Todd Portune
Encyclopedia
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, who currently serves as a commissioner for Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Before holding that position, Portune was a councilman for the city of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
.
Despite being pegged as left of center on social issues, Portune is regarded as a fiscal conservative. He and his wife Angie, their twins Ellyse and Ethan, and daughter Emma reside in Green Township
Green Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Green Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 55,660 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the west central part of the county, it borders the following townships and city:...
.
City councilman
Portune was appointed to fill a vacancy on council in 1993. After that, he was elected to four full terms on council (with each term lasting two years). Cincinnati council representatives are elected at-large.County commissioner
In 2000, Portune successfully ran for a position as a Hamilton County Commissioner by defeating his Republican opponent, Bob Bedinghaus. Though the city of Cincinnati has voted solidly for DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidates in recent elections, Hamilton County's more conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
suburbs have traditionally supported Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Portune was the first Democratic commissioner elected in 36 years. Bedinghaus, the unpopular incumbent, collected 43 percent of the vote in 2000, while Portune received 48 percent. There were 363,948 votes cast, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Enquirer, a daily morning newspaper, is the highest-circulation print publication in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The Cincinnati Enquirer, a daily morning newspaper, is the highest-circulation print publication in Greater Cincinnati (Ohio) and Northern Kentucky. The...
.
Four years later, he would run for reelection and win, defeating David E. Grossman, a former juvenile court judge who had last run for election in 1992. Portune collected 222,198 votes (57%) to Grossmann's 165,936 (42%). His solid victory in a conservative county was attributed to his moderate platform, excellent name recognition and high-profile endorsements. (Both newspapers, The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Cincinnati Post
The Cincinnati Post
The Cincinnati Post is a discontinued afternoon daily newspaper that was published in Cincinnati, Ohio. Distributed in Northern Kentucky as The Kentucky Post, it was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company. Since the 1980s, its editorial stance was usually conservative. The Post published its final...
, endorsed him.)
Soon after the 2004 election, Rep. Rob Portman
Rob Portman
Robert Jones "Rob" Portman is the junior United States Senator from Ohio. He is a member of the Republican Party. He succeeded retiring Senator George Voinovich....
(R) of Ohio's 2nd congressional district
Ohio's 2nd congressional district
Ohio's 2nd congressional district is a district in southern Ohio. It is currently represented by Jean Schmidt.The district stretches along the Ohio River from the Hamilton County suburbs of Cincinnati east to Scioto County...
was appointed to President Bush's cabinet, leaving a vacancy. Portune's name was mentioned as the strongest of a short list of Democratic challengers for the seat, which is heavily Republican. Portune told the media he was not interested in the seat (though he believed he could win), because of his stated commitment to Hamilton County and its voters.