Michael B. Coleman achieved a major milestone this year. As the mayor of Columbus, Ohio in his 15th year, Coleman is the city’s longest-serving mayor and the longest-serving Black mayor in the country.
Coleman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana but moved to the town of Toledo as a young boy. A graduate of both the University of Cincinnati and the University of Dayton School of Law, Coleman’s political career began in 1992 when he was elected to the Columbus City Council.
Coleman was reelected to the Council for two terms and served as its President until he stepped down for the mayoral post.
Coleman led Columbus from an economic downturn to one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Columbus is the largest city in the state, and the 15th largest n America. Forbes Magazine listed Columbus as the best city for working mothers, and several entities name it as an economic jewel among large metropolitan cities.
Since his initial election in 1999, Coleman has won elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He also made a pair of gubernatorial runs, pulling out of one race because he felt Columbus and his family needed him more.
Under Coleman’s guidance, an emphasis on growing jobs, increasing public safety, bolstering education and more has turned Columbus into a desirable destination for business leaders and young workers looking to establish new roots.
This coming November, Coleman will his own personal milestone by turning 60.
