating, Smitherman attended Ohio State University (OSU) where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. After completing his undergraduate program, Smitherman moved to Bowling Green, Ohio, to attend Bowling Green State University (BGSU) where he obtained a master's degree in counseling. It was at BGSU that Smitherman met his wife, Pamela. Throughout his time in college, Smitherman worked as a resident advisor (RA) and, in 1990, Smitherman accepted full-time employment as a hall manager at BGSU. While studying for his master's, Smitherman began hosting a workshop called "Let's Talk About Race."{{Cite web|url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2005/11/08/oh/hm/vote/smitherman_c/bio.html|title=Full Biography for Chris Smitherman}}

Smitherman is a Financial Planner and small business owner. He has owned and operated his financial planning practice since returning to Cincinnati in 1997. In 2009, Smitherman purchased the old Bond Hill Library and relocated his financial planning office to the building located in Bond Hill, Cincinnati.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2014/04/24/earlier-who-is-chris-smitherman/8095693/|title = EARLIER: Who is Chris Smitherman?}} As a financial planner, Smitherman focuses on helping his clients gain wealth through systematic savings, life insurance, and estate planning.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/council/council-members/council-member-christopher-smitherman/|title = Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman}}

File:Christopher and Pamela Smitherman.jpg

Pamela M.T. and Christopher E.C. Smitherman married in 1990 and, in 1997, returned to Cincinnati and settled in the neighborhood of North Avondale. Together, they raised five children – four boys and one girl – all products of Cincinnati Public Schools.

On January 15, 2019, Smitherman's wife, Pamela M.T. Smitherman, died after a two-year battle with breast cancer and an autoimmune disease.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/15/pamela-smitherman-48-wife-mom-teacher-died-tuesday/2495461002/|title=Pamela Smitherman, 48: Wife, mom, teacher died Tuesday}} Pamela Smitherman was an educator at Cincinnati Public Schools and was survived by her husband and five children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/videos/news/2017/11/01/-better-worse-cancer-wont-define-smithermans/107237104/|title=For better or worse, cancer won't define Smithermans}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = 2003 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

| columns = yes

| list =

Winning Candidates

• David Pepper (D): 34,405
• Alicia Reece (D): 32,078
• Y. Laketa Cole (D):After Paul Booth stepped down from his seat on the Cincinnati City Council, Cole was sworn in as his replacement on April 23, 2003. 27,644
• James R. Tarbell (C): 27,480
• John Cranley (D): 26,980
• R. Patrick DeWine (R): 26,573
• Christopher Smitherman (C/G): 25,483
• Sam Malone (R): 24,002
• David Crowley (D): 22,713

Losing Candidates

• Damon Lynch III (I): 21,764
• Leslie Ghiz (R): 19,916
• Chris Monzel (R): 19,197
• Barbara W. Trauth: 17,480
• John Connelly: 14,047
• Pete Witte: 13,479
• Terry Deters: 11,889
• John F. Schlagetter (C): 11,420
• Tom Jones: 10,441
• Samuel T. Britton: 9,778
• Howard H. Bond: 8,260
• Nick Spencer (C): 7,378
• Marilyn Hyland: 5,864
• Brian Garry (G): 5,504
• Eric Wilson: 2,686
• Glenn O. Givens Sr.: 2,327
• Larry J. Frazier: 2,323

}}

File:Christopher Smitherman at Elder High School.jpg in March 2018]]

Smitherman was elected to Cincinnati City Council on November 4, 2003, as a member of the Charter Committee. Smitherman ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, racial reconciliation, improved community-police relations, and improved transportation and employment opportunities. During his first term on council, Smitherman served as the vice-chair of the Arts & Culture Committee. He also served on the Law and Public Safety Committee, Neighborhood and Public Services Committee, the Community Development Committee, and the Education & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.{{Cite web|url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2005/11/08/oh/hm/vote/smitherman_c/bio.html|title=Full Biography for Chris Smitherman}} During his term, Smitherman focused on neighborhood improvements including authoring a motion to allow part of drug-related dollars seized by police to be returned to the affected community. He introduced motions to pioneer regional economic cooperation via Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD) and Cooperative Economic Development Agreements (CEDA). Smitherman worked to firm up the city's working capital fund and also played a leading role in ending Fire Department brownouts.{{Cite web|url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2005/11/08/oh/hm/vote/smitherman_c/bio.html|title=Full Biography for Chris Smitherman}} Smitherman did not win reelection in 2005.{{Cite web | url=https://www.citybeat.com/news/article/13028234/news-a-whole-new-team |title = News: A Whole New Team}}

