LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP

THE CANDIDATES ARE ALL BUSINESS

David Mann and Aftab Pureval discuss how they’ll work to grow the entire region if elected as Cincinnati Mayor this fall.

David Mann: With 26 years on City Council and two years as a member of Congress, I’ve developed good relationships with many local officials. I recently was the city’s representative on OKI, our regional council of governments, and established additional relationships. The key is identifying common problems in need of coordinated attention and finding solutions acceptable to all.

As mayor you lead the city of Cincinnati, but you’re often perceived as the region’s political leader. How will you work with suburban mayors, township trustees, and other local elected officials to advance a shared vision for growth in the region?

Aftab Pureval: Our suburbs and surrounding towns are an inseparable part of Cincinnati’s regional economy and culture. I’m proud to have a track record in the Hamilton County Clerk’s office of working with all stakeholders to accomplish our collective goals. As mayor, I will continue to collaborate with county and suburban leaders to ensure that, as we grow, we grow in a way that lifts up all of us.

I find business leaders anxious and ready to engage about community problems and challenges. Quite rightly and understandably, these discussions are most productive when based on facts and evidence. My pledge is to maintain strong lines of communication with business leaders and to avoid unnecessary surprises. We can do more if we’re committed to working together.

Business leaders have engaged in numerous partnerships with Cincinnati mayors on infrastructure, education, minority business growth, transportation, and more. How will you engage business leaders in efforts to solve a specific problem?

When you look at transformational changes we’ve accomplished in the recent past— Preschool Promise and the transit levy, for example—public investment has inspired private dollars. We must leverage city funds to incentivize our institutional philanthropies and our local companies to help address challenges such as affordable housing and expanding minority business ownership.

I think John Cranley has done a masterful job of bringing intellect, principle, passion, and effective communication to the job of mayor. He’s been willing to lead pretty much by himself when necessary while also using his bully pulpit to change and lead public opinion. His mantra, which I share, is that being a directly elected mayor comes with a strong obligation to provide community leadership.

What leaders in Cincinnati’s history do you view as a role model? Whose example will you follow if you’re elected mayor?

To me, there is no greater role model than Marian Spencer. As a public servant and an activist, she fought against injustice, broke down barriers, and dedicated her life to educating and inspiring the next generation of change-makers. Cincinnati needs a mayor who, like her, will motivate those around him to reject the status quo in favor of real, positive change.