Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cincinnati

John grew up and currently lives in Price Hill. He went to St. Xavier for high school and John Carroll University for college, where he served two years as student body president. As a college junior, John received the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which is granted annually to 65 college juniors who share a commitment to public service, leadership and academics. Upon graduating from college, John received graduate degrees from Harvard Law School as well as Harvard Divinity School.

In the 2000 election cycle, he ran for United States Congress in District 1 against Steve Chabot and was able to capture 45% of the vote. As a result of this good showing and his working relationship with a number of longtime Democratic activists, John was appointed to City Council in 2000.

He served in this appointed position as a Councilmember until, in November of 2001, he was elected to City Council for the two-year term. He now serves as the chair of the Finance Committee, as well as sits as a member of the Law and Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committees.

Councilmember Cranley has led on a number of issues, including getting 75 more street cops hired, raising litter fines, creating TIF districts, balancing deficits, expanding hate crimes protections, and now is working to bring better highway access to urban neighborhoods and working to bring restaurants and entertainment venues to the Main Street area.

In addition to his work on City Council, John is a visiting professor for the University of Cincinnati Law School and co-director of the Center for Law and Justice, which includes the Ohio Innocence Project.