View source for List of mayors of Cincinnati

{{Short description|None}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox official post
|post            = Mayor
|body            = Cincinnati
|insignia        = Seal of Cincinnati, Ohio.svg
|insigniasize    = 150px
|insigniacaption = Seal of Cincinnati, Ohio
|flag            = Flag of Cincinnati, Ohio.svg
|flagsize        = 150px
|flagcaption     = Flag of Cincinnati, Ohio
|flagborder      = yes
|image           = Aftab Pureval headshot (cropped).jpg
|incumbent       = [[Aftab Pureval]]
|incumbentsince  = January 4, 2022
|style           = The Honorable
|residence       = 
|termlength      = Four years; may serve two consecutive terms; renewable once
|formation       = 1802
|succession      = [[Vice Mayor of Cincinnati]]
|salary          = $121,291
|inaugural       = [[David Ziegler]]
|website         = [http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/mayor/ Office of the Mayor]
|footnotes       = 
}}

The [[mayor]] of [[Cincinnati]] is recognized as the official head and representative of the city for all purposes. There have been seventy-six mayors of Cincinnati. The first mayor was [[David Ziegler]], who took office in 1802. The current mayor is [[Aftab Pureval]], who was elected on November 2, 2021, and took office at noon on January 4, 2022.

==Executive powers==
The [[mayor]] shall preside over all meetings of the [[City Council of Cincinnati elections|Cincinnati City Council]].  The mayor may call a special meeting of the council, but may not have a vote in the council. The mayor has the power to propose legislation for debate among the council. The mayor shall appoint and may remove the vice-mayor and the chair of all committees of the council without the advice and consent of the council.

The mayor of [[Cincinnati]] shall be recognized as the official head and representative of the city for all purposes, except as provided otherwise in the city charter of Cincinnati. The mayor may appoint a city manager upon an affirmative vote of five members of the city council following the mayor's recommendation.

The mayor delivers an annual address to the council and citizens of the city reporting on the state of the city and making recommendations for the establishment and achievement of future city goals.

In time of public danger or emergency, the mayor, with the consent of the council, may take command of the police, maintain order and enforce the law.

==Succession==
In the event of the death, removal or resignation of the mayor, the [[Vice Mayor of Cincinnati]] shall succeed to the office of mayor in accordance with the city charter. The current vice mayor of Cincinnati is Jan Michelle Kearney.

==History==
Until the charter of 1815, the president of the council served as equivalent of mayor. Two sources agree on the list of presidents:<ref>{{cite book |title=Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens |volume=1 |first=Charles Theodore |last=Greve |page=438 |publisher=Biographical Publishing Company |location=Chicago |year=1904 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJxABLtxX60C&pg=PA438}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Cincinnati, the Queen City, 1788–1912 |volume=1 |first=Charles Frederic |last=Goss |author-link=Charles Frederic Goss|publisher=S J Clarke Publishing Company |location=Cincinnati |year=1912 |page=96 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmHRK2hV2vQC&pg=PA96}}</ref>

Prior to 1925 (and since 1999) the '''mayor of [[Cincinnati]], Ohio''' was elected in a separate, partisan election.

In 1924, the [[Charter Party]], a local third-party, was founded. It has elected members of the city council and mayors. Until 1961, many Democrats ran as Charterites. The party focuses exclusively on local government; thus, many Charterites switch to a major party when seeking office outside Cincinnati.

From 1925 through 1998, the mayor was chosen by the city council from among its nine members.

In 1971, a coalition of two parties, the Democrats and the Charterites, worked out a power-sharing plan, which, starting in 1973, resulted in a rotating mayorship. After a few years of rotation, they decided that the city council member who received the most votes in the election would automatically become mayor.

In 1999, [[Charlie Luken]] became the first mayor to take office under a restored system of direct mayoral election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/10/30/soldiers-reformers-and-jerry-springer-mayors-cincinnati/8581190002/|title=Soldiers, reformers and Jerry Springer: A brief history of the mayors of Cincinnati|first=Jeff|last=Seuss|work=[[Cincinnati Enquirer]]|date=October 31, 2021|accessdate=August 23, 2024}}</ref>

==Mayor firsts==
In 1900, [[Julius Fleischmann]] became the youngest mayor of Cincinnati at the age of 28 years.

In 1954, [[Dorothy N. Dolbey]] became the first female mayor of the City of Cincinnati.

In 2006, [[Mark Mallory]] was the first directly elected  African-American Mayor of Cincinnati.

On November 2, 2021, [[Aftab Pureval]] was elected the first Asian American mayor of Cincinnati. Mayor Pureval is the 70th and current mayor of Cincinnati.

