Todd Portune

Todd Portune
Portune at a public hearing in 2017
Hamilton County Commissioner
Assumed office
January 2, 2001
Serving with Denise Driehaus and Chris Monzel
Preceded by Bob Bedinghaus
Cincinnati City Council
In office
1993–2001
Personal details
Born 1958 (age 59–60)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Citizenship United States
Political party Democratic
Children 3
Education
Occupation Attorney

Todd Portune (born 1958) is an American lawyer and politician who serves as a Hamilton County Commissioner. Portune is regarded as left of center on social issues, and a fiscal conservative.[1]

Early life

Todd B. Portune was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1958. He graduated from Colerain High School in 1976, and graduated from Oberlin College with a political science degree in 1980. In 1983 he graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and became an attorney in Cincinnati.

Political career

Cincinnati city councilman

Portune was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Cincinnati City Council in 1993. He won elections to two-year terms in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999.

County commissioner

Portune addresses a crowd at a Turnaround Ohio rally in Cincinnati in 2006.

In 2000 Portune was elected as a Hamilton County Commissioner.[2] The city of Cincinnati has voted solidly for Democratic candidates in the early 21st Century; the suburbs have supported the Republicans. Portune was the first Democratic commissioner elected from the suburbs in 36 years.[3] Portune's opponent Bob Bedinghaus won 43% of the 363,948 votes cast[4] in 2000, while Portune won 48%. Portune was sworn in on January 2, 2001.[5]

In 2004 Portune was re-elected,[6] with 57% to his opponent's 42%. His winning in a conservative county was attributed to his moderate policies, and to effective campaigning. The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Cincinnati Post newspapers endorsed him.

He won reelection in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Potential candidate for Governor in 2014

In December, 2013 Portune announced that he was considering becoming be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in the 2014 elections.[7]

Portune visited several locations in Ohio during December, 2013 and January, 2014, visiting voters and gauging the support he could expect if he formalized his candidacy.[8]

In mid-January, Portune indicated that a decision was imminent.[9]

In late January news reports indicated that Portune had discussed with former Toledo Mayor Jack Ford the possibility of becoming Portune's Lieutenant Governor running mate.[10]

On January 31, he announced that he would not be a candidate, making the decision just days before the early February deadline to file nominating petitions to qualify for a place on the primary election ballot.[11]

Personal life

Portune, his children twins Ellyse and Ethan, and daughter Emma currently reside in Green Township.

References

  1. ↑ "Democrat Portune is fiscal conservative". The Cincinnati Post. E. W. Scripps Company. 2001-05-24. Archived from the original on 2003-05-22.
  2. ↑ Klepal, Dan; Robert Anglen; Dan Horn (2000-11-08). "Portune ousts Bedinghaus". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company.
  3. ↑ Wilkinson, Howard (2001-01-03). "Trend, fluke? Portune win hints at both". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company.
  4. ↑ The Cincinnati Enquirer
  5. ↑ "January 9, 2001". Hello, Hamilton County. Hamilton County. January 9, 2001. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  6. ↑ http://www.citybeat.com/2004-11-03/news3.shtml
  7. ↑ WCPO-TV News, Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune Announces Bid for Ohio Governor Mansion, December 20, 2013
  8. ↑ Columbus Dispatch, Democrat Todd Portune's Tour to Test Support for Governor’s Race, January 12, 2014
  9. ↑ Henry J. Gomez, Northeast Ohio Media Group, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Todd Portune Delays Decision on Run for Governor, January 23, 2014
  10. ↑ Henry J. Gomez, Northeast Ohio Media Group, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Toledo's Jack Ford Confirms Talk About Running for Lieutenant Governor on Todd Portune Ticket, January 29, 2014
  11. ↑ Holly Pennebaker, WCPO-TV, Todd Portune Calls Off Run for Ohio Governor with Running Mate Jack Ford, January 31, 2014
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