Reggie Harris
Reggie Harris is a member of the Cincinnati City Council in Ohio. He assumed office on January 4, 2022. His current term ends on January 1, 2026.
Harris ran for re-election to the Cincinnati City Council in Ohio. He won in the general election on November 7, 2023.
Harris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Reggie Harris was born in Chicago, Illinois. Harris earned a graduate degree from Boston University in 2015. His career experience includes working as an affordable housing developer, ballet dancer, social worker and licensed therapist.[1]
Harris has been affiliated with the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, Equality Ohio, and Hamilton County Democratic Party.[2]
Elections
2023
See also: City elections in Cincinnati, Ohio (2023)
General election
General election for Cincinnati City Council (9 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Cincinnati City Council on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (Nonpartisan) | 11.0 | 49,822 | |
| ✔ | Meeka Owens (Nonpartisan) | 11.0 | 49,783 | |
| ✔ | Reggie Harris (Nonpartisan) | 10.9 | 49,339 | |
| ✔ | Victoria Parks (Nonpartisan) | 10.3 | 46,341 | |
| ✔ | Scotty Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 10.1 | 45,659 | |
| ✔ | Mark Jeffreys (Nonpartisan) | 10.0 | 45,295 | |
| ✔ | Anna Albi (Nonpartisan) | 9.9 | 44,770 | |
| ✔ | Jeff Cramerding (Nonpartisan) | 9.5 | 42,650 | |
| ✔ | Seth Walsh (Nonpartisan) | 9.0 | 40,641 | |
| Liz Keating (Nonpartisan) | 8.2 | 36,789 | ||
| Total votes: 451,089 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jaime Castle (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cramerding in this election.
2021
See also: City elections in Cincinnati, Ohio (2021)
General election
General election for Cincinnati City Council (9 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Cincinnati City Council on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney (Nonpartisan) | 7.5 | 28,672 | |
| ✔ | Greg Landsman (Nonpartisan) | 7.0 | 26,996 | |
| ✔ | Reggie Harris (Nonpartisan) | 6.7 | 25,828 | |
| ✔ | Meeka Owens (Nonpartisan) | 6.3 | 24,177 | |
| ✔ | Victoria Parks (Nonpartisan) | 5.9 | 22,879 | |
| ✔ | Scotty Johnson (Nonpartisan) | 5.3 | 20,265 | |
| ✔ | Jeff Cramerding (Nonpartisan) | 5.1 | 19,695 | |
| ✔ | Mark Jeffreys (Nonpartisan) | 4.9 | 18,772 | |
| ✔ | Liz Keating (Nonpartisan) | 4.5 | 17,497 | |
| Michelle Dillingham (Nonpartisan) | 4.1 | 15,910 | ||
| Phillip O’Neal (Nonpartisan) | 4.0 | 15,295 | ||
| Kevin Flynn (Nonpartisan) | 3.6 | 13,888 | ||
| Elizabeth Sundermann (Nonpartisan) | 3.6 | 13,830 | ||
| Steve Goodin (Nonpartisan) | 3.3 | 12,794 | ||
| Jim Tarbell (Nonpartisan) | 3.1 | 11,734 | ||
| Brian Garry (Nonpartisan) | 2.7 | 10,258 | ||
| Tom Brinkman Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 2.5 | 9,805 | ||
| John Williams (Nonpartisan) | 2.2 | 8,367 | ||
| LaKeisha Cook (Nonpartisan) | 1.9 | 7,224 | ||
| Jackie Frondorf (Nonpartisan) | 1.8 | 6,947 | ||
| Jaime Castle (Nonpartisan) | 1.7 | 6,395 | ||
| Peterson Mingo (Nonpartisan) | 1.4 | 5,278 | ||
| Evan Holt (Nonpartisan) | 1.3 | 5,139 | ||
| Kurt Grossman (Nonpartisan) | 1.3 | 4,975 | ||
| Bill Frost (Nonpartisan) | 1.2 | 4,695 | ||
| Galen Gordon (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 4,210 | ||
| Te’Airea Powell (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 4,109 | ||
| Stacey Smith (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 4,109 | ||
| Jalen Alford (Nonpartisan) | 0.8 | 3,166 | ||
| Rob Harris II (Nonpartisan) | 0.7 | 2,651 | ||
| Andrew Kennedy (Nonpartisan) | 0.6 | 2,439 | ||
| John Maher (Nonpartisan) | 0.6 | 2,158 | ||
| Logan Simmering (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 1,652 | ||
| K.A. Heard Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 1,496 | ||
| Nick Jabin (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 1,358 | ||
| Total votes: 384,663 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Charlie Winburn (Nonpartisan)
- Derek Bauman (Nonpartisan)
- Darius Clay (Nonpartisan)
- James Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
- Linda Matthews (Nonpartisan)
- Robert Moore (Nonpartisan)
- Victor Phillips (Nonpartisan)
- Nathaniyah Yisrael (Nonpartisan)
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Reggie Harris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Harris' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Since his election to City Council in 2021, Reggie Harris has consistently fought and delivered for inclusive, effective legislation that broadens accessibility to opportunity, and improves the quality of life for ALL Cincinnati residents. He draws on his background as a retired professional ballet dancer, affordable housing developer, LGBTQIA+ advocate, licensed therapist, and trained clinical social worker to serve his community. Reggie dreams of a future in which Cincinnati is a beacon of hope for sustainability, inclusivity, and opportunity in the Midwest –– both for those who grew up here and those who settle here. Reggie has fought to protect reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and championed the regions first Black Developers Conference to increase black and minority participation in our economy.
