Sunday, January 31, 1999
Newsmaker Q&A with Paul Booth
Cincinnati's newest Councilman is Paul Booth, 44, who took office on Dec. 9 after term-limited Dwight Tillery stepped down. Mr. Booth, a Democrat, served briefly on council in 1989 as a Republican, filling out the unexpired term of Ken Blackwell, now Ohio's Secretary of State. On council, Mr. Booth chairs the Health, Social & Children Services Committee.
Q: What are your personal priorities on Cincinnati City Council?
A. First and foremost in my mind is the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery to all of our neighborhoods, from public safety to filling potholes.
Next is neighborhood revitalization — not only residential, but also for businesses. I'm very interested in Burnet Avenue. I grew up in that area. Burnet never has sprung back like it should, going back to the riots. I was just a small child then, but I lived in the area and my father pastored there.
I strongly support the police-citizen review board. Our community is crying for citizen input. I think the structure is fair to both sides and will be a first step to bridging the gap between community and police.
Q. City Hall has a poor reputation as a laughingstock among some local governments. If the Build Cincinnati plan for strong-
mayor Charter reform is not the answer, what is?
A. I support a strong mayor, but my concern is the way the (council member) districts are being drawn. As I am told it is being drawn, it appears to dilute the strength of the African-American community.
Q. You were one of the votes to pass a $14.5 million plan for spending that was not in the original city budget. How did that plan originate and how was it put together by six council members without violating the Open Meetings Law?
A. The list came together largely through public hearings, when we heard maybe 60 speakers with various proposals adding up to several hundred million dollars. Seven of us put the proposal together. Three or four of us would meet at a time, and as the list formed it was passed around.
Q. The city has declining population growth, and one of the reasons is public dissatisfaction and flight from Cincinnati Public Schools. What should the city do in addition to the $5 million annually pledged for classroom repairs?
A. The city has to make certain we provide a first-class, top-rate education, beginning with building repairs. We need to work with state and county government, but also need to cooperate with the school board.
Q. How have things changed since the last time you were on council in 1989?
A. In trying to compare this to the council in 1989, there was a little more camaraderie and cohesiveness among council as a whole. But (the current council) did have a bipartisan effort on the budget deal.
Q. Any other comments?
A. I would just like to say that I accepted the unexpected invitation from Dwight Tillery to complete his term out of only the desire to serve. We were taught by our parents that service to the community is more important than what we do for ourselves. I'm not looking to be mayor. I want to serve the citizens and improve the quality of life for all citizens.
BOOTH FILE
ã President of Seven Hills Management Co., which manages federally subsidized housing.
ã Board chairman of the Citizens Committee on Youth, which offers job training and summer jobs.
ã His father, the Rev. L.V. Booth, now retired, was a prominent Baptist minister.
ã The youngest of five children, Mr. Booth graduated from Morehouse College. During the 1980s, he served as president of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP. He worked as a congressional aide to then-Rep. David Mann.
ã Mr. Booth and his wife, Cynthia, have two sons.
ã Their home is in Amberley Village. Mr. Booth took an apartment in Oakley to meet residency requirements, until the family can find a permanent home in Cincinnati.
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