Vanessa Y. White is foregoing a run for re-election to the Cincinnati Board of Education this year; and will run for Cincinnati City Council instead.
White, 49, put out a press release Thursday morning saying that she is "looking to make a broader impact" on the community.
Her first run for office was in 2009, when she emerged from a pack of 12 Cincinnati school board members to win one of the four seats that were open that year. It was her first run for public office; and she was the only non-incumbent elected that year.
She was recently vice president for community engagement at ArtsWave. She has an MBA from Xavier University and professional experience in family and child welfare.
"I bring a unique mix of professional, academic, public and everyday-life experience to the city council race,'' White said. "I've proven to be a strong advocate for our city and neighborhoods as a leader on the school board. I will do the same on council."
White told WVXU she has not decided whether or not she will seek a political party endorsement. Cincinnati City Council elections are non-partisan - there are no party designations on the ballot. But all three of the city's political parties - Democratic, Republican and the Charter Committee - endorse slates of candidates.
