Cincinnati City Councilmember Amy Murray, a Republican, announced today that she is resigning her seat for another gig with the Trump administration.
"It has been a privilege to serve at City Hall and I look forward to continuing my public service for the citizens of the United States," she said in a statement today.
At a news conference, Murray revealed that she will direct small business affairs at the Defense Department, where she will lead about 700 employees.
After two terms on council, Murray is term-limited and can't run again. She first joined council in 2011, when she was appointed by outgoing councilmember Chris Monzel. She had previously run unsuccessfully in 2009. She finished 12th in another bid later in 2011, but was able to regain her seat in 2013. She won reelection in 2017.
Murray has generally been one of the most consistently conservative voices on council, though she has often allied with Democrat Mayor John Cranley on a number of issues including Cincinnati's streetcar. Murray has been especially focused on issues around infant mortality, reducing drug addiction and overdoses in the city and addressing problems with Cincinnati's emergency call center.
The Mount Lookout resident has been considering her options post-council. She was briefly a candidate for Lt. Governor as U.S. Rep. Jim Renaci's running mate in Ohio's last gubernatorial election. She also mulled challenging U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot in the Republican Party primary for his seat representing Ohio's 1st Congressional District.
At the beginning of her current term, Murray tapped Vice Mayor Christopher Smitherman and Councilmember Jeff Pastor to choose appoint her successor until the next election.
