Hamilton County has selected a new leader for its Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Denise Driehaus will be taking the helm in 2025, according to an announcement from the county. Her peers chose the commissioner to chair the commission meetings, facilitate staff sessions, and act as the chief liaison for community and media events. Driehaus, who has been on the board since 2016, is known for her work on the Commission on Women and Girls and the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition.
Overseeing a hefty $1.3 billion budget, the commissioners are tasked with steering the county through economic development and environmental protection challenges. Driehaus has made her mark as an environmental advocate with initiatives to boost bike trails and improve recycling and stormwater policies.
Her credentials extend beyond county lines, playing roles in the Portman Center for Policy Solutions, known for promoting bipartisanship and civil discourse, and as the Vice Chair of the National Democratic County Officials. As a facilitator for the National Institute for Civil Discourse and a Community Learning Center Institute Board Member, she also holds statewide leadership positions, as mentioned in a Hamilton County release.
Denise Driehaus succeeded Commissioner Alicia Reece, who set a two-year precedent with initiatives like the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame and the 513 Relief Bus, which reached over 30,000 residents. Meanwhile, Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas was designated as the Vice President, who founded several programs to aid Hamilton County youth and strongly advocated affordable housing solutions.
Public engagement remains a pillar for the Board of County Commissioners, encouraging residents to participate in public comment sessions. Further details about their meetings, held at the Todd B. Portune Center for County Government in Cincinnati, are available through the commissioners' calendar. Meetings can be viewed online through various platforms, including the county website, Facebook, and YouTube channels, and televised locally by the Intercommunity Cable Regulatory Commission.
