Politics of Dayton, Ohio


Since its creation as a town in the 18th century, the Politics of Dayton, Ohio have adapted to and reflected the changing needs of the community, from the Miami and Erie Canal through the World War II "Dayton Project" to the present day.

City Commissioners

The city government of Dayton, Ohio, is governed by a city commission comprising five commissioners, one of whom is the mayor. The commissioners serve staggered, four-year terms. Commissioners are elected two at a time in open, at-large, nonpartisan elections. The four top vote-getters in the primary election go on to compete in the general election, regardless of party membership. The top two vote-getters in the general election are elected. As of November 1969, the mayor is elected in a separate election. Although the elections are nominally nonpartisan, the Democratic and Republican parties nominate candidates.

Commission Seats 1 and 2

Commission Seats 3 and 4

1820 to 1828

From 1820 to 1828, Dayton was governed by a seven-member city council headed by a council president.
DateCouncil president
1820H. G. Phillips
1821M. Patton
1822
1823J. H. Conover
1824J. Compert

DateCouncil president
1825S. Broadwell
1826E. Brabham
1827Dr. J. Steele
1828Dr. J. Steele

1829 to 1913

From 1829 to 1913, Dayton was governed by a seven-member city council headed by a mayor.
DatesMayor
1829J. Folkerth
1830J. W. VanCleve
1831J. W. VanCleve
1832J. W. VanCleve
1833Dr. Job Haines
1834H. Stoddard
1835J. Anderson
1836D. W. Weelock
1837D. W. Weelock
1838D. W. Weelock
1839W. J. McKinney
1840W. J. McKinney
1841W. J. McKinney
1841Morris Seely
1842G. C. Davis
1843
1844
1845W. J. McKinney
1846J. H. Achey
1847G. W. Bambarger
1848J. Howard
1849

DatesMayor
1850A. Decker
1851J. Howard
1852J. Howard
1853J. Howard
1854George M. Young
1855George M. Young
1856D. W. Iddings
1857D. W. Iddings
1858D. W. Iddings
1859George M. Young
1860W. H. Gillespie
1861D. W. Iddings
1862W. H. Gillespie
1863W. H. Gillespie
1864E. C. Ellis
1865W. H. Gillespie
1866J. Kenney
1867E. C. Ellis
1868C. L. Baumann
1869J. Kenney
1870C. L. Baumann
1871J. D. Morrison
1872J. D. Morrison
1873W. H. Sigman
1874W. H. Sigman

DateMayor
1875L. Butz
1876W. H. Rouzer
1877W. H. Rouzer
1878L. Butz
1879L. Butz
1880F. M. Hosier
1881F. M. Hosier
1882J. H. Miller
1883J. H. Miller
1884J. Bettelon
1885J. Bettelon
1886Ira Crawford
1887Ira Crawford
1888Ira Crawford
1889Ira Crawford
1890J. E. D. Ward
1891J. E. D. Ward
1892C. G. McMillen
1893C. G. McMillen
1894C. G. McMillen
1895C. G. McMillen
1896C. G. McMillen
1897J. Linxweiler
1898J. Linxweiler

DatesMayor
1899J. R. Lindemuth
1900J. R. Lindemuth
1901J. R. Lindemuth
1902J. R. Lindemuth
1903C. A. Snyder
1904C. A. Snyder
1905C. A. Snyder
1906C. A. Snyder
1906C. D. Wright
1907C. D. Wright
1908E. E. Burkhart
1909E. E. Burkhart
1910E. E. Burkhart
1911E. E. Burkhart
1912Edward Phillips
1913Edward Phillips

1914 to 1969

Starting in 1914, Dayton's government was changed to the "weak mayor" manager-council form. In this system, the five-member commission selects the city manager, who holds administrative authority over the municipal government. The mayor is simply one of the five members of the city commission. The mayor's only power over the other commissioners is as chairperson of the commission.
Bold type indicates mayor.

1970 to present

As of November 1969, the mayor is elected separately from the other four commissioners.

Election results

Bold type indicates winner.

General election

Primary election

The two candidates who run in the general election are chosen in this primary election. When fewer than three candidates file, no primary election is held.
YearWinning CandidatesLosing Candidates
1993Richard Clay Dixon : 11,036
Michael R. Turner : 9,696		James L. Sweeney: 4,865
David Esrati: 1,038
Gary M. Kidd, Jr.: 900
Emerson L. Glaser: 346
1997
2001
2005Rhine McLin : 7,167
David R. Bohardt : 5,439		Barbara L. Temple: 1,859

Municipal Court Clerk

The clerk of the Dayton, Ohio, Municipal Court is elected for a four-year term.
YearCandidates
2003Mark E. Owens : 15,278