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Mayor Wants 'Calm' And 'Thorough' Acting City Manager For The Permanent Job

Jay Hanselman
/
WVXU
Mayor John Cranley at a City Hall press conference announcing Patrick Duhaney (at Cranley's left) as his candidate for city manager.

Cincinnati's acting city manager is Mayor John Cranley's candidate to be the permanent city manager.

Cranley held a press conference Wednesday to announce he's asking City Council to approve Patrick Duhaney for the job.

City Council will likely vote on the nomination next week. Five council members, or a majority, attended the press conference to show their support.

Duhaney has been the acting city manager since Harry Black resigned in April just minutes before council was set to vote on an ordinance to begin the process to fire him.

Cranley said he was "blown away" by Duhaney the first time he met him when he was serving as the city's chief procurement officer. Cranley described him as "calm, cool, but thorough."

The mayor also praised Duhaney's military service including combat missions.
 
"The politics of City Hall, which can be chaotic, never seem to faze him too much," Cranley said. "Compared to the combat he's seen in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting for this country and the ideals of this country."

Duhaney was asked what makes him think he's ready for the job.

"I've had a long audition and I haven't broken the city yet," Duhaney said.

He said he's learned a lot during his time as acting city manager.

"And at first when I stepped into the chair, I was little bit hesitant about taking on this role," Duhaney said. "But I think during these eight months was a tremendous proving ground. And this proving ground I proved to myself that I can manage the city and demonstrate that I can provide results."

Duhaney, 36, lives in Sayler Park with his wife and son.

Under the City Charter, the mayor is tasked with selecting a city manager and also the only person who can begin the process to replace the city manager. Council must approve both the hiring and firing of those officials.

Cranley asked Black to resign March 9, later saying Black had been "abusive" toward city employees and acted unprofessionally. Black refused.

On March 17, Cranley and Black announced they had agreed to a separation agreement. However, a council majority opposed that plan.  

By April, Council Member Greg Landsman, who had previously opposed firing Black, changed his mind, giving the mayor five votes, or a majority, to oust Black, leading to his resignation.
 

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.