Candidate for
Member of Council; City of Cincinnati

I am a true Cincinnatian, living in Mt. Airy, where I grew up. I am a father, husband, and lover of everything about Cincinnati. I am a real estate attorney with Griffin, Fletcher and Herndon, a professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Past Chairman of the Board at The Drake Center; Immediate Past President of the Charter Committee; and a community volunteer, having served on or chaired numerous volunteer boards. I will make decisions based on the needs of the people of Cincinnati - not my needs or the needs of special interests. The opportunity to serve on City Council is a trust given by the Cincinnati people. I will honor that trust and I will be an example of the leadership our great city needs. I attended Little Flower Grade School, where our 3 children, Kevin, Shannon, and Colleen, graduated from. I served Little Flower as Festival chair for 9 years; PTF Board member, Vice President, and President; Booster Club member, Football, Basketball, and Track coach; Finance Commission member; and Parish Council member. I was named Outstanding Graduate of Little Flower in 2003, and Man of the Year for service to Little Flower in 2006. I am a former District Chairman and Council Board Member with the Boy Scouts. I graduated from LaSalle High School and our son graduated from there. I have served LaSalle as a member of the Principal's Advisory Board and the Advancement Board. I also served on the Advancement Board at McAuley High School in College Hill, where both our daughters graduated from. I graduated, cum laude, from the University of Cincinnati in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and graduated in 1987 with honors from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. I give back to the Law School by having taught the Real Estate Transactions course for the past 20 years, and received the adjunct teaching award in 2002. I have been a practicing attorney for the past 26 years, working mostly in the area of real estate development and finance. In 2002, I was involved in a serious automobile accident which left me with quadriplegia. Cincinnati's Fire Fighters saved my life that day, extracted me from the wreckage and I was flown to UC Medical Center, then known as University Hospital. I continued my road to recovery at The Drake Center as a patient for the next 8 weeks, and as an outpatient for 2 and a half years. I continue daily physical therapy and although I still use a wheelchair, I continue to improve through the grace of God; the help, understanding, and love of my family; and the assistance and resources of the Cincinnati community. Recently, I took my first steps since my accident and I am now walking over 150 feet at a time. The accident had a profound effect on my life, and reemphasized my creed that God, Family, and Community are what are important in life. I see service as a Cincinnati City Council Member as an extension of this creed.