==List of mayors==
{| class="wikitable"
! Dates !! Image !! Name !! Life dates !! Party !! Elected by
|-
| 1802–1803 || [[File:DZiegler.jpg|75px]] || [[David Ziegler]] || 1748–1811 || ''no party'' || public
|-
| 1803–1804 ||  || Joseph Prince || &nbsp; || ''no party'' || public
|-
| 1805–1806 || [[File:James Findlay (Cincinnati Mayor)002.png|75px]] || [[James Findlay (Cincinnati mayor)|James Findlay]] || 1770–1835 || ''no party'' || public
|-
| 1807 ||  || John S. Gano || &nbsp; ||&nbsp; || public
|-
| 1807 || [[File:Martin Baum 002.png|75px]]  || [[Martin Baum]] || 1765–1831 || &nbsp; || public
|-
| 1808–1809 ||  || [[Daniel Symmes]] || 1772–1817 || &nbsp; || public
|-
| 1810–1811 || [[File:James Findlay (Cincinnati Mayor)002.png|75px]] || James Findlay (2nd) || 1770–1835 || &nbsp; || public
|-
| 1812 || [[File:Martin Baum 002.png|75px]] || Martin Baum (2nd) || 1765–1831 || &nbsp; || public
|-
| 1813 ||  || William Stanley || &nbsp; || &nbsp; || public
|-
| 1814 ||  || [[Samuel W. Davies]] || 1776–1843 || &nbsp; || public
|-
| 1815–1819 ||  || [[William Corry (Cincinnati mayor)|William Corry]] || 1779–1833 || &nbsp; || public
|-
| 1819–1831 ||  || [[Isaac G. Burnet]] || 1784–1856 || &nbsp; || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1831–1833 ||  || [[Elisha Hotchkiss]] || 1778–1858 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
| 1833–1843 ||  || Samuel W. Davies || 1776–1843 || [[United States Whig Party|Whig]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
| 1843–1851 ||  || [[Henry E. Spencer]] || 1807–1882 || [[United States Whig Party|Whig]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1851–1853 ||  || Mark P. Taylor || &nbsp; || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1853–1855 ||  || [[David T. Snelbaker]] || 1804–1867 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1855–1857 || [[File:James J. Faran.jpg|75px]] || [[James J. Faran]] || 1808–1892 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Whig}}
| 1857–1859 ||  || [[Nicholas W. Thomas]] || 1810–1864 || [[United States Whig Party|Whig]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1859–1861 || [[File:Richard M. Bishop - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]] || [[Richard M. Bishop]] || 1812–1893 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1861–1863 ||  || [[George Hatch]] || &nbsp; || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1863–1866 ||  || [[Leonard A. Harris]] || 1824–1890 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1866–1869 ||  || [[Charles F. Wilstach]] || 1818–1882 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1869–1871 ||  || [[John F. Torrence]] || 1819–1883 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1871–1873 ||  || [[S. S. Davis]] || 1817–1896 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1873–1877 ||  || [[George W. C. Johnston]] || 1828–1879 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1877–1879 || [[File:Colonel Robert M. Moore (1816-1880), Cincinnati mayor.jpg|75px]] || [[Robert M. Moore]] || 1816–1880 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1879–1881 ||  || [[Charles Jacob Jr.]] || 1834–1913 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1881–1883 ||  || [[William F. Means]] || &nbsp; || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1883–1885 ||  || [[Thomas J. Stephens]] || 1823–1892 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1885–1889 || [[File:Amor Smith, Jr. 1902.jpg|75px]] || [[Amor Smith Jr.]] || 1840–1915 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1889–1894 ||  || [[John B. Mosby]] || 1845–1928 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1894–1897 || [[File:John A. Caldwell.png|75px]] || [[John A. Caldwell]] || 1852–1927 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1897–1900 || [[File:Gustav Tafel ca. 1880.jpg|75px]] || [[Gustav Tafel]] || 1830–1908 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1900–1905 || [[File:Julius Fleischmann 001.jpg|75px]] || [[Julius Fleischmann]] || 1871–1925 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1906–1907 ||  || [[Edward J. Dempsey]] || 1858–1929 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1908–1909 || [[File:Leopold Markbreit 1902.jpg|75px]] || [[Leopold Markbreit]] || 1842–1909 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1909 ||  || [[John Galvin (Cincinnati mayor)|John Galvin]] || 1862–1922 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1910–1911 ||  || [[Louis Schwab]] || 1850–1926 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1912–1913 || [[File:Picture of Henry Thomas Hunt.jpg|75px]] || [[Henry Thomas Hunt]] || 1879–1956 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1914–1915 ||  || [[Frederick S. Spiegel]] || 1855–1925 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1916–1917 || [[File:George Puchta circa 1915.jpg|75px]] || [[George Puchta]] || 1860–1937 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1918–1921 ||  || John Galvin (2nd) || 1862–1922 