About Mayor Andrew J. Ginther
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther is serving his third term as the 53rd mayor of the City of Columbus, Ohio. First elected in 2015 after serving on Columbus City Council from 2007–2015—including five years as Council president—Mayor Ginther has led Columbus through record‑setting growth, historic housing investments, groundbreaking public safety reforms and transformative infrastructure projects.
Under his leadership, Columbus has been recognized as America’s Opportunity City. Mayor Ginther believes that strong, distinctive neighborhoods are the foundation of a great city and has worked to ensure every resident in every neighborhood shares in the city’s success. In his first year in office, he created the Department of Neighborhoods—uniting neighborhood liaisons, the Community Relations Commission, Neighborhood Pride, and the city’s 311 service into a one‑stop gateway for community services. He also established the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and appointed the city’s first Chief Diversity Officer, ensuring Columbus leads the way in expanding opportunities for women- and minority‑owned businesses.
Mayor Ginther has advanced initiatives to strengthen equity and opportunity, including creating the Columbus Women’s Commission, reducing infant mortality through CelebrateOne (with a goal to cut the rate by 40% and halve the racial disparity gap), and expanding early childhood education. The Linden Park Early Childhood Center, opened in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, has become a national model by combining high‑quality pre‑K education with parent engagement and professional development.
Acknowledging mobility as the great equalizer, Mayor Ginther helped secure the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge Grant, launched the Smart Columbus Operating System, and opened the Smart Columbus Experience Center. His transportation vision continues with LinkUS — the region’s rapid transit plan approved by voters in 2024—paired with zoning reforms to connect residents to jobs, education, and healthcare.
Public safety has been a top priority throughout his tenure. Mayor Ginther has implemented the most significant policing reforms in city history, including civilian oversight, body‑worn cameras, and bias training. He expanded community policing with the largest bike patrol in the nation, launched neighborhood liaison programs, and created the Office of Violence Prevention. New initiatives include the Division of Housing Stability, the Regional Housing Coalition, and record‑setting affordable housing bonds—including a proposed $500 million bond in 2025.
Mayor Ginther also played a central role in keeping the Columbus Crew soccer team in the city, leading to the opening of Lower.com Field in 2021. He has helped attract transformative investments from Intel, Honda/LG, and The Ohio State University’s Carmenton Innovation District, generating billions in economic impact.
Nationally, Mayor Ginther served as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors from 2024-2025, where he advocates for housing affordability, climate action, and equitable economic growth.
A proud graduate of Columbus City Schools, Mayor Ginther began his public service on the Columbus Board of Education in 2001. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Earlham College, studied abroad at the University of Ulster and Queen’s College in Northern Ireland, and taught in Belfast and Derry before completing internships at the Carter Presidential Center.
Mayor Ginther, his wife Shannon, and their daughter live in Columbus.