Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cincinnati

John Cranley was born in Green Township and grew up in Price Hill + where he lives today along with his wife, Dena.

John attended St. William's grade school and St. Xavier for high school, where his long term commitment to public service emerged. John served as a tutor in Winton Place Schools, as a big buddy at the Espy Boys Club in Lower Price Hill, as a volunteer at St. John's Social Services Center in Over-the-Rhine, and as a participant on a summer mission trip with Jesuit priests to the Dominican Republic. Upon graduating from St. Xavier High School, he was awarded the Jesuit Secondary Education Association Award for demonstrating the ideals of leadership and service.

At John Carroll University, John graduated magna cum laude in Philosophy and Political Science. He served twice as student body president. As a Junior, he was awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship -- a national award granted to 65 college juniors each year who share a commitment to public service, leadership and academics.

During John's second and third years at Harvard Law School, he worked as a student attorney for people who could not afford legal counsel. In his third year in law school, he was elected First Class Marshal and delivered the Harvard Law School graduation speech on behalf of his class. Upon graduation, John took a position as an associate attorney with Taft, Stettinius and Hollister.

John also graduated from Harvard Divinity School with a Masters Degree in Theological Studies. During his time at Harvard Law School and Harvard Divinity School, he taught two undergraduate legal and philosophy courses at Harvard College.

In 2001, Cranley was appointed to the Cincinnati City Council and has since been elected three times. In 2005 election, John was voted the top vote getter in a field of 31 candidates.

As a city councilman, Cranley has been a leading voice for change and has a history of making tough choices. When he became Finance Chairman, he inherited a city deficit of $35 Million. Cranley rose to the challenge and for six consecutive years has balanced city budgets with bipartisan support while reducing property taxes and putting more cops on the street.

Cranley has also led efforts to redevelop the urban core by creating tax increment financing districts. He has also worked to expand and keep affordable public transit and to pass a clean air law. During his tenure, Cranley has been the most outspoken and effective leader in getting more cops hired and on the street to fight crime.

In addition to his work on City Council, Cranley co-founded the Ohio Innocence Project at the Rosenthal Institute for Justice at the University of Cincinnati Law School, where he served as administrative director. Recently, John joined City Lights Development as a partner. John is working with City Lights to redevelop Price Hill.