{{Endorsements box

| title = 2011 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

| columns = yes

| list =

Winning Candidates

• Roxanne Qualls (C, D): 37,275
• P.G. Sittenfeld (D): 30,474
• Wendell Young (D): 29,067
• Cecil Thomas (D): 28,892
• Charlie Winburn (R): 28,829
• Laure Quinlivan (D): 27,422
• Yvette Simpson (C, D): 27,204
• Christopher Smitherman (I): 23,760
• Chris Seelbach (D): 23,484

Losing Candidates

• Chris Bortz (C): 22,044
• Kevin Flynn (C): 21,828
• Amy Murray (R): 21,433
• Leslie Ghiz (R): 20,719
• Wayne Lippert (R): 18,397
• Jason Riveiro (D): 18,174
• Mike Allen (I) 16,598
• Nicholas Hollan (D): 14,628
• Catherine Smith Mills (R): 13,513
• Pat McCollum (I): 6,180
• Kathy Atkinson (I): 5,012
• Jacqueline Allen (I): 4,555
• Sandra Queen Noble (I): 2,726
• Orlando Welborn (I): 33

}}

On November 8, 2011, Smitherman was elected for a second time to Cincinnati City Council after receiving 23,760 votes in the at-large general election.{{Cite web | url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2011/11/08/oh/hm/race/ccic/ |title = Council Member; City of Cincinnati Election Information November 8, 2011 Election}} Smitherman ran as an Independent politician whose platform was a balanced budget, proper funding for police and fire, and fixing the city's pension.{{Cite web | url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2011/11/08/oh/hm/vote/smitherman_c/ |title = Voter Information for Christopher E. C. Smitherman. November 8, 2011 Election}} Smitherman was sworn in for a two-year term on December 1, 2011.

{{Endorsements box

| title = 2013 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

| columns = yes

| list =

Winning Candidates

• P.G. Sittenfeld (D): 37,484
• Charlie Windburn (R): 27,397
• David Mann (C, D): 26,443
• Yvette Simpson (C, D): 25,449
• Chris Seelbach (D): 23,738
• Christopher Smitherman (I) 23,604
• Wendell Young (D): 22,600
• Kevin Flynn (C): 22,059
• Amy Murray (C, R): 21,979

Losing Candidates

• Laure Quinlivan (D): 21,079
• Greg Landsman (C, D): 19,619
• Michelle Dillingham (D): 19,143
• Pam Thomas (D): 18,499
• Vanessa White (C): 16,892
• Sam Malone (R): 16,462
• Mellisa Wegman (R): 9,942
• Shawn Butler (D): 9,788
• Mike Moroski (I): 8,688
• Angela Beamon (I): 7,943
• Kevin Johnson (I): 6,647
• Timothy Joseph Dorsbrusch (I): 4,006

}}

On November 5, 2013, Smitherman was reelected to Cincinnati City Council with 24,125 votes. Having run as an Independent, Smitherman did not receive the endorsement of any major party. He ran on a platform of balancing the budget, delivering basic services, and solving the Cincinnati Pension crisis.{{Cite web | url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2013/11/05/oh/hm/vote/smitherman_c/ |title = Voter Information for Christopher E.C. Smitherman. November 5, 2013 Election}} During this same election, John Cranley defeated incumbent Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls to become the Mayor of Cincinnati.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-will-have-a-new-mayor/2808786|title=Cincinnati will have a new mayor|date=November 6, 2013}} Cranley appointed Smitherman as the Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee, giving him jurisdiction to oversee all city issues related to Police; Fire; Safety Policies; Citizen Complaint Authority; Liquor Licenses; and Public Services. During this term, Smitherman also sat on the Budget and Finance Committee, Economic Growth and Zoning Committee, and the Neighborhoods Committee. Smitherman was sworn in for a four-year term on December 1, 2013.

