WCPO: Cincinnati’s new mayor, council could be opportunity for city

On Tuesday, Jan. 4, Cincinnati’s incoming Mayor Aftab Pureval and nine city council members were sworn in, outside at downtown Cincinnati’s Washington Park.

This is the first time Aftab Pureval has held the mayoral seat and six of the nine council members are new to their positions.

UC political scientist David Niven told WCPO that there are advantages to having fresh faces and ideas in the city’s administration and council.

One of the first things that should be done, Niven says is that there should be a show of appreciation for the teamwork it takes to run a city, that the mayor should publicly show appreciation for the council and the council should do the same for the mayor.

“If they are not feuding over who gets the credit then they can build on the best of the ideas that come out of the mayor’s office and the best ideas that come out of council,” Niven says.

Niven is an associate professor in UC’s Department of Political science and teaches American politics and conducts research on campaigns, political communication and death penalty policy.

Watch the interview  

Featured photo at top of Cincinnati City Hall: Owsley