Councilmember Y. Laketa Cole was appointed to Cincinnati City Council in April of 2003, making her the first African American woman ever appointed. Despite being a new Councilmember, Laketa quickly won the respect of her peers by being selected Council’s President Pro Tem, a position she has held throughout her tenure on Council. Later that year, the voters responded similarly by electing her to a full term, and they have re-elected her ever since.

After five years of Chairing the Vibrant Neighborhoods, Recreation, Parks, and Public Services Committee, Councilmember Cole was given the honor of becoming the Finance Committee Chair in 2009.  Often referred to as the most influential committee on Council, the Finance Committee has jurisdiction over any and all items that involve the City’s $1.3 billion budget.

Councilmember Cole is also Vice-Chair of Council’s Vibrant Neighborhoods, Recreation, Parks, and Public Services Committee, and a member of the Rules and Government Operations Committee; the Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Marketing Committee; and the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee.

Laketa has long been committed to opening up City Hall to the citizens of Cincinnati. That’s why she created programs like the “Neighborhoods-in-the-Neighborhoods” (“NIN”) program where Community Councils would host official Neighborhoods Committee meetings. As Finance Chair, she plans to start the annual budget process much earlier and put a real focus on getting citizens and neighborhoods involved.

Her most recent legislation has included a Small Business Tax Abatement Program, which helps Cincinnati’s smaller enterprises compete; a LEED Tax Abatement, which led the way as being one of the first in the nation; and a Standardized Liquor Objection Policy, to bring fairness to the Liquor Review Hearings.

Laketa is a graduate of Cincinnati Public Schools. She received a B.A. in Political Science from Wittenberg University and her Master’s in Public Administration from Northern Kentucky University. 

Laketa’s campaign website:  http://www.laketacole.com