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.[3] Smitherman has five siblings – one sister and four brothers.[4]

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 The 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."[5]

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.[6] As a financial planner, Smitherman focuses on helping his clients gain wealth through systematic savings, life insurance, and estate planning.[7]

Christopher and Pamela Smitherman in January 2014

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.[8] Pamela Smitherman was an educator at Cincinnati Public Schools and left behind her husband and five children.[9]

Smitherman speaking at Elder High School 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.[11] 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.[12] Smitherman did not win reelection in 2005.[13]

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.[14] Smitherman ran as an Independent politician whose platform was a balanced budget, proper funding for police and fire, and fixing the city's pension.[15] Smitherman was sworn in for a two-year term on December 1, 2011.

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.[16] During this same election, John Cranley defeated incumbent Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls to become the Mayor of Cincinnati.[17] 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.

Smitherman at the Little Village stay-and-play center grand opening.

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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22] 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.

(From Left) Christopher Smitherman, Pamela Smitherman, Sylvia Clingman, and James Clingman

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.[23] During his term the chapter's membership increased 600% from 500 to 3,000 members and the chapter's debt was eliminated.[24] 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.[25] Smitherman won reelection to council in November 2013 and tendered his resignation as president of the Cincinnati NAACP effective January 1, 2014.[26]

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.[27] 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.[28] 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.[29] On November 6, 2007, Hamilton County voters of rejected the sales tax increase by more than a 12% margin.[30]

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.[31] 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.[32] In November 2008, a majority of Cincinnati voters approved the amendment to the city charter prohibiting the use of red light cameras.