- In his first term, Reggie has passed legislation to protect reproductive rights and equality, Expanded affordable housing, and prioritized public safety and infrastructure.
- Reggie is working to increase Black and Minority economic participation, Reggie led the effort to establish the regions inaugural Black Developers Conference in 2023.
- Reggie believes our best days are ahead. Thats why we have to keep building an inclusive Cincinnati of tomorrow.
On Council, I have proven myself as a champion for ALL Cincinnatians. What I, and my Office, have done in the past year has cemented my reputation as a bold, reliable, and effective elected leader. I am a housing expert and advocate, fighting for tangible results in combating our housing crisis. I am an ally, hosting public Pride celebrations and cementing inclusivity at the foundation of Cincinnati's story. I am a responsible public servant, prioritizing exceptional responsiveness to constituent concerns and ensuring core services are accessible, well-funded, and reliable. Lastly, I am future-focused, investing in a sustainable future, arts, culture, and liveable neighborhoods so that the quality of life of the next generation is better than ours.
Thus far, we have received endorsements from the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund (OEC), the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the Hamilton County Democratic Party, Sierra Club, NASW, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Realtor Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, Moms Demand Action.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2021
Reggie Harris completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Harris' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I was born and raised on the south of Chicago. I am a social work strategist (MSW, LISW-S), therapist (CTP), and arts educator. A former professional ballet dancer with ten years of performing experience, I danced with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Ballet Austin, River North Chicago Dance Company, and Dances Patrelle. In 2009, I was part of a small group of arts educators that opened The Chicago High School for the Arts (Chiarts) - Chicago’s first and only public performing arts high school. I currently work for The Community Builders as the Director of Community Life, Ohio/Indianapolis.
I am the vice-chair for Equality Ohio’s c4 board and serves as a precinct executive for the Hamilton County Democratic Party. In 2019, the Hamilton County Commissioners appointed me to the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority’s board of directors. As a certified trauma practitioner (CTP) - I developed training that addresses trauma and its impact on cognitive and emotional development and academic achievement and works closely with arts and education organizations on becoming trauma-informed. Recently, I was named one of fifteen Champions of Change by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Champions of Change are Cincinnati area black leaders tasked with designing an innovative grants process that addresses black wealth generation. Most recently, I was named one of Cincinnati Business Courier’s 40 under 40 award winners for 2020.
- We believe in centering and amplifying constituent voices
- Cincinnati should grow sustainably and equitably
- We believe in investing in people over paperwork
Our approach is a “yes, and…” approach. We have to walk and chew gum at the same time. We recognize that our city is a living and dynamic ecosystem, and that problems in one part of our city are usually a result of a larger systemic failure. We are proposing a more equitable framework for decision-making.
We believe in centering and amplifying constituent voices. Our campaign has and will continue to seek out the expertise of people in our communities who are closest to the problems and challenges we are working to solve. We do this by amplifying the work of our city’s unsung heroes, listening to the community, and co-creating policy and legislation that is both just and equitable.
We believe in power belonging to the people. Systems that diminish the power of the people are a threat to our city’s fundamental principle of Juncta Juvant - Strength in Unity. Our policy approach is centered in mutual transformation between people and the policymakers we elect to serve in public office.
We believe in the power of art and expression. The true stories of people are told through the art of our time, whether it be theater, dance, music, painting, books, magazines, film, architecture, or fashion. We want to preserve Cincinnati’s deep artistic history and expand artistic vitality in our city — especially among our youth.
This campaign is rooted in hope. We have an opportunity to capture the energy of Cincinnatians who are ready to take action on the issues that matter.
I am running for Cincinnati City Council because I understand that we must solve structural and systemic issues that perpetuate poverty and discrimination. Only then can we address the mental health issues plaguing our community and begin to rebuild strong, people-centered, vibrant communities. I am running for City Council because municipal policy has the most direct impact on lives, and progressive municipal policy that values people over paperwork from top to bottom cultivates an engaged citizenry that is empowered to lead and shape their city.
As a Black, gay man who has life experience growing up in Chicago and performing across the county as a ballet dancer, I bring a wealth of diverse experience that will benefit Cincinnati in this time of turmoil. I have experience collaborating with city and county officials, nonprofits, statewide and regional organizations, as well as the federal government on projects ranging from inclusivity training to multi-million dollar HUD grants. The expectations of a member of council are largely extensions of the work I’ve been doing in the community already, whether it be community outreach, project strategizing, budget prioritization, or implementation management. I have been making these processes as efficient and equitable as possible in my professional practice, and am ready to bring that perspective to City Hall.
I have also been active in building relationships within the party and with local leaders in the labor, religious, business, activist, and nonprofit communities for years leading up to my run. Through this work, I have built a multi-racial, economically diverse coalition that spans the entire city. This positions me to be extremely effective at bringing a wide range of people together to solve some of the more pressing issues the city faces. It also allows me to come in the door with a high level of community trust or a first-time candidate. I believe these qualities will help make me an incredibly effective council member in my first two years and well beyond.
I believe that this year presents a unique opportunity to elect a group of people who are not beholden to traditional power structures. The slate of endorsed Democrats has a range of experiences over many years that make them uniquely qualified to serve on council. Previous experience in government specifically is much less important.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2023 Elections
External links
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Candidate Cincinnati City Council |
Officeholder Cincinnati City Council |
Personal |
Footnotes
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