{{Endorsements box

| title = 2017 Cincinnati City Council Election Results

| columns = yes

| list =

Winning Candidates

• P.G. Sittenfeld (D): 39,815
• David Mann (C, D): 35,789
• Chris Seelbach (D): 30,626
• Wendell Young (D): 28,295
• Christopher Smitherman (I) 27,149
• Tamaya Dennard (C, D): 26,053
• Greg Landsman (D): 25,049
• Amy Murray (C, R): 23,888
• Jeff Pastor (R): 21,996

Losing Candidates

• Michelle Dillingham (D): 21,773
• Ozie Davis (D): 18,671
• Lesley Jones (D): 18,345
• Laure Quinlivan (I): 16,758
• Derek Bauman (C): 16,680
• Henry Frondorf (C): 10,637
• Seth Maney (R): 10,114
• Brian Garry (G): 9,152
• Kelli Prather (I): 7,175
• Tamie Sullivan (G): 6,232
• Tonya Dumas (I): 6,186
• Erica L. Black-Johnson (I): 5,539
• Cristina Burcica (I): 4,150
• Manuel Foggie (I): 3,556
• Dadrien Washington (I): 125

}}

File:Christopher Smitherman Little Village stay-&-play center launch.jpg

On November 7, 2017, Smitherman was reelected with 27,149 votes. On December 13, 2017, Mayor John Cranley, having just defeated incumbent City Councilwoman and Mayoral challenger Yvette Simpson, appointed Christopher Smitherman to serve as the Vice Mayor replacing then Vice Mayor David Mann.{{Cite web | url=http://thecincinnatiherald.com/2017/12/smitherman-appointed-vice-mayor/ |title = Smitherman appointed vice mayor|date = December 27, 2017}} Cranley also appointed Smitherman to serve on the Cincinnati Planning Commission starting on January 2, 2018. Smitherman was sworn in as a member of the Cincinnati City Council and as the Cincinnati Vice Mayor on January 2, 2018. Smitherman continues to serve as Chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee. He is also a member of the Economic Growth and Zoning Committee and the Neighborhoods Committee. In early 2019, Smitherman submitted his resignation from the Budget and Finance Committee – citing time constraints. Smitherman is term-limited and will end his tenure on Cincinnati City Council in January 2022.

In the wake of five democratic members of Cincinnati City Council, P.G. Sittenfeld, Chris Seelbach, Wendell Young, Tamaya Dennard, and Greg Landsman, being caught in an open meeting law(s) violation(s) scandal, Smitherman announced in May 2018, that he was launching a ballot initiative to place a charter amendment on the November Ballot to revert Cincinnati City Council terms to 2 years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2018/05/21/smitherman-seeking-two-year-council-terms-again/629264002/|title = Chris Smitherman says it's time to go back to 2-year council terms. He's already collecting signatures}} This issue, which later became known as "Issue 10," was later placed on the ballot by a council vote. On November 6, 2018, Cincinnati voters approved "Issue 10" by a margin of 70.09% (71,461) in favor and 29.91% (30,502) opposed.{{Cite web | url=https://ballotpedia.org/Cincinnati,_Ohio,_Issue_10,_City_Council_Two-Year_Terms_Charter_Amendment_(November_2018) |title = Cincinnati, Ohio, Issue 10, City Council Two-Year Terms Charter Amendment (November 2018)}} The amendment will take effect in 2021, following the next council election.

In May 2019, Christopher Smitherman and Councilman Jeff Pastor sponsored an ordinance that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana under 100 grams in the City of Cincinnati.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/13/marijuana-decriminalization-cincinnati-starts-process/1186881001/|title=Marijuana decriminalization: Cincinnati takes first steps}} After failing to pass suspension, Smitherman vowed to begin a petition drive to put the issue on the ballot if the ordinance ultimately failed. On June 12, 2019, Cincinnati City Council voted 5–3 to pass the ordinance.