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1922–1925 || [[File:George Carrel.png|75px]] || [[George Carrel]] || 1865–1949 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1926–1929 || [[File:Murray Seasongood (Boyden Reporter, 14 Dec 1925).jpg|75px]] || [[Murray Seasongood]] || 1878–1983 || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1930–1937 ||  || [[Russell Wilson (American politician)|Russell Wilson]] || 1876–1946 || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1938–1947 ||  || [[James Garfield Stewart|James G. Stewart]] || 1880–1959 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1947–1948 || [[File:Carl West Rich 88th Congress 1963.jpg|75px]] || [[Carl W. Rich]] || 1898–1972 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1948–1951 ||  || [[Albert D. Cash]] || 1897–1952 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1951–1953 || [[File:Carl West Rich 88th Congress 1963.jpg|75px]] || Carl W. Rich (2nd) || 1898–1972 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1953–1954 ||  || [[Edward N. Waldvogel]] || 1894–1954 || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1954 ||  || [[Dorothy N. Dolbey]] || 1908–1991 || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1954 || [[File:Carl West Rich 88th Congress 1963.jpg|75px]] || Carl W. Rich (3rd) || 1898–1972 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1955–1957 || [[File:Chas. P. Taft., son of Wm. Howard, (10-24-25) LCCN2016841215 (cropped).jpg|75px]] || [[Charles Phelps Taft II]] || 1897–1983 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1957–1960 || [[File:Donald D. Clancy 94th Congress 1975.jpg|75px]] || [[Donald D. Clancy]] || 1921–2007 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1960–1967 ||  || [[Walton H. Bachrach]] || 1904–1989 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1967–1971 ||  || [[Eugene P. Ruehlmann]] || 1925–2013 || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1971 || [[File:Bill Gradison 95th Congress 1977.jpg|75px]] || [[Bill Gradison|Willis D. Gradison Jr.]] || 1928– || [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1971–1972 || [[File:Tom Luken 97th Congress 1981.jpg|75px]] || [[Tom Luken|Thomas A. Luken]] || 1925–2018 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1972–1975 || || [[Ted Berry|Theodore M. Berry]] || 1905–2000 || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1975–1976 ||  || [[Bobbie L. Sterne]] || 1919–2017|| [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1976–1977 ||  || [[Jim Luken|James T. Luken]] || 1921–1979 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1977–1978 || [[File:Jerry Springer Musto Party 2011 Shankbone 10.JPG|75px]] || [[Jerry Springer]] || 1944–2023 || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1978–1979 ||  || Bobbie L. Sterne (2nd) || 1919–2017|| [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1979–1980 || [[File:Ken Blackwell 2011-02-11 (cropped).jpg|75px]]  || [[Ken Blackwell|J. Kenneth Blackwell]] || 1948– || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1980–1982 || [[File:David S. Mann.jpg|75px]] || [[David S. Mann]] || 1939– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1982–1983 ||  || [[Thomas B. Brush]] || 1934– || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Independent}}
| 1983–1984 ||  || [[Arn Bortz|Arnold L. Bortz]] || 1946–2025 || [[Charter Committee|Charterite]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1984–1991 || [[File:Charlie Luken 102nd Congress 1991.jpg|75px]] || [[Charlie Luken|Charles J. Luken]] || 1951– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1991 || [[File:David S. Mann.jpg|75px]] || David S. Mann (2nd) || 1939– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1991–1993 || [[File:Dwight Tillery, mayor of Cincinnati.png|75px]] || [[Dwight Tillery]] || 1948– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1993–1999 ||  || [[Roxanne Qualls]] || 1953– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || council
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1999–2005 || [[File:Charlie Luken 102nd Congress 1991.jpg|75px]] || Charles J. Luken (2nd) || 1951– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 2006–2013 || [[File:Mark Mallory.jpg|75px]] || [[Mark Mallory]] || 1962– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 2013–2022     || [[File:Mayor John Cranley (cropped).jpg|75px]] || [[John Cranley]] || 1974– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 2022–present || [[File:Aftab Pureval headshot (cropped).jpg|75px]] || [[Aftab Pureval]] || 1982– || [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] || public 
|}

==See also==
* [[Cincinnati mayoral elections]]
* [[Cincinnati City Council]]
* [[Timeline of Cincinnati]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Cincinnati Mayor}}
{{Cincinnati}}

[[Category:Lists of mayors of places in Ohio|Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Mayors of Cincinnati| ]]
[[Category:Cincinnati-related lists|Mayors]]