Smitherman Turns Green, Runs Again

After winning a tumultuous election earlier this year to become president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP, Christopher Smitherman is now turning his attention to a possible return to Cincinnati City Council.

During a press conference today at his North Avondale home, Smitherman announced he was jumping into the city council race with the backing of the Southwest Ohio Green Party. He previously served one term on council as a Charterite before being defeated in his re-election bid in 2005.

"I hope people will give me another look for council and give me a fair shake to let me make my case about why I should be elected," Smitherman said.

Smitherman’s first term was marked by controversy when he challenged Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. on some issues and demanded greater accountability from the city’s police department. Critics pegged Smitherman as overzealous or “anti-police,” which he vehemently denied. Instead, Smitherman said he was trying to make the department more professional by insisting it fully comply with provisions of a settlement of a lawsuit over racial profiling, tightening up its lax overtime policies and attempting unsuccessfully to pass a policy to prevent the use of Tasers on young children.

The stance angered some conservatives and prompted then-Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen — a former cop — to call Smitherman “a smart-mouthed little punk” on a radio talk show. Allen later left office in disgrace amid revelations about an extramarital affair with an assistant prosecutor, who sued the county.

More recently, Smitherman pushed Cincinnati and Hamilton County officials to appoint two African-Americans to an advisory panel that is negotiating a deal with a developer to build The Banks, a riverfront housing and shopping district; and he’s leading the petition drive to force a referendum on a sales tax increase approved to build a new county jail.

If elected to council, Smitherman will focus on shoring up funding for the city’s health clinics, swimming pools and recreation centers, all of which were targeted for cuts last winter by the current council until a public outcry.

“I think all of those things are preventative measures that can help stop young people from turning to a life of crime,” he said.

Also, he opposes a proposal floated at different times by Mayor Mark Mallory, Councilman Chris Bortz and others about having city government assume control of Cincinnati Public Schools.

“We don’t need to take them over, we need to establish a more solid partnership with the district,” Smitherman said.

As part of his platform, Smitherman wants the city to focus on economic development deals that will bring more jobs here, not providing tax cuts or subsidies for firms already in the Queen City, like past deals for Convergys and Kroger.

“We need to continue to talk about not gentrifying neighborhoods, but investing in people and investing in jobs,” he said.

Smitherman believes his duties as NAACP president would complement his council duties.

“I don’t think it’s unusual or odd,” he said. “(Councilman) Jeff Berding works for the Bengals, while we’re talking about a Banks project that (team owner) Mike Brown will have a lot of say in. Chris Bortz is an attorney for Towne Properties, which has various interests before council. If elected, I will represent the neighborhoods and the people who may not have a voice right now.”

Smitherman, 39, is a financial planner. He and his wife, Pamela, have four children. A native Cincinnatian, Smitherman’s father is Herbert Smitherman, who in 1966 became the first black Ph.D. hired by Procter & Gamble.

— Kevin Osborne
(Photo: Frontier.cincinnati.com)

Comments

[Caleb]

Run, Chris, run! This will help make the elections this year more interesting.

[Howard Konicov]

Chris Smitherman has a strong track record as an environmental advocate. And if re-elected will once again regain the role as the strongest advocate on Cincinnati City Council for a broad range of progressive environmental causes including: reducing air pollution & its corresponding impact on human health, Environmental Justice, and expanding Cincinnati's network of bike trails, et al...

Howard M. Konicov
MSES/MPA
The Synthesis Foundation

[David Gallaher]

Smitherman used the NAACP as his stepping stone to reenter the Clowncil race.
Melanie used the death of her husband.
Here's my kwerstion:
What office is our TV coroner seeking?
Another kwerstion:
Smitherman has the backing of the Green Party. Did he first seek the aid of Lyndon LaRouche?

[Green Machine]

David Gallaher, Smitherman said he was running for council before he ran for president of the NAACP. There's no conflict of interest there at all. The NAACP president doesn't get paid, it's a volunteer position.

Lyndon LaRouche has nothing to do with Green Party and why would Smitherman want to be a Democrat with Berding or a Charterite with Bortz? They are really Republicans and talk about conflicts of interest, I don't know where to begin.

Smitherman shares the values of the Green Party. We are the peace and social justice party. Good environmental policy is good economic policy 100% of the time. We support health and human services, enviromental justice legislation, ending corporate welfare and empowering the voters of Hamilton County.

Vote Green!

Smitherman 2007!!!

[David Gallaher]

Green Machine,
What does the Green Party pay you? Whatever it is, it's too much.
At least the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- PETA -- party (I know there isn't really) has a sense of humor: they get naked from time to time. Come to think of it, why aren't equal rights for nudists a plank in the Green Party platform? Isn't the manufacture of textiles a waste of precious fossil fuel?

Rah rah!
Don't vote!

[Anon]

What a joke - Smitherman's motivations are now obvious. At least he should have had the decency to wait until this petition drive he's launched plays out, but it's clear he knows its going to fail. Nice try Chris. Pathetic.

[Caleb]

I don't think it's "pathetic" at all.

I'd trust Smitherman a lot more on City Council than political whores like Jeff Berding and Chris Bortz, and nincompoops like Laketa Cole, Minette Cooper and Chris Monzel.

Oh, and let's not forget the brain trust that's Charlie Winburn and Sam Malone, the equivalent of a modern vaudeville act.

The sheer level of venom being unleashed at Smitherman's announcement shows this city has a long way to go in terms of becoming more tolerant and progressive.

[Green Machine]

Green Machine is a volunteer position also.

Smitherman's motives are obvious. He wants to help give voters a voice and some real representation instead of the status quo hos with quid pro quos for special interests.

Smitherman's not for sale.

[d4s]

"Smitherman's not for sale." ?

well I am...dale 4 sale