Smitherman was reelected to Cincinnati City Council on November 7, 2017. Following the election, on December 13, 2017, Cincinnati mayor John Cranley appointed Christopher Smitherman to serve as the vice mayor of Cincinnati – replacing former vice mayor David S. Mann.{{Cite web | url=http://thecincinnatiherald.com/2017/12/smitherman-appointed-vice-mayor/ |title = Smitherman appointed vice mayor|date = December 27, 2017}} Smitherman took the oath of vice mayor on January 2, 2018, during the city council and mayoral inaugural ceremony. The role of the vice mayor is to act and preside over city council in the absence of the mayor. Smitherman's term as vice mayor will end in January 2021.

On March 27, 2007, Smitherman was elected president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) after a highly contested election with incumbent Edith Thrower.{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SWjTeMM9WQEC&q=smitherman+edith+thrower&pg=PA105 |title = Cincinnati Magazine|last1 = Communications|first1 = Emmis|date = October 2008}} During his term the chapter's membership increased 600% from 500 to 3,000 members and the chapter's debt was eliminated.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/features/he-shall-overcome1/ | title=He Shall Overcome| date=July 2010}} In June 2013, Smitherman temporarily stepped down as president during his reelection campaign for Cincinnati City Council. James Clingman, a vice president of the NAACP and founder of the Greater Cincinnati African-American Chamber of Commerce, served as interim president.{{Cite web | url=https://www.citybeat.com/home/blog/13033231/smitherman-temporarily-stepping-down-from-naacp |title = Smitherman Temporarily Stepping Down from NAACP}} Smitherman won reelection to council in November 2013 and tendered his resignation as president of the Cincinnati NAACP effective January 1, 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wlwt.com/article/smitherman-stepping-down-as-president-of-cincinnati-naacp/3538013|title = Smitherman stepping down as president of Cincinnati NAACP|date = December 20, 2013}}

During Smitherman's time as president, the Cincinnati NAACP co-authored and co-sponsored five ballot initiatives, three of which were successful. Those initiatives that passed included defeating a county jail tax, stopping red-light cameras, and allowing voters to ratify the sale of Greater Cincinnati Water Works. Smitherman fell short in his attempt to institute proportional representation on city council and to pass Issue 9, the anti-street car rail initiative.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/features/he-shall-overcome1/ | title=He Shall Overcome| date=July 2010}} In order to place these initiatives on the ballot, Smitherman helped collect more than 100,000 signatures.

In 2007, the Cincinnati NAACP partnered with various bipartisan activist groups throughout Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio to oppose a proposed tax increase to fund a massive jail development in Cincinnati. The sales tax increase included a 0.5 percent for eight years and 0.25 percent for an additional seven years. The tax would pay for a $198 million, 1,800 bed adult detention facility, $11 million juvenile detention facility expansion of 50 beds, a $2 million Hamilton County Justice Center remodeling and other programs that altogether totaled $736 million over 15 years.{{Cite web | url=http://www.smartvoter.org/2007/11/06/oh/hm/issue/27/ |title = Issue 27: Referendum on Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners – Hamilton County, OH}} In order to place this initiative on the November ballot, 28,750 signatures were needed. The Hamilton County Board of Elections confirmed 38,961 valid signatures were obtained.{{Cite web | url=https://www.citybeat.com/news/porkopolis/article/13025743/momentum-builds-for-repealing-hamilton-county-jail-tax |title = Momentum builds for repealing Hamilton County jail tax}} On November 6, 2007, Hamilton County voters of rejected the sales tax increase by more than a 12% margin.{{Cite web | url=https://www.citybeat.com/news/article/13025320/news-jail-tax-loses-in-landslide |title = News: Jail Tax Loses in Landslide}}

In 2008, the Cincinnati NAACP, along with other activist groups, collected over 10,000 signatures to put the use of red light cameras to the voters.{{Cite web | url=http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2358.asp |title = Ohio: Push for a Vote on Red Light Cameras Gathers Steam}} The ballot initiative would allow the voters to decide on an amendment to the city charter prohibiting local officials from ever installing either red light cameras or speed cameras.{{Cite web | url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2008/11/cincinnati-voters-ban-red-light-cameras/ |title = Cincinnati Voters Ban Red Light Cameras|date = November 6, 2008}} In November 2008, a majority of Cincinnati voters approved the amendment to the city charter prohibiting the use of red light cameras.

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Category:Cincinnati City Council members

Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Cincinnati

Category:21st-century Ohio politicians