Big Changes Looming at City Hall

Ohio Democratic Party leaders are seriously considering appointing Mayor Mark Mallory to replace Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray if Cordray is elected as state attorney general this fall. Although Mallory has declined comment to local media on the rumored job switch, he did tell The Columbus Dispatch he’d be interested in the appointment and would keep his options open.

Mallory, a former state senator, always seemed more comfortable in Columbus than he has in the mayor’s office and the heightened media scrutiny that comes with that job. Reliable Democratic Party sources say the Mallory deal is almost set should Cordray prevail in his bid to fill the seat vacated by Marc Dann.

A Cordray win likely will cause an interesting game of musical chairs on the local political scene.

Under Cincinnati’s form of government, Vice Mayor David Crowley would become mayor and fill the remainder of Mallory’s unexpired term. Crowley, who can’t run again for city council due to term limits, reportedly has told his fellow Dems that he wouldn’t run for mayor on his own next year, clearing the field for other high-profile prospective mayoral candidates, say party sources.

Among the candidates is State Rep. Tyrone K. Yates (D-33rd District), who served on city council from 1990 to 1999 and was vice mayor for two of those terms. A popular figure in Cincinnati’s progressive and African-American communities, Yates surely would prove a formidable contender.

Sources say other probable candidates include current city council members John Cranley and Roxanne Qualls. Cranley also is facing term limits and can’t run for council again. Having campaigned unsuccessfully twice for the congressional seat held by Republican Steve Chabot, it’s well-known that Cranley wants to remain active in politics.

Qualls previously served on city council from 1991 to 1999. She was mayor during the final six years under a since-discarded system where that position was mostly ceremonial.

Qualls left office in 1999 due to term limits and went to teach and study at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in Boston. After returning to Greater Cincinnati in 2003, she taught at Northern Kentucky University before returning to council last year.

Shortly after her return, Qualls registered the Internet domain name www.quallsformayor.com. At the time, she said the action was done merely to ensure no one else could use the name to create a hoax site, as has become common in local political circles in recent years. After all, David Pepper and Pat DeWine — to name just two officials — have fallen prey to pranksters on the Web in the past.

Still, people who know Qualls say she would relish the opportunity to serve as mayor now that the office actually wields some power to set the agenda at City Hall.

It should be noted that none of the politicians mentioned here have confirmed an interest in launching a mayoral campaign, but well-placed sources say that’s the likeliest scenario to emerge next year. Of course, six months is an eternity in politics and circumstances could be much changed by January.

Regardless, because the rules for local government prohibit candidates from running for mayor and city council at the same time — and because Crowley and Cranley are term-limited — the above scenario, if true, would mean three seats would be open on council in 2009. As a result, Cincinnati would at least have three new members on the nine-member council, along with a new mayor.

The prospect already has political junkies looking beyond this year’s presidential race and plotting strategies for 2009.

This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2008.