Greater Cincinnati Election Results You Might Have Missed

Lone Republican Liz Keating has been voted off Cincinnati City Council, a zoo levy prevails, and more.

Nov 8, 2023 at 12:49 pm

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Photo: Aidan Mahoney

From school board to the zoo levy, here's your winner breakdown for the 2023 General Election.

The country is talking about the historic passage of Ohio Issues 1 and 2. With abortion rights enshrined and recreational marijuana approved, it can be easy to forget about the smaller (but oh-so important) races that happened elsewhere in Greater Cincinnati.

Here are some area races you might have missed and the winners you'll want to watch heading into 2024.

Issue 19: Hamilton County-Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal)

PASSED, 68.5%

This proposed tax levy would renew the existing five-year levy for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens that expires this year. The renewal would provide proceeds for operating expenses for zoological park services and facilities, collecting $7,542,000 annually but not exceeding 0.46 mills (one-tenth of a cent) for every taxable dollar. This levy would be in place for an additional five years if renewed, beginning in 2024.

Issue 20: Hamilton County-Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal and Increase)

PASSED, 56.5%

The proposed tax levy would renew and increase the existing tax to provide funds for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library expenses. The levy would increase the tax 0.5 mill for each taxable dollar, collecting an estimated $30,878,000 annually for 10 years, beginning in 2024.

Issue 23: City Of Cincinnati-Proposed Charter Amendment

PASSED, 65.05%

This amendment would require the Charter of the City of Cincinnati to clarify the process for citizens regarding charter amendments, ordinances and referenda by implementing a process timeline for citizens to collect required documentation and signatures. This amendment would require a copy of any citizen-led petition to be filed with the Clerk of Council prior to signature collection, implement a cure period for petitions and limit citizens to one proposal per ballot measure. Additionally, the amendment would clarify that council can vote electronically, the term lengths for council are two years and that the petition circulators must sign a statement for candidate petitions.

Cincinnati City Council

With voters being asked to choose nine members of council out of 10 candidates, lone Republican Liz Keating has been voted off Cincinnati City Council.

Newcomer Anna Albi outperformed council members Jeff Cramerding and Seth Walsh, who ran his first successful race as a non-elected incumbent.

With Keating out and Albi in, here's what council will look like this term, in order of votes received.

Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (D): 11.06%

Meeka Owens (D): 11%

Reggie Harris (D): 10.92%

Victoria Parks (D): 10.26%

Scotty Johnson (D): 10.12%

Mark Jeffreys (D): 10.05%

Anna Albi (D): 9.92%

Jeff Cramerding (D): 9.48%
Seth Walsh (D): 9.02%

Area LGTBTQ+ winners to watch

Melody N. Mayle and Charlotte Bruewer were both elected as out LGBTQ+ individuals for Golf Manor City Council.

Sam Bowling, an out LGBTQ+ candidate, won a seat on Norwood City Council, defeating her opponent by more than 200 votes.

Former board chair for Equality Ohio and out LGBTQ+ incumbent Reggie Harris retained his seat as member of Cincinnati City Council.

Out LGBTQ+ candidate Connor Moreton won the race to represent residents in Saint Bernard. Moreton was elected to one of seven open seats on Saint Bernard City Council.

Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge - District 4

Samantha Silverstein (D): 57.43%
Curt Kissinger (UA): 42.57%

Silverstein currently serves as the director of the law office of the Hamilton County public defender, leading the training initiatives for public defenders. She has served as a clinical professor at University of Cincinnati College of Law since 2017 and formerly worked at Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio.

Cincinnati Board of Education

Three Cincinnati Public School Board seats were up for election this year. Re-elected were incumbents Ben Lindy (24.15%) — the current board president — and board member Eve Bolton (29.76%).

Voters elected newcomer Kendra Mapp for the third board seat with 28.7% of the vote. Mapp is a licensed professional counselor, with experience as a director of counseling services for school-based therapy.

Check out the results from the biggest issues in 2023's General Election:

Projections: Issue 1 Passes, Abortion Rights Protected in Ohio Constitution: Ohioans have decided the fate of abortion access in the state.

Projections: Issue 2 Passes, Recreational Marijuana to be Legal in Ohio: Ohioans have decided to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

Issue 22: Cincinnati Voters Approve Sale of Cincinnati Southern Railway: Cincinnati voters are deciding whether or not to sell the Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern.

Issue 24 Live Results: Affordable Housing Issue Projected to Fail: Cincinnati voters have decided whether or not to increase taxes to fund affordable housing.

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About The Author

Madeline Fening

Madeline Fening is CityBeat’s investigative news reporter. Proudly born and raised in Middletown, she attended Bowling Green State University before moving to Austin, Texas where she dabbled in documentary filmmaking, digital news and bartending. Madeline then moved to Cincinnati to work for WCPO 9 News as an...