"Leadership Is a Verb, not a Noun": Meet Councilman Chris Seelbach

Recently Jason Harris, Founder of Jason’s Connection, sat down with Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Seelbach, a tireless advocate for equality.

In this interesting interview, Councilman Seelbach talks about his work, his advocacy, and his vision for the future of Cincinnati.

CHRIS SEELBACH is a member of Cincinnati City Council and Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer of the nationally recognized marketing/consulting firm, The Seidewitz Group. In his first year of office, Seelbach’s accomplishments include: Lead efforts that resulted in Cincinnati becoming the largest city in the country to have 100% of its electricity backed by renewable, clean sources; supported an economic development deal with dunnhumbyUSA, resulting in 500 new Cincinnati jobs, averaging $90,000/job; passed equal partner health and retirement benefits for all City employees, regardless of sexual orientation; helped balance the city’s budget without laying off a single police or fire officer; formed a task force to address re-entry services for ex-offenders. In 2004, Seelbach helped lead the successful effort to repeal Article XII, the anti-gay law that cost Cincinnati over $25 million in lost revenue, according to the Convention & Visitors Bureau. The repeal effort was the only winning gay rights initiative in the country that year. Cincinnati Magazine recently named Seelbach one of the “New Power Players” in the Cincinnati region and the Cincinnati Business Courier named him to their 2012 “Forty under 40” class, along with featuring him on their cover under the headline, “Taking on City Hall: Chris Seelbach Earning Reputation as Council Maverick.” Seelbach, who also tutors at Rothenberg Elementary School and mentors business students at Xavier University, lives in Over-the-Rhine with his partner Craig Schultz and their four cats.

To connect with Councilman Seelbach, please visit: https://twitter.com/chrisseelbach

For more information, please visit: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/seelbach/