As Hamilton County Commission member Todd Portune gets set to retire Dec. 31 due to his battle with cancer, his preferred temporary replacement could make history.
Portune has recommended his chief of staff Victoria Parks to fill his seat until at least the Democratic Party’s March 17 primary. Should the Hamilton County Democratic Party’s central committee approve Parks, she would take a seat next to commission members Denise Driehaus and Stephanie Summerow-Dumas, marking the first time the commission has been occupied entirely by women. Her tenure would also be the first time the board has been majority African American.
Parks, 62, has been Portune’s top aide since 2016 and was previously a public relations professional and Air Force service member. She says she has no ambition to hold the seat permanently and could vacate the role after next year’s Democratic Party primary election for the seat. Portune has endorsed former State Rep. Connie Pillich in that race.
Fellow former State Rep. Alicia Reece and community activist Kelli Prather are also running in the primary to oppose Republican businessman Andy Black in next year’s general election for the position.
The Hamilton County Democratic Party would likely nominate the winner of the March primary to hold the seat so that person could run as an incumbent the following November. In the meantime, Portune has said he is confident that Parks will carry on his agenda, which includes better funding for efforts to mitigate homelessness.
Portune, 61, is stepping away from public life as he deals with recurring tumors that caused him to undergo a leg amputation earlier this year. He says he will still advise the commission on important issues following his retirement, however.
This article appears in Dec 11-24, 2019.