CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Cincinnati voters chose two new members of City Council Tuesday, said yes to seven incumbents, no to another and sent a clear message that they want the new nine-members to work more closely with one another.
For the second straight election, Charterite Roxanne Qualls garnered the most votes with 41,290.
Republican Charlie Winburn placed seventh to return to council and first-time candidate, Democrat Laure Quinlivan, placed eighth.
Incumbent Democrat Greg Harris finished tenth.
The results were:
1. Roxanne Qualls (I) (Charterite) 41.290
2. Cecil Thomas (I) (Democrat) 33,790
3. Chris Bortz (I) (Charterite) 31.382
4. Jeff Berding (I) (Independent) 29,086
5. Leslie Ghiz (I) (Republican) 28,579
6. Chris Monzel (I) (Republican) 28,416
7. Charlie Winburn (Republican) 27,542
8. Laure Quinlivan (Democrat) 27,333
9. Laketa Cole (I) (Democrat) 27,332
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10. Greg Harris (I) (Democrat) 23,943
The new council will be sworn in December 1 and faces a $51.5 million budget shortfall.
The current council was often split 5-4 on key issues with the majority of Cole, Crowley, Harris, Qualls and Thomas siding with Mayor Mark Mallory.
The Mayor was re-elected Tuesday, but the loss of Harris plus the addition of Winburn and Quinlivan may produce a new majority, anchored by Berding, Bortz, Ghiz and Monzel.
